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LAU honors Nidal Ashqar

21-3-2019

During the NEXT 2019 festival organized annually at its campus, the Lebanese American University (LAU) honored yesterday the grande dame of theatre Nidal Ashqar in recognition of her cultural contributions. On the occasion, LAU president, Joseph Jabra, sketched the biography of Ashqar who represents a cultural model par excellence, pointing to her considerable impact on the lives of others in the immediate and distant surroundings. Jabra also mentioned Ashqar’s Masrah al Madina feat which signaled a landmark in the modern history of Beirut and Lebanon at large by serving as a lever for the Lebanese theatre. LAU, Jabra concluded, is privileged to honor Ashqar, the woman who contributed on a grand scale to inspiring and elevating art, culture and theatre in Lebanon and the Arab world. (An Nahar, March 21)

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Young Lebanese woman initiative in Ashrafieh to help the poor

20-3-2019

On March 17, Al Mustaqbal electronic portal drew attention to a new initiative launched by young Lebanese woman, Rita Bulos, who having experienced deprivation, decided to collect food and deliver it to people in need. The initiative which started from a Facebook campaign, has expanded with the huge aid it received from people. Bulos has managed to rent a small apartment and transform it into a cozy kitchen that hosts and feeds the hungry. The project, located in Mar Metr neighborhood of Ashrafieh, welcomes any guest who knocks its door to become part of the family. Through this action, Bulos maintained, I spread the culture of compassion, as “it is unacceptable to leave anyone out there hungry. Bulos, who works in handcrafting rosaries, said that three female relatives have volunteered to cook daily meals, in addition to women who also offered to help. The surplus of the cooked food is frozen to be delivered to whoever cannot come in person. Armed with perseverance and consistence, Bulos said, currently, 170 families across Lebanon receive food aid, besides bread and medications for selective cases. All contributions are made by charitable people, Boulos confirmed, denying backing or funding from any political party. (Al Mustaqbal, March 17, 2019)

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First woman to receive "Abel" math award

20-3-2019

The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters/Institute for Advanced Study (Abel) announced yesterday that it awarded the prestigious Abel Prize for Mathematics to American Karen Uhlenbeck, for her work on partial differential equations. This is the first time a woman receives the award launched by the Norwegian government back in 2003, a statement by the Academy said. The American scientist, from Cleveland, Ohio, has revolutionized tools and methods in global analysis that have become in the toolbox of any geometrics specialist. Uhlenbeck, 76, is a senior research scholar at Princeton University and an associate professor at the Institute for Advanced Study in the US. The head of the Abel committee, Hans Munthe-Kaas said Uhlenbeck received the prize for her fundamental work in geometric analysis and gauge theory which dramatically changed the mathematical landscape. Her theories have revolutionized “our understanding of minimal surfaces such as those formed by soap bubbles….” He added. (An Nahar, March 20, 2019)

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YWCA former presidents honored

19-3-2019

The Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) Lebanon, marked the International Women’s Day on March 8 with a “Greetings to the YWCA former presidents in Lebanon’ ceremony. The honored presidents in chronological order from 1962 are: Leila Dacruz, Marcel Aoun Khoury, Aida Fares, Souad Katoul, Souad Shehadeh, Maha Nasr Haddad, Amal Shbeir, Nadera Najm. YWCA also honored the heads of association branches and they are: Ibtisam Abu Hanna (Ablah branch), Edi Lamaa (Shiyah), Arlette Medlej (Hadath), Amal Shami (Tripoli), Gitta Jermanus (Byblos Jbeil) and Majida Khoury (Marjey3oon). On the occasion, president Rula Khoury greeted women on their day, pointing out that the honorees have contributed to improving their communities through constructive initiatives to this end, in line with the YWCA’s motto ‘Serve each other’. They volunteered and devoted time and energy and they are carrying on, she said. Khoury noted that globally, women have struggled to seize a place in society and arrived to where they are today. Lebanese women, on the other hand, are still toiling, Khoury maintained, commending the development achieved with the appointment of four women ministers in the new cabinet. (An Nahar, March 13, 2019)

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Lebanese ambassador to Austria accused of migrant worker mistreatment

18-3-2019

On March 16, Al Akhbar newspaper reported the news aired on Austrian media under, ‘New slavery in Vienna’. The news is about a diplomat from a Middle East country who mistreated migrant women domestic workers from the Ethiopian and Philippino nationalities working at his house. The diplomat, according to the news, is the Lebanese ambassador to Vienna, Ibrahim Assaf, who, with his wife, exploited the workers, treating them as slaves, without least respect to their privacy. The girls, the news went on to say, were forced to work all day without time for rest or days off. They were not even paid for their extra hours or for their monthly salary. The three workers reportedly fled the diplomat’s house on January 13 and took refuge in the Austrian foreign ministry, which confirmed the news. Meanwhile, LEFO, the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women, is following up the case. In Beirut, the Austrian foreign ministry faced Assaf with the accusations, but his diplomatic immunity exempted him from the charges. Al Akhbar for its part, did not anticipate any developments on the matter, for the Austrian mission to Beirut mentioned only the fact that the ambassador did not pay for the overtime and nothing else. (Al Akhbar, March 16, 2019)

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Training on dairy production in Tripoli to empower women

18-3-2019

In collaboration with Care International, the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Tripoli and the North organized targeted training sessions on dairy making. The workshops were aimed to empower women professionally, economically and socially, and to create opportunities that help them refine their work life and facilitate their direct access to the labor market. This enables them to play a distinctive role that enhances their status in the entrepreneurship world. During the launch ceremony, Chamber chief, Tufic Daboosi, said the courses were highly professional and of great importance as they help provide decent work for women with different social, economic and family backgrounds, particularly in rural communities where the dairy products are ample. (Al Diyar, March 18, 2019)

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Women are capable of changing the political scene in Lebanon

18-3-2019

The minister of interior, Raya Hassan, told An Nahar newspaper that, given the flaws in parliamentary or municipal elections in Lebanon, she looks forward to an all-inclusive workshop that addresses the matter, particularly in the municipal area. Municipal elections should be reconsidered, and “I will seek to enforce a female representation quota to this effect,” Hassan maintained. The minister was speaking during her participation in a ceremony on March 16 hosted by the Regie to distribute prizes on winners of the annual photography competition ‘Manchar Souwar’ with focus on women working in the tobacco agriculture. Hassan stressed that the comeback of the Lebanese woman, in the political field, was not an embellishment, in fact, the scene has changed. Women now have their influence, effective role and balanced presence, and they are capable of changing the scene of politics in the country, Hassan boasted. To note, the Regie received some 800 photos to take part in the competition submitted by around 150 participants, of which 34 were shortlisted for the finals. Winning photos were documented in a special booklet. Recalling, Lisa Terezian received the Jury Prize for the best picture and USD 5,000, while the second USD 3,000 prize went to Ahlam Jaber, in addition to a professional camera for both winners. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, March 16, 17, 2019

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LGBT health week: Medical care without discrimination

18-3-2019

For the third consecutive year, the Lebanese Medical Association for Sexual Health (LebMASH) organized the LGBT Health Week 2019 from March 12 until March 17 under the slogan, ‘Excellence without discrimination’. The aim of the event is improving the level of sexual healthcare and provision of medical care for every patient, in particular marginalized groups, young people and seniors, without discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation. On the subject, the head of LebMASH, Shadi Ibrahim, said to date there are physicians, nurses, psychiatrists and even some hospitals who refuse to treat or provide medical services for LGBT persons. He cited surveys covering a group of Lebanese doctors, which revealed that 60% of respondents still believe homosexuality is a disease, attributing the reason not only to societal misconceptions which nurture the community including doctors, but also to the absence of disciplines or courses on the LGBT community in many universities. Ibrahim explained, that to face the harsh reality, his association developed the LebGuide on its website, which contains contact info of doctors and therapists under ‘Friends for Diversity’. The event addressed a number of issues, including palliative care in Lebanese prisons and the challenges healthcare providers face, in addition to the provision of sustainable care for marginalized populations and enhancing the rights of minorities in palliative care. On the sidelines, a workshop was held for medicine, nursing, psychology and social counselling students to this end. (Al Akhbar, March 18, 2019)

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Claudine Aoun from New York: Priority to create legal environment for protection of women

15-3-2019

The head of the Supreme Council of Arab Women Organization (AWO), Claudine Aoun Rukuz, stressed yesterday the keenness of the Lebanese state, led by President Michel Aoun, to advance the country through an equal participation of men and women for a better society, socially, economically and politically. Aoun, who also heads the National Commission of Lebanese Women (NCLW), reiterated the new cabinet’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and to the National Strategy for Women in Lebanon drafted by NCLW. Aoun, who was speaking during the UN General Assembly’s 63rd session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York, maintained that the said strategy includes the provision of health and education services, fighting poverty and promoting women’s participation in the economic and political life. And most importantly, it calls for the provision of a regulatory, legislative and legal environment to the end of the social protection of women. On the occasion of the International Women’s Day, and in collaboration with the Parliamentary Committee on Women and Children and the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, the General Secretariat of the Lebanese Parliament organized a ceremony under the theme, ‘Parliaments for Women’. On the occasion, MP Enaya Ezzidine, explained that the advancement of women is closely related to the progress made on the level of development. Women empowerment requires the introduction of radical changes in the political, economic, social and cultural environments that often contribute to their marginalization, Ezzidine said, adding that such changes cannot be brought about without establishing the principle of partnership first. Ezzidine concluded by saying that, as women are half the society, any development that does not involve them is at risk. (Al Mustaqbal, March 15, 2019)

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Syndicate of Restaurant Owners: A new council of women and youth

15-3-2019

The Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Cafes, Night Clubs & Pastries in Lebanon announced on March 13 the re-election of Toni Rami as president, Khaled Nazha as vice president, Maya Bekhazi as secretary and Aref Saadeh as treasurer. This comes after the complementary elections held under the supervision of the labor ministry to select 8 members for the board, and they are: Shirine Salha, Siham Tueini, Sharif Dumit, Donald Batal, Youssef Akiki, Mustafa Samad, Makram Rbeiz and Jad Abu Jawdeh. In his address on the occasion, Rami welcomed the female members who joined the Syndicate, pointing out that they are leaders who left a mark in the sector. The new board, he maintained, is invigorated with a youth spirit and diverse expertise and talents. Rami also said that, in the wake of the formation of the government, the syndicate will continue to follow up legislative efforts to adapt tourism-related decrees and laws to the end of advancement of the industry, particularly, the restaurant sector. He called on every member to work to ease or remove obstacles that block the development of the sector which is dubbed as number one provider for tourism in the country. (Al Diyar, March 14, 2019)

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