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"Fatherhood" drives MP to “claim” his daughter's right in defiance of religious court rulings

15-7-2019

In its issue of today, Al Akhbar newspaper spotlighted the case of Ghadir, the daughter of Hizbullah MP, Nawaf Musawi, who posted a video she filmed of her ex-husband chasing her and her sister and children in her car and blocking their way before he was detained by a Damur police station patrol. The standoff, apparently linked to child visitation rights and custody, soon dominated the local social media, especially after news of the lawmaker attempting to storm the police station but which he later denied. In its analysis, Al Akhbar daily described the row as being of ‘paternal’ paternal nature namely a father defending his daughter’s rights in defiance of the rulings of sharia and religious courts which have abstained from acting on reforms that spare women and mothers the consequences resulting from archaic and unfair verdicts. Al Akhbar went on to say, that the incident clearly denotes the wide outreach of religious authorities which, it stressed, would not have grown without the legislative authority’s full compliance, always in anticipation of sectarian gains and to immunize itself against the ‘beast’ the civil state denotes. In a civil state, the newspaper wrote, there is no room for a “daughter” who takes refuge in her “father”. A civil state acknowledges women who are protected under a unified fair and unprejudiced civil status law that protects them against all manipulation, humiliation and attempts on their life. Eventually, Lebanese women shall remain vulnerable to violence should personal status preferential jurisdictions remain untouched. (Al Akhbar, July 15 2019)
 

Previous related news:
Jaafari religious court forces mother to hand her kids to father, despite right of custody
Lebanese woman jailed for holding on to her daughters' passports
Women sit-in in at Shiite Council for raising age of custody
Nabatiyeh prosecutor indicts mother of the crime of kidnapping son
 

 

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Call for enacting laws to protect women from violence

15-7-2019

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) appealed to Lebanon to combat all forms of gender-based violence against women and girls through preventive judicial measures and legislations. The ICJ report explained that the continuous gender based violence in Lebanon is deeply rooted in the patriarchal and stereotypical socio-cultural perceptions that shape the roles and duties of men and women. Those diktats, the report went on to say, are reproduced as well in the judiciary, in law enforcement committees and legal institutions, as per ongoing investigations, trials and prosecutions of gender-based crimes, which, generally, prove to be a failure in protecting women’s rights. In conclusion, the report said that despite the positive steps taken by the Lebanese authorities to address the limitations of the legislative system, much work is still needed, including criminal law procedures, the nationality law and the personal status law which discriminate against or fail to protect women’s rights. (An Nahar, July 15, 2019)

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Certificates from Dar Al Amal to Tripoli prison female inmates

15-7-2019

In partnership with the ministry of social affairs and Diakonia Lebanon, and in coordination with ISF General Directorate, Dar Al Amal association distributed on July 4 certificates to female inmates of the Tripoli Prison who have completed vocational training sessions. The ceremony also included an exhibition of drawings and handicrafts by the prisoners. On the occasion, Dar Al Amal president, Habib Hatem, praised the partnership with the MoSA, ISF, Diakonia and the Prisons’ Administration to the end of rehabilitating the prison’s buildings, as well as the life of inmates to facilitate their social integration after their release. Hatem stressed that Al Amal is the only association that provides specialists inside the jails to improve the conditions of prisoners and allow them to acquire new vocational and educational skills. For his part, Col. Bahaa Samad, superintendent of the Tripoli Prison, pointed out that Dar Al Amal’s contributions have helped many female inmates during their prison term and after their release. (An Nahar, July 15, 2019)

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Rural women from Lebanon and Armenia share experiences in agribusiness

15-7-2019

In partnership with two civil society organizations from Armenia (Green Lane Agricultural Assistance) and Lebanon (Family Planning Association for Development and Family Empowerment), the UN Women- Fund for Gender Equality concluded on July 11 the ‘Rural knowledge and marketing exchange between rural women in rural agribusiness’ seminar in Tyre. Around 18 Lebanese and Armenian rural women participating in the one-week event, shared lessons learned in promoting entrepreneurial skills and access to agricultural markets. On the occasion, UN Women special representative in Lebanon, Rachel Dore-Weeks, stressed that the organization is a staunch advocate and supporter of women’s economic empowerment which paves the way to gender equality, poverty reduction and overall economic growth. Similarly, the Fund’s program director for the Arab countries, Rana Hujeiri, maintained that the implementation of knowledge exchange and the South-South cooperation helps in identifying and promoting transnational strategies and policies. Rural women working with other rural women to overcome broader challenges slowing their economic participation, represent a huge opportunity for investment, she said. (Al Diyar, July 15, 2019)

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Ezzeddine for adopting a comprehensive family planning strategy

12-7-2019

MP Inaya Ezzedine called on the government yesterday to prepare and adopt a comprehensive strategy for family planning and empowerment. Ezzedine noted that this is fundamental for comprehensive sustainable development and helps in addressing the alarming fiscal economic status quo in the country which is impacting Lebanese households. Ezzedine, who was representing House Speaker Nabih Berri during the 50th anniversary of the Family Planning Association and the World Population Day, underlined the importance of empowering Lebanese women through building their economic capacities and promoting their political participation. She reiterated the need to adopt the women representation quota law as a transitional stage in the framework of enhancing their access to political decision, notably the parliament. In conclusion, Ezzedine said she was determined to work to combat all forms of discrimination against women and restore their rights equally with men in jobs and wages, protect them against domestic violence and social bullying, in addition to drafting legislations to counter commercialization of women. (NNA, July 12, 2019)
 

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Social leadership & entrepreneurship in Tripoli

12-7-2019

The University of Balamand, Koora, concluded on Wednesday the Social Leaders Program aimed to train entrepreneurs aided with social responsibility values to the end of serving the North in general and Tripoli in particular. Recalling, that the 4-month program has been implemented in cooperation with the University of Balamand, Tripoli First Foundation led by MP Dima Jamali, Al Ahli Holding Group and Tripoli Entrepreneurs Club. The participating projects were presented during the ceremony and Nivine Ahdab declared as first winner for her project on seniors. MP Jamali announced the allocation of a sum of USD 10,000 to Ahdab to help her in implementing her startup. (Al Mustaqbal, July 11, 2019)

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UNIFIL first aid course for Al-Mari women

11-7-2019

In cooperation with the Social Services Center in Al Mari, Hasbaya, the Indian battalion operating in UNIFIL, organized yesterday a first aid training session for women in the town. On the occasion, mayor Yusef Fayad, said such activities are key in educating women who offer a lot to their remote communities, stressing that they can give more with rehabilitation and training on social and humanitarian skills. For his part, the Civil Relations Officer in the Indian Battalion, Maj. Mohd Arshil Muheet, pointed out that the course targets all women in the area through awareness and training workshops, especially on the principles of first aid. Likewise, Maj. Ravedeep Kaur said women should know these basic steps to save someone’s life. Holding similar sessions, which will land in all villages soon, came at the locals’ request, and is also on the agenda of the Indian Battalion to empower women, Kaur maintained. (Al Mustaqbal, July 11, 2019)

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Claudine Aoun stresses the right of Lebanese women to nationality

10-7-2019

The NCLW head, Claudine Aoun Rukuz, stressed yesterday after a meeting with foreign minister, Jibran Bassil, that the visit comes in the framework of the Commission’s talks with parliamentary blocs and ministers to present the National Action Plan for the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security. And while she hoped the Cabinet would vote on the plan soon, Rukuz said she updated Bassil on the projects drafted by NCLW, notably the nationality law, the ban of child marriage and other laws that eliminate discrimination against women. Rukuz underlined the significance of the proposal that enables Lebanese women to confer nationality to their children, maintaining that she will press for its discussion in the Legislature. Recalling, that the draft was prepared by the NCLW as commissioned by the prime minister, Saad Hariri. (L’Orient Le Jour, July 10, 2019)

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VAW: Brother kills sister in Qobayat, taxi driver harasses woman in Jal el dib

10-7-2019

The General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces announced that on July 2, 2019, the body of a woman, (born in 1980), was discovered shot dead with six gunshots and transferred to a hospital in Quobayat in the North. Upon investigation, the ISF said, the culprit, identified as the brother of the victim (born in 1979), was arrested in the town of Shadra on July 6 carrying the weapon used in the crime. In a related incident, Al Diyar newspaper reported today that a woman (born in 1989) who rode a taxi from the Museum neighborhood in Beirut was sexually harassed by the cab driver. When the latter reached Jal el Dib east of the capital, he deliberately drove his commuter to a closed area attempting to sexually assault her but failed and fled to an unknown destination. Also, in the follow up on the case of the murder of British diplomat, Rebecca Dykes, on January 2, 2018, who was raped and killed by an Uber driver (https://goo.gl/nb1nLW), the Mount Lebanon Criminal Court held a hearing session yesterday and set September 26 as the date to pronounce the final verdict. The defendant’s lawyer said during the hearing, that his client has killed his victim under the influence of drugs. But the plaintiff’s attorney asked for the trial of the driver on the two charges of rape and premeditated murder. He also demanded fining him with LBP one million which will go to the Rebecca Dykes Fund. (Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, L’Orient Le Jour, July 9, 10, 2019)

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MP Ezzedine for changing laws which discriminate against women

9-7-2019

In partnership with Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS), Smart Center organized a meeting in the Union of Municipalities of Baalbaq Hall to launch the second phase of the Economic Empowerment of Women in Baalbaq Caza project. Under the title, ‘Reality and challenges facing small and medium women entrepreneurs’, the event was held under the patronage of the head of the Woman and Child Parliamentary Committee, MP Inaya Ezzedine, in cooperation with the Municipality of Arsal and the Unions of Municipalities of Baalbaq and North Baalbaq. On the occasion, Smart executive director, Randa Yassir, presented a report on the needs of women in Beqaa SMEs, with the aim to showcase positive experiences through a realistic study, as well as highlight challenges and create proper solutions and proposals to this effect. For her part, Ezzedine said that, similar to other countries, rural women in Lebanon face difficulties, and added, governments have not adequately addressed their needs specifically in the national policies and laws. What is required, she noted, is to find an enabling environment to enhance their social and economic conditions in line with the partnership approach. Protecting the Lebanese woman in laws and eliminating or amending texts that legalize and substantiate discrimination against her, automatically affects the rights of rural women, Ezzedine maintained. (NNA, July 9, 2019)

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