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Undermining gender identity of women in public space

22-7-2019

In an article in Al Akhbar daily, columnist Ahmad Mohsen shed light on the gender discrimination against women in public life, in terms of language and gender. Mohsen mentioned the absence of the linguistic feminine affix for the title of a female director in Fakhredine Public High School for Girls. He also pointed to the Council of Ministers website, where in the published decrees, they refer to the appointment of the minister of interior (without accentuating the feminine title) in relation to the female minister of interior, Raya Hassan, and this applies to other female colleagues as well. If the Lebanese government truly promotes ‘gender equality in language’, it ought not choose the masculine (which is the general norm) over the feminine expressions, but opt to invent new answers, Mohsen wrote. He drew attention to the effortless aiming at a woman before scrutinizing what she said or wrote, contrary to how a male is treated usually. He gave MPs Dima Jamali and Roula Tabsh as two examples for this discrimination. If the tweeter, or if the member of the Legislature having coffee publicly during Ramadan were males, the reaction would not be the same. There are reasons for this prejudiced attitude, Mohsen explained, which regrettably and definitely is not out of concern for the image of a woman. Should this be the case, he said, the argument would be restricted to this aspect and would take cover in politics to criticize the woman in an attempt to shake or shatter her image publicly, and to endorse dominance and supremacy over her physical presence. The article can be found on the following link: :https://bit.ly/30Pwxwx. (Al Akhbar, July 18, 2019)

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Violence against women: father molests three daughters, girl kidnapped in Baalbak, blackmailer in Tyre

22-7-2019

The Criminal Court of Mount Lebanon headed by Judge Elie Hilou, sentenced last week a father to 8 years in prison on charges of molesting his three daughters after forcing them to watch porn movies when they were under 15. Meanwhile, local media brought up on July 19 the news of kidnapping of the girl R.J.G from in front of her workplace in Dorus, Baalbaq. Immediately after, the girl’s family staged a sit in at Khalil Motran Square in the Beqaa city in protest, demanding the government to take action and bring back their daughter safely home. On the other hand, a patrol from the Southern Investigation Unit in Tyre, arrested on July 14 the suspect R.M (Lebanese, born in 1987) who blackmailed girls threatening to publish their pictures and videos in which they appear nude. The assaulter was handed over to Tyre Gendarmerie Station for legal action. (L’Orient Le Jour, Al Mustaqbal, July 14, 20, 2019)

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Inclusion of persons with special needs in Zain Group

18-7-2019

Zain Group launched on July 8 the Disability Inclusion initiative, WE ABLE, which is set to announce Zain as Disability Inclusive by the year 2020. The initiative aims to: increase the number of persons with special needs within the Zain workforce by 2022; ensure all training programs are disability inclusive by 2022; ensure that accessibility is sustained to all persons with special needs across all Zain touchpoints by 2022, and finally, identify innovative and assisting technologies that enable more people with disabilities to join Zain and achieve success and career development. On the occasion, Zain Group vice president, chief executive, Badr Nasser Khurafi, said the launch of the initiative will make Zain Group one of the a handful of pioneers in the region to develop a strategy dedicated to integrating people with special needs into its workforce. (Al Akhbar, July 16, 2019)

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MP Ezzedine speaks in favor of reforms of personal status laws

18-7-2019

MP Inaya Ezzedine called for the modernization and development of the personal status laws to ensure the protection of women and children. Ezzedine, who was speaking during the budget debate parliamentary session, addressed House Speaker Nabih Berri, saying the issue should be a top priority for the government and the Legislature and should be given the required legislative support. Ezeedine stressed that respecting women’s rights is a fundamental condition for the protection of the family which constitutes the core of a society and the key to its advancement and prosperity. She also asked members of the parliament to step up discussions and subsequent ratification of related draft bills that have been referred to the concerned committees to be submitted to the General Assembly. In conclusion, Ezzedine pressed for the formation of a special body of all stakeholders, namely representatives of religious institutions, lawyers, social workers and psychologists, as well as deputies, to lay down the foundations for reform. Ezzedine’s speech to the parliament can be found at the following link: https://bit.ly/2LZLYya. (Al Akhbar, July 18, 2019)

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Combatting illegal labor reaches children of Lebanese mothers despite exemption law

17-7-2019

In its issue of today, Al Akhbar newspaper reminded its readers of the law exempting children of Lebanese mothers married to non-Lebanese holding complimentary residences from getting a work permit (https://bit.ly/2Lnm2Ml). It wrote that, three weeks into its enactment, the law has not been published in the Official Gazette, making it ineffective, and hinted to an administrative lingering coinciding with the launch of the labor ministry’s campaign on foreign labor (https://bit.ly/2Fb2Yxe). This, the newspaper said, prevents the children of Lebanese mothers holding complimentary residences from being exempted from work permits, putting them at risk of prosecution by ministry labor inspectors. According to Al Akhbar, the situation is reinforced by a politico-administrative obstruction, that could be calculated, pointing to opposing voices by LF and FPM during the parliamentary session devoted to enact the above law. Al Akhbar spoke to the coordinator of My Nationality is a Right for Me and My Children, Karima Chebbo, who clarified that the Campaign has received several complaints in the past few days to this effect, pointing out that after scrutiny of some official gazette editions, it found out that the law has not been published, and therefore is still null and void. Chebbo mentioned a number of cases related to this impasse, including one of a son of a Lebanese mother and a Syrian father who received a ticket, and another of a young man from a French father who received a notice at work, despite his holding of the complimentary residence. Also a young man was fired from work because the employer was reluctant to fix his papers. (Al Akhbar, July 17, 2019)

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First female president of the European Commission

17-7-2019

Members of the European Parliament yesterday elected, with a narrow vote, Ursula Von Der Leyen to be the first female president of the European Commission and to be the first German for the post since 52 years. Leyen won the support of 383 members to replace Jean Claude Juncker when he steps down this November. To note, that before her election, Leyen was appointed as defense minister for her country in 2013 to be the first women also for the post. Leyen, 61, graduated from Hannover University School of Medicine, is fluent in French, German and English and a mother of 7. Following her secret ballot election in the European Parliament in Strasburg, Leyen said: “My message to all of you is the following: let us work together constructively, for what is needed is a united and strong Europe.” (An Nahar, July 17, 2019)

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The role of media in changing female stereotypes

17-7-2019

As part of ongoing consultations to present its goals and achievements within the national strategy for women, the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) headed by Claudine Aoun Rukuz, held a round table yesterday with journalists at its Hazmieh premises. On the occasion, Rukuz stressed the fundamental role the media plays in the struggle to advance the status of Lebanese women and change the stereotypes, as well as enact the necessary legislative reforms to secure their rights. Among such reforms, Rukuz maintained, is ratification of a law that bans child marriage, endorsement of the right of the Lebanese mother married to non-Lebanese to confer nationality to her children, and amendment of Law 293 on the protection of women and family members from domestic violence. (NNA, July 16, 2019)

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Trump calls on congresswomen to return home

16-7-2019

US President Donald Trump Sunday told four Democrat Congresswomen to ‘go back’ to where they came from. If you are unhappy in the US, you could leave, Trump tweeted, accusing them of being fans of United States enemies. Trump’s vile remarks were strongly criticized by Democrat officials who described him as racist and xenophobe. According to Al Akhbar newspaper, Trump was apparently alluding to young, progressive and outspoken congresswomen, namely, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan. In response to Trumps’ attack, the congresswomen in question said the US President is promoting ‘white nationalism’, pledging not to keep silent. And while Democrat, Ben Ray, said the four congresswomen have been elected by American voters, British prime minister, Teresa May, described Trump’s remarks as categorically unacceptable. (An Nahar, Al Akhbar, July 16, 2019)
 

Previous related news:
First Muslim women in US Congress, Trump to scrap birthright citizenship
Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar sworn into US congress
First Muslim women in US Congress, Trump to scrap birthright citizenship
 

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Agreement on protecting and empowering underage girls Donniyeh

16-7-2019

The Union of Municipalities of Donniyeh signed on July 12, an agreement with UNFPA, RET Liban and the Canadian Embassy in Beirut, on the protection and empowerment through training of underage girls. The event, which was held at the Union’s premises in Bakhun, Donniyeh in the North, highlighted the issue of “girl marriage in our communities and its risks on health, as well as on social and psychological life of its victims, according to Judy Fatfat from the Union. The Union head, Mohamad Saadiyeh, pointed in turn, to a strategic plan to empower communities, and women in particular, that is being implemented by the Union. For her part, RET Liban representative stressed the organization’s commitment to protect vulnerable communities, notably women and underage girls through job-generating sustainable initiatives. She explained that RET Liban is implementing the project in the Dinniyeh area and other areas in the North and across Lebanon to help the marginalized youth in the Lebanese and Syrian communities. Likewise, Reproductive Health Director at UNFPA, Maguy Ghanem, said that minor girl marriages have become rampant in Arab societies, stating that despite international, local community and governmental efforts to promote the role of women, girls and women remain the most vulnerable to illiteracy, poverty and abuse, including domestic violence. (Al Mustaqbal, July 13, 2019)

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MoU to enhance the role of women in security and peace

16-7-2019

The National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW), represented by its president, Claudine Aoun Rukuz, signed yesterday a memorandum of understanding with UN Women, represented by its director, Rachel Dore-Weeks, aimed to coordinate efforts to achieve common goals on women, peace and security. This step is reportedly a part of the national action plan on Lebanon for implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and stepping up the implementation of various international agreements and conventions, as well as efforts to protect women and girls against all forms of violence. Rukuz, on the occasion, said the MoU contributes to putting into practice the National Strategy for Women in Lebanon, pointing out that projects and activities planned under said MoU, constitute a progressive step in improving the status of women in the country at all levels. Rukuz also mentioned other topics observed by the above agreement, including promoting women’s economic empowerment, increasing their political participation and supporting Lebanon’s efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda and the 17 UN Sustainable Goals, namely Goal 5 on reaching gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. (NNA, July 15, 2019)

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