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Future seminar in Tripoli on women empowerment

13-12-2018

In the presence of MP Dima Jamali, the Future Movement’s Women’s Sector in Tripoli organized yesterday a talk in Tripoli entitled, ‘From women’s empowerment to strengthening women in society’. Jamali emphasized the importance of women’s empowerment, pointing out that governments with wise leaderships recognize and are well aware of the status of women and their unlimited role in the development of societies and how to benefit from their capacities in achieving remarkable growth. Jamali stressed that empowerment is facilitated through expanding women’s education and later increasing their access to the labor market where they can unleash their creativity. She maintained that the objectives of the 17 sustainable development goals are based on realizing Goal 5, which supports the right of women and girls everywhere to enjoy equal rights and opportunities and to live a life free of all forms of violence and discrimination. Jamali considered economic empowerment as the most fundamental and challenging step, because independence is the outcome of economic empowerment which allows women to develop themselves through job creation. In conclusion, the Future MP said violence against women in all its forms slows down the accomplishment of their goals, stressing the importance of awareness of the prevalence and observance of a special law that protects them and their family members from domestic violence. (Al Mustaqbal, December 13, 2018)

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UN gender assessment: Lebanon's constitution is among the worst

13-12-2018

A gender justice and law assessment study prepared by ESCWA, UNFPA and UNWomen (c.f: https://bit.ly/2SHQUYz), has shown that the majority of Arab states put restrictions on the freedom of women, noting that the 18 countries covered by the report are: Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, and Morocco. On the special chapter on Lebanon, the study presented a bleak summary of the status of women in the Lebanese legislations, placing the Lebanese constitution among the worst in terms of not ensuring gender equality or the minimum protection against gender-based violence. The report also pointed to the deprivation of Lebanese women from their right to confer nationality to their children and non-Lebanese spouses, adding that Lebanese laws are still incomplete vis-à-vis domestic violence, specially that marital rape is not considered a felony. The report however praised a positive element which criminalizes rape outside marriage. Regarding personal status laws, the assessment study indicated an absence of a law that prohibits early marriage, pointing to a difference in the minimum age of marriage according to the different religious sects but which is detrimental to girls. In Lebanon, the study sustained, all religions sanction the marriage of girls under 18, noting that women do not enjoy equal rights in marriage and divorce like their male partners by virtue of these laws. As for the labor law, the assessment report highlighted Article 26 which disallows discrimination against women in wages. (An Nahar, December 13, 2018)

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Financial support to women’s micro businesses

12-12-2018

In collaboration with Vitas, Fransabank distributed on December 10 a sum of USD 10,000 as partial disbursements to repay the micro credit loans that have been selected according to the indicators of sustainability, growth and profitability of respective businesses. During the ceremony, Fransabank general manager, Nabil Kassar, stressed the importance of partnership with Vitas S.A.L which began in 2007, pointing to its leading contribution to supporting low-income groups and promoting balanced development over all the country. Kassar also stressed that achieving sustainable development is one of the essential pillars upon which the bank bases its values and culture. This, he maintained, falls within the UN sustainable development goals, notably Goal 8 related to decent work and economic growth. Regarding Fransabank initiatives in terms of financial inclusion, it recorded about 21,000 micro credit loans equivalent to USD 41 million as of the end of 2017, with the rate of women beneficiaries reaching 41%. To recall, in 2018, Fransabank had distributed 10 loans divided equally among men and women aged between 20-27 years. ( Al Diyar, December 12, 2018)

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Gender equality assessment in Arab region

11-12-2018

During a conference on gender justice and law held in Beirut yesterday, ESCWA, UNFPA and UNIFEM released an assessment study of the laws influencing gender equality in 18 Arab countries. The assessment was based on the position of each country vis-a-vis CEDAW agreement, as well as, the text of the Constitution, the nationality law, criminal laws, personal status and labor laws of said countries. Participants in the study concluded that Arab states are moving towards gender equality, but that additional legislative contributions are needed to this end and to protect women from violence, according to L’Orient Le Jour newspaper. The assessment found out that reforms in many Arab states focused on domestic violence and sexual harassment, while much remains to be done, pointing to legal and constitutional gaps that overlook gender equality. The study also noted that not one single country covered by the survey explicitly criminalized marital rape, and that family laws did not observe equal rights of women with their partners in matters of marriage, divorce, guardianship and children custody. (L’Orient Le Jour, December 11, 2018)

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‘Thank you Soma’, documentary on migrant domestic workers

11-12-2018

In its issue of today, Al Akhbar newspaper highlighted a new documentary by Lebanese film director Carole Mansour about migrant women domestic workers in Lebanon entitled, ‘Thank you Soma’. Mansour portrays the relationship of Lebanese woman ‘Nour’ with the migrant worker Soma who played a big role in her education. A film to remind us to not lay down our arms but instead, continue to contemplate and question the inherent complexity and injustice in the treatment of MWDWs, according to the director. The first screening of the documentary will be on December 18, 2018, 8:30 pm, at Metropolis, Empire Sofil Cinema (Ashrafieh, Beirut), open invitation, to be followed by Q&A discussion with the director. For more information, kindly call: 01-204080. (Al Akhbar, December 11, 2018)

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Ban on Ethiopian domestic workers’ traveling to Lebanon for protective reasons

10-12-2018

In its issue of December 8, Al Akhbar newspaper brought to light last month’s decision by the Ethiopian government to ban the travel of its nationals to Lebanon after the Lebanese labor minister refused to sign a memorandum of understanding to improve the conditions and rights of female migrant domestic workers (https://bit.ly/2QmNIF6). On the subject, the director of FENASOL, Castro Abdallah, explained that the MoU entails many provisions, notably, raising the salary of the MWDW, limiting working hours, and ensuring the right to a day off per week, but did not clarify if the memo required an annulment of the sponsorship (kafala) system. For his part, the member of the Syndicate of Recruiting Agencies, Hisham Bourji, said that the MoU was submitted to the labor ministry three years ago, but was not given priority and was delayed by bureaucratic processes which prevented its immediate approval in signing. In a related vein, some human rights jurists have voiced their concern over the enactment of the travel ban. ILO’s FAIRWAY/Work in Freedom project coordinator, Zeina Mezher, pointed out that although the ban is a means of pressure to improve working conditions in the country of destination, however, studies have shown that it increases the risk of exploitation and trafficking in persons. In her turn, Kafa lawyer, Joanna Isaac, said Lebanon’s failure to sign the agreement could increase the cost on Lebanese employers and the worker herself who often bears the high costs even before her arrival to Lebanon and during her first three months of stay. (Al Akhbar, December 8, 2018)

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Law against early marriage hostage of confessional bodies

7-12-2018

The Parliament Secretariat, the Lebanese Democratic Women’s Gathering and the National Alliance for the Protection of Children from Early Marriage held a consultative meeting on December 4 under the banner, ‘Legal arguments on early marriage of children in Lebanon, and its relationship with international agreements’. On the occasion, NCLW president, Claudine Aoun, reminded of the draft bill submitted to the parliament which sets the minimum age for marriage at 18 for boys and girls with no exceptions until after the completion of 16 years and after the legal guardian receives consent of the juvenile court judge. Aoun pointed out that given the fact that all faiths reject and condemn violence, the marriage of children is considered one of many forms of violence against girls. She explained that the capacity the Lebanese State kept to the confessional and spiritual authorities in personal status matters does not mean that the State should relinquish its role in protecting its citizens and defending their rights. For his part, the minister of state for women’s affairs in the caretaker government, Jean Ogassapian, questioned the possibility of enacting a law outside the framework established and recognized by the various religious sects in the country? On the other hand, L’Orient Le Jour newspaper reported that while representatives of the FPM, PSP, Kataeb and LF parties have supported the minimum age of 18 without exceptions, Hizbullah MP Nawwaf Mousawi, reiterated that determining the age of marriage is the responsibility of spiritual authorities. The Future Movement did not participate in the meeting, according to the newspaper. (L’Orient Le Jour, December 5, 2018)

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Another missing woman this time in Qaa’!

7-12-2018

The phenomenon of kidnapped and missing women continues to spread in Lebanon (c.f: https://bit.ly/2Sz3qJE). Following the circulation of pictures of missing women in less than one month in the regions of Tannourin, the Southern Suburbs, Shweifat and Akkar, the General Directorate of Internal Security Forces circulated yesterday, the picture of yet another Syrian national. Zeinab Arafat (17), has disappeared after she left her house in Qaa’ on December 1, the Directorate stated, asking anyone who has information or saw the woman in question to call the Qaa’ police station, the regional gendarmerie unit, at the following number: 08 /225159. (Al Mustaqbal, December 7, 2018)

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Head of Lebanese-Gulf business development against women’s quota

6-12-2018

The head of the Lebanese-Gulf Business Development Commission, Elie Rizk, reportedly rejected the women’s representation quota in the legislature, according to Al Diyar yesterday. He said he preferred to see females get their rights through the work they perform, in criticism of some women who entered the parliament but were preoccupied with serving their own interests while not participating in drafting bills like European female lawmakers who, he claimed, respect their occupation. Rizk also condemned discrimination inside Lebanese unions of business women, like the union headed by Madiha Arslan, which is not represented by one single man, compared to businessmen’s associations that include women members. (Al Diyar, December 5, 2018)

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2018 Award winner, Lebanese architect Hala Yunis

5-12-2018

The Lebanese architect, Hala Yunis, won the Middle East Architect Award (MEA Award) for 2018 in Dubai. Yunis participated in the residential project offices from various countries of the Middle East region. Her winning project, ‘The terrace Villa’ is located in Qalaat al Hsar, Batrun area, Lebanon and was built in a stone quarry deserted for 30 years. To note, Yunis was given the award in recognition of the simplicity and modesty of the project, as well as, its harmony with nature and its blending with the landscape for maximum use of the sun in the upper level and the view of the valley in the lower level. Accepting the award, Younis said she was happy to receive it, stressing that residential projects have to stay humble and integrated. (An Nahar, December 5, 2018)

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