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Strict compulsory restrictions on Saudi women in amusement parks

21-9-2018

Saudi Arabia is enforcing inane restrictions on women at amusement parks, Al Diyar reported Monday. The newspaper pointed out that in Jedda, and specifically within the Abha Shopping Festival, the Never Never Land enforced strict conditions on women, the usual penalties imposed on Saudi women and compulsory instructions that should be observed. Al Diyar added that it is strictly prohibited for the woman to lift the abaya and show the pants or scream during the rides, pointing to a sign which does not really resemble an amusement park. Nevertheless, this is the case according to documented experiences of Saudi women with the mounting restrictions operated by such theme parks. Al Diyar said, that irrespective of her educational level or age, Saudi women cannot function without a man, even in cases of requesting the issuance of official documents where women have to be escorted by a male, who happens to be their son sometimes. The newspaper also wrote that women are not allowed to travel without a male guardian or enter football stadiums on the grounds that this is forbidden by Islam (haram) for involving a mixing of genders. In conclusion, the newspaper maintained that the participation of Saudi women in the public sector and the state did not exceed 1.5%, insinuating that the Kingdom is not on the right track of reform, which poses a great threat to Saudi women. (Al Diyar, September 17, 2018)

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Lebanese views on early marriage of girls and boys

19-9-2018

The Lebanese Women Democratic Gathering (LWDG) launched yesterday the results of the national poll, ‘The attitude of Lebanese society towards the marriage of underage boys and girls’, implemented in partnership with UN Women and Save the Children. The study highlights the views of the Lebanese from the phenomenon of early marriage, its causes and effects, in addition to the potential role of the Lebanese State to end it through endorsing a law that sets the minimum legal age of marriage at 18 years. The coordinator of campaigns and communication at LWDG, Hayat Mershad, presented the findings of the survey which showed that 84% of respondents were against early marriage and that 80% considered it as a punishable crime. As for the ideal age for marriage, 97% of respondents believed that the ideal age for females is 18 years and above, while 64% supported enacting a legislation that clearly determines the age of marriage at 18 years. According to the survey, those who supported early marriage belonged to the age group above 56 years, of which 9% maintained the ideal age for girls is between 15 and 17 years and opposed the marriage of boys under 18 years. Mershad explained that the real reasons driving parents to concede marriage of their underage girls are economic, or related to traditions, fear of celibacy or to avoid unchastity. Mershad concluded that working to prevent the marriage of underage girls and boys should not be limited to ratification of legislations only, but should involve parents and raising awareness among them on the risks of early marriage, accompanied by efforts to reduce poverty and achieve economic empowerment for families. (An Nahar, L’Orient Le Jour, September 19, 2018)

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Lebanon campaigns for equal pay for women and men

19-9-2018

The minister of state for women’s affairs in the caretaker government, Jean Ogassapian, launched yesterday the so-called national campaign for equal pay called upon by the minister’s office and the Business and Professional Women Lebanon association. The campaign aims to raise women’s awareness about their rights in equal pay for equal work and similar aptitudes and qualifications like their male peers, said the president of BPW Lebanon, Carmen Zgheib. The benefits of equal pay are not exclusive to women though, Zgheib added, noting that this will increase the productivity and competitiveness and create a positive work environment. Lebanon, she said, needs a campaign for equal pay to eliminate discrimination in this area, stressing that the responsibility to reduce the gender gap in salaries rests on the Lebanese State, trade unions and companies. The one-month campaign seeks to lift injustice against women, she maintained. Ogassapian, for his part, expressed his relief saying discrimination in salaries in the public sector does not exist, but is required in the private sector through the application of certain rules. (Al Akhbar, September 19, 2018)

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Femme Francophone Entrepreneure 2018

18-9-2018

The Francophone University Agency (AUF) concluded on Thursday the Femme Francophone Entrepreneure 2018 competition at the USJ Sports and Innovation Complex. The competition, to recall, was launched back in 2011 by AUF, Berytech, L’Orient Le Jour with funding from SGBL bank and is aimed at supporting women entrepreneurship. The candidacy for this year’s event opened on May 16 till June 20 and eligible projects were selected on June 22. Winning women entrepreneurs received training on how to develop work plans and they will share the prize of 20,000 euros. (Al Akhbar, September 18, 2018)

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Increasing divorce rate in Lebanon

17-9-2018

Al Diyar today tackled the issue of divorce in Lebanon, pointing out that despite its soaring rates, it is not out of the ordinary. The phenomenon, Al Diyar explained, lies in the high percentage of young people seeking divorce shortly after marriage or even before, during the engagement period. On the subject, the newspaper spoke with family sociology researcher, Zuheir Hatab, who revealed that marriage contracts reached 1500 contracts as compared to 400 divorce cases every year. This, he said, is equivalent to %32, including 12% of divorces among couples who broke up after creating a family, and the remaining who broke up while they were still young and engaged or soon after they wed. Similarly, clinical psychologist, Dr. Abbas Makki, pointed out that separation during the engagement period indicates a more problematical issue if weighed against the reasons for divorce after marriage, which is the inability of the young couple to experience marital life under one roof. For his part, the Jaafari Court consultant, Sheikh Abdel Halim Charara, said the change in the social status of women due to education and work produces a rejection of certain arrangements in the marital relationship, including, giving the husband the authority or the right to abuse or batter his wife. The problem, Charara maintained, is not in the position reached by the woman herself, but in the inadequate relationship ordained by the institution of marriage. In conclusion, Charara stressed that this institution is currently shaken in preparation to reach an unwavering formula, noting that this phase is brought about by an ancient inequity and imbalance in bringing up women and pigeonholing them as second rate creatures. (Al Diyar, September 17, 2018)

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Naya An Nahar: A section spotlighting talents, challenges of women

13-9-2018

An Nahar newspaper announced today that it is launching its new Naya section devoted to highlight the role of women in Lebanon. The aim is to support Lebanese women through focusing on their talents, innovations, challenges and their empowerment in the fields entrepreneurship, family, fashion, health and culture. The section is expected to tackle challenges women face in the absence of laws that protect female workers, mothers, students and activists and help them find conceivable and empowering solutions or initiatives. Naya will mainly target the women of Tripoli, Batroon, Beit Meri, Saida, Nabatiyeh, Deir el Qamar and Baalbaq who grew up in the Arab Gulf, Canada, Europe and the US. The editor of Naya section, Sally Farhat, said articles are not going to address the challenges in their traditional context, stressing that coverage will be exceptional. An Nahar will publish the Naya content on its social media platforms, namely, Instagram@nayabeirut, Twitter@Beirut Nayat and An Nahar’s English website: .https://en.annahar.com/section/699-naya. (An Nahar, September 13, 2018)

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“Jezzine Bikes” turns a stay-at-home mother into an entrepreneur

12-9-2018

In its issue of yesterday, Al Akhbar newspaper spotlighted the successful experience of Cherine Abu Rached who became an entrepreneur in her town with only 11,000 euros, two small wooden kiosks and a few bicycles. Abu Rashed, 30-year old mother of two from Jezzine, started her small business after she was introduced to Oxfam through the Jezzine Cultural Hub. Her proposal for the Jezzine Bikes project which she submitted to an ideas competition organized by the association was accepted. Marco Ricci from Oxfam coordinated the project and the EU funded it, the newspaper said, pointing out that Abu Rached has attended intensive management and creative marketing training sessions with a team from Oxfam. Today, she runs her own business, including accounting, with the help of one employee. In an interview with Al Akhbar, Abu Rached said she could not find anywhere more convenient to implement her undertaking, noting that the town lacks this type of sports and touristic ventures for more than 50 years. Besides, she added, not everyone can afford to buy a bicycle, therefore, whoever wants to take up this healthy sport can do that by renting a bike for LBP 8,000 per hour. (Al Akhbar, September 11, 2018)

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Lebanese Film Festival in tribute to women

12-9-2018

The Lebanese Film Festival is expected to kick off its 13th edition next Monday paying tribute to Lebanese women with a selection of films, seminars and workshops. Festival director, Wafaa Halawi, said during a press conference that the new round will open on September 17th with Nadine Labaki’s latest Cannes award-winning Capharnaum movie and will close on September 21st with widely acclaimed film, ‘The Hour of Liberation’ by Heini Srour, the first Lebanese woman director to have her film screened at Cannes International Film Festival in 1974. Halawi told Reuters that this year’s festival will feature around 65 films, including 60 Lebanese films, mostly by women. The festival’s committee, she explained, has chosen Labaki’s and Srour’s films respectively for the opening and the closing ceremonies to underline the important role played by Lebanese women in cinema and art, tackling social, political and philosophical issues. For her part, the director of Bande a Part Productions, Carole Mizher, announced a new partnership between her foundation and the Lebanese Film Festival aimed at organizing an intensive workshop for Francophone women in the Mediterranean concurrently with the festival. Beneficiaries will be offered full accommodation during the workshop which will teach them how to develop their cinematic and script writing skills. (An Nahar, September 11, 2018)

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Canadian gold medal to Lebanese woman for academic excellence

12-9-2018

Nadia Nafi, Lebanese assistant professor at Concordia University, Montreal, received the Governor General’s Gold Medal in recognition for her academic excellence in the human and society category, L’Orient Le Jour reported. Nafi, the newspaper said, has acquired the highest cumulative grade for her doctorate degree in educational technology for the year 2018, noting that the medal is awarded to outstanding scholastic achievements of students at the university and has been conferred to prominent figures in art, journalism, politicians and scientists. On the occasion, Nafi stressed that the medal is of great value to her, especially as an immigrant, non-English speaking woman and mother. This again proves to the world the strength and determination of Lebanese women, she maintained, sending a message to Lebanese mothers who are not bold enough to invest in their capacities outside the comfort zone of their homes. “Don’t underestimate your abilities, find a support system and you shall give a wonderful role model to your children,” Nafi said. Nafi, to recall, graduated as an interior designer from LAU in 1995. Her graduation project ‘the modern prison’ was designed to help young inmates comprehend their criminal behavior and empower them to become indispensable citizens to their nation. In 2008, she traveled to Canada for post graduate studies and enrolled in Concordia University to specialize in educational technology. Her doctoral thesis focused on studying the impact of media and social media on the young people’s rationale in accepting or rejecting the other and the effect of this on social integration. (L’Orient Le Jour, September 8, 2018)

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Securing healthy day care services in southern suburbs

10-9-2018

The Islamic Health Society (Al Hay’aa al Sihiya al Islamiya) announced the results of ‘Identifying the needs of daycares’ project based on classification of a number of kindergartens located within the area of its work in the Southern Suburbs in order to secure a healthy child-friendly environment. The results were issued one day after the health ministry decided to shut down four nurseries in several Lebanese regions due to their ill-treatment of children. (c.f:https://bit.ly/2wTjKN9). The classification, to note, covered 33 licensed daycares within the geographic area of Beirut’s Southern Suburbs. The results came as follows: 9 daycares were rated ‘Excellent’, 7 rated as ‘Advanced’, 9 as ‘Very Good’, and 5 as ‘Good’ and 1 as ‘Poor’, noting that the standards and specifications on which Al Hay’aa based its results are the same as those adopted by the health ministry. According to Al Hay’aa’s program director Alya Siblani, obtaining a license from the ministry should be the first condition to be taken into consideration by the child’s parents. The conditions to acquire a license, Siblani explained, are not difficult to get, like the nature of the building or construction, the necessary equipment and installations, like beds, etc, and provision of emergency measures for the prevention from dangers and accidents. Siblani pointed out that the permits are issued only once, and can be modified if the license owner wanted to add annexes, sections or other items that require adaptation, noting that the ministry has introduced a decree to renew licenses every two years. Similarly, the head of the Mother and Child Health Department at the ministry, Pamela Mansour, disclosed that currently there are 470 licensed nurseries in Lebanon, pointing to the lack of statistics on the number of unlicensed daycares which flourished over the past few years making it difficult to give a clear estimate on them. (Al Akhbar, September 8, 2018)

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