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Gender disparities in legal rights around the world

1-3-2019

In a study published on February 27, the World Bank highlighted the disparities in legal rights between men and women around the world. Women only have 75% of men’s legal rights, which prevents them from accessing jobs, opening businesses or taking economic decisions that are in their interest and that of their households, the study showed. The latter included an index measuring gender disparities which indicated a progress over the past ten years rising from 70 to 75, out of a maximum 100. This comes after 131 countries agreed to ratify 274 reforms and adopt laws and regulations allowing greater inclusion and participation of women, including laws against sexual harassment in the workplace, as well as lifting restrictions that kept women outside specific industrial sectors. According to the study, Belgium, Denmark, France, Latvia and Sweden scored 100 on the index, which means they give women and men equal legal rights. The Middle East and North Africa on the other hand, recorded the lowest score (47.37) for gender equality. Algeria and Lebanon presented encouraging changes in terms of introduction of laws fighting domestic violence, the study said. (For the full report, kindly visit the link below: https://bit.ly/2Vtgd1Z). (Al Diyar, March 1, 2019)

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Decathlon prohibited from selling sports headscarf

1-3-2019

The French sports goods company, Decathlon, was forced to cancel plans to sell sports headscarf for Muslim women in France following threats and calls of boycott. Indeed, and after revealing its plan for the first time, Decathlon said it suffered a wave of attacks and insults targeting some of its staff members in its stores in France. The well-known sports chain announced that it has received over 500 threatening calls and electronic mail messages. Recalling, Decathlon was willing to introduce the runner’s hijab across France after the big success it reaped in Morocco. And though the company is not a pioneer in selling hijab around the world, yet the idea did not appeal to many French politicians who called for its boycott. Aurore Berge, spokeswomen for the ruling LREM (La Republique En Marche) party warned that she will no longer put her trust in a company that sells goods which depart from French values, as she put it. Criticizing the company further, Berge said it supports those who tolerate women in a public space only when they cover themselves! On the other hand, some French citizens maintained that the lambasting of the company and its sports garment by the “secular society” contributes to fueling Islamophobia within the French society. (Al Diyar, March 1, 2019)

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Homosexuality in Lebanese law

28-2-2019

In its issue of today, Al Diyar newspaper drew attention homosexuality in Lebanon, mentioning the engagement of two young women in one of the Lebanese towns. Homosexuality has recently been out after it was a taboo categorically rejected by all faiths, describing it as “contrary to nature”. Al Diyar wrote that the life of LGBTs in the country is unstable, as they are constantly harassed by the immediate family, society, at school and in the workplace, and by the security apparatus itself. It cited the launch of a number of associations to advocate LGBT rights. Legally, the newspaper cited several court rulings in favor of LGBTs, the last of which was issued in 2017 by the Single Criminal Judge in Matn, Rabi’ Maalouf. The latter ordered suspension of the tracking of gay and transgender persons, as they are entitled to having intimate or human relationships with whoever they choose. Al Diyar also reminiscences another verdict issued by Single Criminal Judge in Matn, Hisham Qantar, which ruled against prosecution of a person based on Article 534 of the Penal Code related to criminalizing homosexuality. This decision, Al Diyar added, was complemented by two previous rulings that explained above article in the same way: the first was issued in 2009 by Single Criminal Judge in Batroun, Mounir Sleiman, and the second in 2014 by Single Criminal Judge in Matn, Naji Dahdah. For more on the feature in Arabic, kindly visit the following link: https://goo.gl/NN7rE9. (Al Diyar, February 28, 2019)

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Women’s rights & Francophonie in Lebanon

28-2-2019

French Ambassador to Lebanon, Bruno Foucher, launched yesterday the 9th edition of the Month of Francophonie which is celebrated during March of each years. This year’s slogan, ‘Au Feminin’, will have special focus on rights of women, including presentations given by women or are related to women’s issues that highlight struggle for rights in equality and law. Foucher, who was speaking during a press conference, said the French language comes in the second place after Arabic in Lebanon, pointing to over 50% of students registered in francophone programs, noting that this percentage could go up to 60% in public schools. This applies to the state-owned Lebanese University which embraces half of the country’s students where French is the second teaching language after Arabic, Foucher added. The French ambassador concluded by saying that, since Lebanon is a hub for spreading the French language in the Middle East, this prompted the Organization Internationale de la Francophonie to open its regional office here. Similarly, while the Romanian Ambassador to Lebanon said work should start with the youth, the Canadian Ambassador maintained that the event does not only promote the French language, but also the values involved. (L’Orient Le Jour, February 28, 2019)

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Three women shake up US politics

27-2-2019

In its issue of February 24, Al Diyar newspaper talked about women in the current US Congress, spotlighting three recently elected members who shook up US politics. These women, the newspaper wrote, are women of color and have won the Democratic Party seats in the past November elections. Though they are only few months in their position, the upheaval they brought challenged the traditional orthodox norms of the US Establishment, on the level of internal and foreign affairs. The three women are: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 29, of Puerto Rican origin, became the youngest woman to serve in the Congress, worked as a waitress in New York City; Ilhan Omar from Minnesota, 38, Somali origin, first to wear hijab in the Congress, arrived to the US as a refugee in 1995; and Rashida Tleib, 42, Michigan State, an American-Palestinian attorney. To recall, Omar and Tleib are the first Muslim women US Congress members. Al Diyar in conclusion said, that the three women above are staunch advocates of LGBT rights, the right of women to abortion and the rights of immigrants in line: with the progressive policy of the Democrats. For more, kindly visit the link below:
 https://goo.gl/Vjrq8W. (Al Diyar, February 24, 2019)
 

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Body of Ethiopian woman washes ashore Antelias 

27-2-2019

In the latest violence incidents against women notably MWDW, the local media reported on February 22nd the news of an Ethiopian national whose body was washing ashore the Antelias coast north of Beirut and retrieved by a Civil Defense Maritime Rescue squad. The body was transferred to Baabda Government Hospital after being examined by specialized security units. In this respect, the ISF General Directorate-Public Relations Department asked in a statement anyone who has information about the victim to come to the hospital or contact Antelias Regional Gendarmerie Unit. (Al Mustaqbal, February 22, 2019)
 

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Abortion in Lebanon and Syria

26-2-2019

In its issue of February 23, Al Akhbar daily spotlighted the phenomenon of abortion practiced by specialized and non-specialized physicians and rampant between Lebanon and neighboring Syria. Operations are carried out clandestinely, protected by the fear of scandal which constitutes the core of the ‘trade’, wrote Al Akhbar. In the details, the newspaper said many operating tables thrive under the blind eyes of the law, in the southern suburbs and outside, profiting from women who keep silent in the face of abuse and scandal. The cost of abortion varies according to geographical location and circumstances, Al Akhbar said, ranging from USD 800-1500 in the capital Beirut, USD 400 to 600 in the southern suburbs and USD 50-100 in the Syrian capital, Damascus. The reported cost is often a setback to many women, which opened the door to a black market extending from Beirut and its suburbs to Rif Dimashq. On the subject, Al Akhbar spoke to Faten who traveled to Syria for the operation because she cannot afford to do it in Lebanon. Faten mentioned a Lebanese broker who drives customers from Beirut, takes care of required documents at the borders, delivers them straight to the clinic and back to Beirut. For his part, the new health minister, Jamil Jabak, told Al Akhbar that he gives the matter a great deal of attention, especially in the clinics that are not prepared and largely put the lives of patients at risk. The ministry, Jabak said, is currently collecting data to locate all such clinics, pointing to involvement of some hospitals in this file. (Al Akhbar, February 23, 2019)

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Lebanese woman among the laureates of UNESCO 2019 International Awards

26-2-2019

The L’Oreal Foundation-UNESCO announced on February 11 the names of laureates of the 21st International Awards for Women in Science which annually honors five women scientists from all over the world. These exceptional women, who represent world continents, are chosen for their distinguished research in the fields of material science, mathematics and computer science. The winners are: The Lebanese Najat Aoun Saliba, chemistry professor and director of the Nature Conservation Center at AUB (for Africa and Arab countries); professor Maki Kawai, chemistry (Asia); professor Karen Hallberg, physics (Latin America); professor Ingrid Daubechies, mathematical physics (North America) and Claire Voisin, Algebraic geometry, mathematics (Europe). Noting that, each laureate will receive 100,000 euros during a ceremony to be held on March 14 at the UNESCO Paris headquarters. (Al Akhbar, February 26, 2019)

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Yazidi girls decapitated at last ISIS stronghold

26-2-2019

During its offensive against the last ISIS stronghold east of Syria, the British Air Force Special Unit discovered decapitated Yazidi girls and dumped in waste containers while they were forced into sex slavery by the terrorists organization, the Daily Mail reported on Sunday. An informed source told the British newspaper that, during their defeat and retreat, extremists knew no limits. They have cowardly slain women leaving their heads behind. On the other hand, the Lebanese An Nahar daily drew attention today to the fate of the French Tunisian woman Um Youssef, 21, who joined ISIS since 2014 to wear the niqab freely. In an interview with AFP, Um Youssef said that her dream vision of the Islamic State has not ended with the shrinking of ISIS hegemony to only half a square kilometer. I still wear the niqab and have faith in the Islamic State, no matter how small it is, she maintained. Um Youssef also mentioned that she heard of the US President’s appeal to the European countries to claim back their citizens held by US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces. I pray to God that this does not happen, Un Youssef grieved, stressing that she does not want her French citizenship back and does not recognize it in the first place. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, February 26, 2019)

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Civil marriage mobilizes both religious, sectarian circles

25-2-2019

The issue of the optional civil marriage in Lebanon, brought back to the forefront recently by minister Raya Hassan, is steering wide controversy after various religious authorities rallied to confront it. Following Dar el Fatwa’s admonition of the proposal, the Maronite Patriarch Rai’ declared on February 22 that the Church was not against civil marriage completely, but was against optional civil marriage, stating that laws should be mandatory for everyone. The Catholic Information Center director, Father Abdo abu Kassm, stressed on February 17, that the Church does not recognize civil marriage as it is entirely contrary to its rules. Likewise, the vice president of the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council, Sheikh Ali Khatib, on February 21, voiced strong objection to the issue for it encroaches on the Constitution and negates faith. Supreme Druze Sheikh Naim Hassan also rebuffed the proposal, according to Al Diyar newspaper. On the subject, House Speaker Nabi Berri reportedly told a Press Union delegation on February 18, that the optional civil marriage proposal is not on the table of discussion. Al Diyar said that prime minister, Saad Hariri, and minister Raya Hassan, faced by religious pressure, were forced to withdraw and suspend debate on the issue. On the other hand, dozens of civil marriage supporters staged a sit-in in front of the ministry of interior on Saturday asking the government to recognize civil marriages carried out in the country. Protestors hoisted banners which read: ‘Civil marriage not civil war’ and ‘I want civil marriage on home soil, I have flying phobia’. To note, the Lebanese State disallows civil marriage on its territory, but recognizes civil marriages completed abroad. Recalling, the government has proposed a civil marriage draft bill back in 1998, but was halted after wide opposition from religious authorities. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, February 20,22, 23, 25, 2019)

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