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Youth campaign in support of a sexually harassed young woman

12-3-2019

While the world is celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8, social media networks highlighted the story of the young woman, Dayna Ayash, who narrated an incident of sexual harassment she experienced at the famous Radio Beirut pub in the Beirut neighborhood of Mar Mkhaeil where she used to work. The post received great support from social media users. Ayash revealed that a musician recruited by the pub tried molested her on February 6. Shortly after the incident she resigned, Diana said, adding, before that “I reported the harasser to the club owner asking him to not host him during the last few days of my work.” The musician showed up again forcing Dayna to put up with this temporarily. Dayna posted her story when she learned that the bar owner was planning to organize a special event to mark the IDW, when in reality he played down or trivialized sexual harassment against her. Following the uproar sparked by Dayna's post, Radio Beirut official page issued a statement denying the incident and describing the news as part of a slander campaign against the place, only to delete the post a couple hours later releasing an apology to Diana to this end. On this, WLP executive director, Lina Abu Habib, hailed Dayna's courage in a society where few women come forward and speak out incidents of abuse they are subjected to, Abu Habib said, Dayna spoke on behalf of every silent woman, demanding employers to provide a safe workplace for women. Likewise, psychologist Marie Therese Badawi, noted that Lebanese women have changed, but the problem remains in men who still resist the change. (L'Orient Le Jour, March 11, 2019)

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Two British women lose citizenship for joining ISIS

12-3-2019

After its decision to strip citizenship of Shamima Begum (c.f: https://goo.gl/QfQ5vQ), the British government issued a similar decision against two British-Pakistani young women for joining ISIS. They are, Rima Iqbal, 30, and her sister Zara, 28, who left east London to Syria in 2013 and married into ISIS terrorist cell and now have five boys under 8 years, Sunday Times reported on Sunday. On the issue, British Home Office spokesperson said any decision to revoke citizenship is evidence-based and is never taken lightly. In a related vein, a spokesperson for the US allied Syrian Democratic Forces confirmed the death of Begum’s newborn last Friday. On this, a Home Office official said the death of any child is tragic and distressing for his family. Diane Abbott, UK shadow home secretary, for her part, criticized the home office legal proceedings tweeting, “I am against international law which leaves a citizen stateless. Today an innocent child has died as a result of stripping a British woman her nationality. This is cruel and inhumane.” On the same issue, An Nahar newspaper on Saturday wrote that ISIS women do not regret joining ISIS, vowing to launch new wars and conquests. On the outskirts of the town of Baguz, east Syria, the newspaper said, women shout, God is great, repeating, “ISIS persists and is expanding”. They heave their shoes to the reporters’ cameras hurling insults, and warning of an imminent revenge. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, March 9,10,11, 2019)

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Lebanese women achievements and demands

11-3-2019

On the occasion of the International Women’s Day, and in collaboration with the Arab Organization for Young Lawyers-Lebanon Branch, the Tripoli Bar Association organized a seminar on March 9 entitled, ‘the Lebanese woman: between reality and the law’. During the seminar, North Bar chief, Mohamad Murad, pointed out that there are women and girls who crossed the red lines to fight for their natural rights. This, he said, resulted in equality in some of the laws, but still need fair amendments, pointing to the injustice in depriving the Lebanese woman of her right to pass on nationality to her children, and advising against political interference to this effect. For her part, the head of the Lebanon Branch, Suha Ismail, stressed that Lebanese women have made good progress at all levels, yet there remains a pressing need for legislative reforms. Reservations on certain provisos in international agreements are not in favor of the desired reforms, she warned, criticizing Lebanon’s reservation on the CEDAW Agreement particularly on the right of women to confer nationality to their children. Ismail also addressed political participation of women in Lebanon, maintaining that this starts with the adoption of the representation quota for a transitional period. Likewise, MP Rula Tabsh Jaroudi, said Lebanese women have struggled for years to claim their rights, however, they are still underrepresented in politics and political life. On the same occasion, hundreds of activists and students marched yesterday from Fouad Chehab Bridge and ended at Ain Mreisseh, under the slogan, ‘Economic justice is a feminist cause’. Among organizers were, the Lebanese Feminist Bloc, the Secular Club (AUB), the Feminist Club (AUB), Red Oak Club (AUB), Gender and Sexuality Club (AUB), Anti-Racism Movement, Helem Association and the Alliance of Migrant Domestic Workers in Lebanon. Organizers said the demonstration is against a system that links personal, sexual, and social rights with religion. (Al Mustaqbal, March 11, 2019)

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….. and accomplishments by Arab women

11-3-2019

On the occasion of the International Women’s Day, Al Diyar newspaper published on March 9 a BBC feature on the achievements by Arab women over the past year, particularly in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria. Among prominent accomplishments marked by the report, the first ever appointment in Egypt of 8 female ministers and a Coptic woman to the position of a governor, in addition to decisions to appoint 77 women judges and the seizing by women of nearly 15% of the Parliament seats. In the GCC states, the BBC report praised the Royal decree sanctioning Saudi women to drive for the first time in the history of the Kingdom, the appointment of Rima Bint Bandar Bin Sultan as ambassador to the US, election of Fowziah Zainal to head the Bahraini legislature thus becoming the third women in this post after the Emirates and Syria and raising the share to 50% of Emirati women in the Federal National Council. On the North African front, the report mentioned Morocco’s adoption of a law to fight violence against women and the ratification by the Tunisian cabinet of the personal status draft bill, including provisions on equal inheritance, and Algeria’s set of legislative reforms related to the family law. In the same vein, the director general of the Arab Women Organization, Fadia Kiwan, stressed that despite the many achievements made recently by Arab women, anguish and suffering is still rampant in countries witnessing crises, conflicts and wars. This, Kiwan maintained, necessitates them to stand unified with their male peers to confront challenges impeding sustainable development of Arab societies, avoiding stereotypical roles. Also on the occasion, Arab Parliament Speaker, Meshaal, Silmi, lauded on March 8 the Parliament’s adoption of the ‘Document for Arab Women’s Rights’ as a legislative parameter in drafting laws related to Arab women, revealing that the Parliament will launch the document in the Emirates soon. On the other hand, Google search engine celebrated the IDW by posting images of influential women around the world, including deceased Iraqi architect, Zaha Hadid (died in 2016), as the first woman to receive a prestigious award in architecture. (Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, Al Hayat, March 8,9,10, 2019)

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Women pioneer in LAF

11-3-2019

BBC aired a report on March 9 on the engagement of Lebanese women in the Lebanese air force, spotlighting 1st Lieutenant Chantal Kallas, 27, and 1st Lieutenant Rita Zaher, 26. Six women have applied to be pilots in the LAF and through testing, only two qualified, the BBC report said. While most women serving in the Lebanese Army are in administrative or logistical positions, the Army top commander, General Joseph Aoun, is seeking to bolster the role of women among his top priorities, with the aim to get them into combat roles. Speaking to BBC reporter, Rita said when she first decided to join the armed forces, she was met with resistance, with many people telling her she is “taking a man’s job”. Chantal, for her part, explained that times have changed for women in the Lebanese armed forces, stressing that women have to overcome all challenges with the family or society to realize their ambitions. The report also highlighted the first mechanic in the Lebanese Air Force, Sergeant Manar Iskandar, who boasted “When I first arrived, my male colleagues gave me a letdown look, as if I needed their pity and help. Gradually, I began to do things they failed to do.” (Al Hayat, Al Mustaqbal, March 10, 2019)

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My Nationality sit-in demands fair law for women

11-3-2019

My Nationality is A Right for Me and My Family Campaign organised a sit-in on Sunday at Riad Solh Square under the banner, ‘Nationality is a sense of belonging and a right for all women’. The sit-in was aimed to remind officials of the discrimination suffered by Lebanese mothers preventing them from conferring nationality to their children, requesting a law to this effect. Scores of civil society activists, mothers and their children participated in the demonstration which did not see the presence of any politician contrary to protests prior to parliamentary elections, as noted Campaign coordinator, Karima Chebbo. Reminiscing pledges by MP candidates, Chebbo noted that nothing tangible has materialised to this end, except from the Democratic Gathering Party member, MP Hadi Abul Hosn, who supported the draft bill prepared by the campaign demanding equal treatment between men and women. Chebbo stressed that the campaign decided to take to the street earlier than usual this year to appeal to the Legislature currently busy approving financial laws to persuade it to play fair and enact a legislation that restores women’s incomplete citizenship. Shebbo pointed out that the campaign deliberately avoided to coincide its protest with the Mother’s or Woman’s Day in order to dodge the idea of weekend or occasional protests. “Where is the right of the woman stipulated by the Constitution? Aren’t we entitled as Lebanese women married to non-Lebanese to give nationality to our kids? We are sick and tired of supportive statements by the media and politicians, and ask for the lawmaking and ratification of laws.” She called on the prime minister who always reiterated his backing to the issue, to speed up the enactment of the law soon enough. We Don’t want to beg at the doors of politicians, we want a detailed draft that talks equality among all citizens without exceptions, Chebbo concluded. “We demand equality, citizenship and rights,” she said. On the subject, MP Samir Jisr tweeted, “On the International Woman’s Day… we press for lifting all forms of injustice and discrimination against women, starting with the adoption of a law that gives the Lebanese woman the right to pass nationality to her family members.” (Al Akhbar, NNA, Al Mustaqbal, Modon portal, Al Jadid online, LBC online, Al Hayat, March 11, 2019)

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International report: no significant progress on gender equality in the workplace

8-3-2019

On the occasion of the International Women’s Day, which falls on March 8 of every year, ILO issued a report yesterday entitled, ‘A quantum leap for gender equality: For a better future of work for all’. According to the report, the work-related gaps have not seen any significant improvement for 20 years, and the difference in employment rates for men and women over the last 27 years has retreated only by less than two percentage points. The report has found that women in 2018, were still 26 percentage points less likely to be at a job than men. Women are still underrepresented in senior positions, with slight change in the last 30 years, the report attributed the main obstacle to achieving equality at work to the unpaid care and domestic work performed primarily by women. The ILO report pointed out that time spent in unpaid care work could take more than 200 years to achieve equality, stating that in the last 20 years, the amount of time spent by men on unpaid care and domestic work has increased by only 8 minutes a day. (For more on the ILO report, kindly visit the following link: (c.f: https://goo.gl/VA5JE). Meanwhile in Lebanon, the IFC- World Bank Group, hosted a conference to raise awareness about the vital role of the private sector in advancing gender equality and empowering women. The event was held in collaboration with the Global Compact Network Lebanon (GCNL), UN Women, the Beirut Stock Exchange and the Canadian Embassy. During the conference, president of GCNL, Dima Jamali, stressed that promoting the full participation of women in the workforce generates financial returns in the private sector, and enhances the environment, social norms and governance. On the other hand, members of the Lebanese Legislature yesterday dropped the power of urgency and acceleration for the amendment of Article 1003 of the Code of Civil Procedure, that which is related to the forcible imprisonment of a mother who refuses to hand over her son. (An Nahar, Al Akhbar, L’Orient Le Jour, March 7, 8, 2019)

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On the occasion of IWD: Claudine Aoun Rukuz, entrepreneur and activist for women's rights

8-3-2019

On the occasion of the International Women’s Day, L’Orient Le Jour highlighted the career life of the head of the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) Claudine Aoun Rukuz. Rukuz, to recall, is an entrepreneur and a political and social activist as well as a campaigner for women’s rights, and is also the founder and CEO of Clementine Advertising Agency. In an interview with L’Orient Le Jour, Rukuz boasted that she devotes all her energy for the advancement of the status of Lebanese women, her prime goal as she put it. Rukuz said her mother, which by the law, should vacate the position of the NCLW presidency, preferred to hand it over to a younger person to give more vigor and dynamism to the post. Hence, she was chosen for the job. Rukuz spelled out her intention to change old mindsets and laws in the right direction to help women retrieve their rights. Lebanese women, she maintained, have all the capacities and skills, but they need greater self-confidence. She explained that women in this country are holders of high degrees, yet the social prejudiced stereotypes are the main hitch, which she is working hard to revolutionize, as she promised. Aoun decried the injustices against Lebanese women, who are deprived of the right to pass on nationality to their family members, stressing the need to end all domestic violence and pledging to seek the support of the heads of spiritual courts to this end. (L’Orient Le Jour, March 8, 2019)

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Retrial of Rula’s husband and trial postponement of Raya‘s slayer

8-3-2019

After the acquittal last October by the North Criminal Court of victim Roula Yacoub’s husband, Karam Bazi, accused of killing her five years ago (https://goo.gl/3yRbcg), the Court of Cassation headed by Judge Joseph Samaha, revoked yesterday the acquittal verdict and decided to re-try Bazi on March 8 on charges of severely beating his wife to death. The culprit will be tried at large. To note, the court has earlier conceded two requests by the North Criminal Court filed by attorney general, Judge Samir Hamud, and the victim’s mother, Leila Khury, after it ordered the immediate release of the culprit but was opposed by head of the court Dani Shibli. On the other hand, a hearing at the North Criminal Court was postponed yesterday in the case against Bassel H. (Syrian) for the rape and murder of young woman, Raya Francois Shidiac in Miziara for incomplete number of jury. A new date, was set for the next hearing on May 14th of this year. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, March 8, 2019)

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Minister Chidiac will work hard to improve the political scene

7-3-2019

Under the patronage of prime minister Saad Hariri represented by deputy prime minister, Ghassan Hasbani, the May Chidiac Foundation (MCF) launched yesterday the 7th edition of Women On the Front Lines (WOFL) at Phoenicia Hotel, Beirut. Noting, that this year’s event is convened in a first ever partnership with UN Women. On the occasion, the minister of state for administrative development, May Chidiac, stressed that Lebanese women are now aware of their participation and of their right to exercise their legislative role. “We will work hard to improve the political arena and will be ambitious in doing this,” Chidiac said, adding, “we hope one day we can reach leadership positions.” The minister highlighted achievements Lebanese women seized this year, no matter how trivial, compared to other countries, pointing to the appointment four women ministers in the new cabinet. She pledged, as a woman minister, to continue to strive for the good of women’s political contribution to their country. Hasbani for his part, maintained that the role of women shall be key from now on to the success of society. He made clear that feminist campaigns in the future will concentrate on giving more power to women, with emphasis on changing the way society views them. (An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, March 7, 2019)

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