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American women & President Trump

7-9-2018

Al Diyar newspaper published today a poll by the Washington Post on American women and their position vis-a-via US President Donald Trump. The poll showed that 66% of women respondents disapproved Trump’s action as a president of the United States of America. The survey also indicated that nearly 59% of women potential electors said they categorically rejected Trump’s actions in the presidency, while 30% of women showed their support, including 20% who strongly supported him. According to the Washington Post survey, around 89% of women respondents expressed their desire to take part in the midterm congressional elections, and 65% backed the Democratic Party’s victory, expecting it to face the Republican led US Administration. To recall, that during the midterm elections planned for November 6, some 435 members of Congress, one third of senators and most of conservatives will be re-elected. The US political life, liberty and even the life of Trump and his family members depends on the results of these elections. Should Democrats secure a majority of congressional seats, Trump will be reportedly in danger of impeachment and complicity with Russia, Al Diyar wrote. (Al Diyar, September 6, 2018)

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Lebanon ranks low globally in protecting women from violence

6-9-2018

In its issue of today, Al Akhbar newspaper published a report by the World Bank entitled, ‘Women, Business and the Law 2018’, covering 189 countries. The report is the fifth edition in a series of biennial reports issued every two years measuring the discrimination and exploitation of women and the legal obstacles impeding their economic contribution. According to Al Akhbar, the report is based on a number of indicators related to women’s human rights, CEDAW and relevant international conventions, with emphasis on the prevalent legislative, social and cultural systems in the subject countries. Regarding Lebanon, it ranked six among Arab countries as the least discriminating country against women, but posted low in protection of women against violence compared to other Middle Eastern countries. Also, Lebanon posted lower indicators in relation to employment and incentives for employment, property rights, compared to higher middle income countries in the region. Overall, Lebanon recorded 22 out of 50 indicators measuring discrimination against women (according to the World Bank study criteria), as it lacks property laws that protect women in the event of divorce, in addition to discriminatory laws in inheritance matters, equal pay for women in compensation for jobs of the same value, and jobs that are banned for women. Regarding the protection and provision of a decent and safe workplace for women, the study has shown a lack of legislations that combat harassment at work. (For the full report, kindly visit the following link: http://wbl.worldbank.org. (Al Akhbar, September 6, 2018)

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Closing of 4 nurseries because of child ill-treatment

6-9-2018

The Health Ministry Information Office announced yesterday that after receiving complaints on the ministry’s hotline (1214), against a number of child daycare centers, inspection teams from the Mother and Child Department conducted field visits to verify these complaints. The office added in its statement that based on the results of the field visits, the health minister Ghassan Hasbani issued four circulars, requiring the suspension of the license and temporary shutdown of a nursery in Zuq Mkhayel after a child broke his leg as a result of an accident; freezing the licenses and closing for one month of two kindergartens in Shiyah and Tripoli because of repeated abuses of children, including biting, and freezing the license of a nursery in Jal el Dib for verbally abusing a child. The office stressed that the suspension should be considered as the last warning before final closure if violations continue. (An Nahar, September 6, 2018)

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Positive official attitude towards a gender equal nationality law

5-9-2018

In its issue of today, The Daily Star examined the nationality law which gives women the right to confer nationality to their children and spouses, pointing that concerned activists are sensing a more positive attitude in official stands, especially in light of the draft bill submitted in August by the PSP to this effect (c.f: http://lkdg.org/ar/node/17714), while also noting that the advisor to the prime minister on women’s affairs, Abir Chbaro, has stressed that the Future Movement bloc is preparing its own proposal to this end. On the subject, the coordinator of My Nationality is a Right for Me and My Family Campaign, Karima Chebbo, maintained a change in the political view which has become more flexible in recognizing the right of women to equality with their male peers in granting nationality to their family members. She noted that this matter faced rejection in the past, reminding of a similar draft law put for review in 2012 by former premier Najib Mikati but that was turned down on the pretext that it creates demographic change in the country (c.f: http://www.lkdg.org/ar/node/8990). And while Chebbo made clear that the issue is currently being treated seriously and positively but that there will be resistance to the idea to hamper its endorsement, she promised to continue the struggle because this is the right of women, and a right is a right, regardless of religion, or doctrine or sex or color, as she said. The Daily Star also recalled the foreign minister Jibran Bassil’s nationality draft which excluded women married to nationals from neighboring states, namely Palestinians and Syrians. (The Daily Star, September 5, 2018)

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First time in Tunisia: A single woman allowed to adopt a child

31-8-2018

In a precedent in Tunisia, the judiciary overturned in a ruling issued on August 12 the conditions of adoption permitting a single woman to adopt a child. The district court in the Tunisian capital agreed to allow a single woman to adopt an unknown child girl, noting that chapter 9 of the relevant act requires that the adopting party be married. The court decision maintained that the child in question suffers a severe health condition (amputated leg) and that no family has requested her adoption so far, noting that the 4 year old girl has been at the National Institute for Child Protection (INPE) since November 3, 2016. The ruling added, that as the woman expressed her willingness to take care of the child and provide the necessary treatment for her disability, the court considered this as sufficient for conceding the request, while noting that it is contrary to the text of the law in effect. The ruling made clear that despite violation of one condition of the adoption law, which is marriage, the request has secured other requisites, including integrity, good conduct and financial convenience. (Lebanon 24, 30 August 2018)

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Increased duties for Syrian women but no improvement in their legal status

31-8-2018

In a special article today on Syrian women breadwinners, Al Akhbar newspaper pointed out to the present emergency and disastrous situation that have challenged the traditional reproductive roles of women. Conservative communities, the newspaper wrote, were forced to accept the idea of women working in a mixed environment to provide for their families in the absence of male wage earners. Breaking taboos was not the result of feminist movement activities, but rather due to growing responsibilities on women, however, their status in Syrian laws did not improve, Al Akhbar said. It stressed that the arrival of a number of women to top leadership positions in the country did not generate any civil progress. No real efforts have been made to amend or change the personal status laws, despite its obvious injustice vis-à-vis the rights of Syrian women, Al Akhbar wrote. In the details, the newspaper mentioned that with the arrival of Hadiya Abbas to the presidency of the people’s assembly a few years ago, there was some optimism at first but which was not based on solid grounds. This achievement made by Syrian women, compared to neighboring countries, did not have positive impact on her daily reality, as senior posts have rarely been given to human rights advocates or activists campaigning for the civil rights of women, the newspaper concluded. The feature can be found on the following link: https://goo.gl/pcyAdb. (Al Akhbar, August 31, 2018)

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First time in Lebanon: Women participate in world golf tournament

31-8-2018

The Lebanese women’s golf team participated for the first time in the six day World Championship for women hosted by the Irish capital, Dublin. Lebanon will be competing with 58 countries, including two other Arab states, Tunisia and Morocco, noting that the Lebanese team is the youngest in the tournament. It includes, Vanessa Richai (16) and Lea and Sarah Assaf (15) in addition to Captain Akram Richani and coach Hussein Assaf. This is the first appearance at this level and will be unique and useful for Lebanon. To note, the new federation, commissioned at the end of 2016, developed a vision under the title 2020 with the aim to create teams of youth and women to take part in various tournaments. The team has also received a special greeting from the president of the International Golf Federation (IGF) who welcomed the Cedar Ranks for their first appearance. (Al Mustaqbal, August 31, 2018)

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Divorced Lebanese women allowed to included children in their personal registry

30-8-2018

The general Director of Personal Status at the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, General Elias Khouri, issued yesterday a memorandum allowing divorced Lebanese women to include their children in their civil register. The move was justified as being within the framework of ensuring gender equality in access to official documentation within and beyond the civil register. The memorandum further added that “all heads of civil register offices are required to provide divorced women, upon demand, with a civil register which includes the name of their children, and their register numbers and that is after coordination with the civil register in question”. The statement further added that “divorced Lebanese women, should they want to, may obtain a civil register with the names of all her children from pervious divorce/s. The request is to be made by the person in question or through her legal representative to the general Director of Personal Status.” Laila Awada, activist lawyer working with Kafa, noted that this will benefit women who were denied this right . Coordinator of My Nationality is a Right for Me and My Family, Karima Chebbo, welcomed this step by called for bolder actions to maintain the full citizenship if women as independent beings namely a broader reform of family laws. Karima further lamented that this move excludes women whose children are not nationals. (Al Mustakba and Al Akhbar, August 30th 2018)

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International Venice Film Festival criticized for being male dominated

30-8-2018

The International Venice Film Festival which opened yesterday was under heavy criticism because of its male dominated representation with only one woman director participating in the official competition.  With this milestone transformed by Hollywood as a launching pad for the subsequent Oscar selections with new works signed by Damien Shazel and the Queen brothers and Alfonso Quaron as well as the launch of Lady Gaga on the silver screen, feminist activists heavily criticized the event for only including one woman director for the Lion D’Or award.  Responding to these critiques, the artistic director of the Venice Film Festival, Alberto Barbera, said that he would rather “change his career” rather than accept pressures to have a women quota.  To be noted that the Cannes, Toronto and Locarno Film Festivals have all pledged to work towards ensuring gender equality amongst competitors for the awards.   Barbera’s statement faced critiques by the Union of European Women Directors which released a public statement saying that “the matter is unbelievable” and adding that “when Barbera threatens to withdraw, he is furthering the theory which assumes that choosing works by women directors is subject to lower standards”. (An Nahar, August 30th 2018)

Previous related news:
World women film stars calling for gender equality
 

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Saudi women passionate about racing challenging patriarchal traditions

29-8-2018

An Nahar newspaper wrote today about the phenomenon of Saudi women who appreciate speed driving, which was undreamed of just a few weeks ago. The article spotlighted 30-year-old Rana Maimouni, the motor racing enthusiast, who said she defies inherited sexist view of driving, that limits women’s driving to dainty colorful cars with limited mechanical options. Warming up her silvery car inside Riyadh’s Dirab motor part, Maimouni said she adored speed and dreams of owning a car with more than 500 horsepower. The talk that Saudi women only like pink and cute cars is a myth, she stated, adding that she is anticipating a government decision to permit women in the Kingdom to obtain a ‘racing license’ which will allow her to refine her passion in racing competitions. In conclusion, An Nahar wrote that many Saudi women were inspired by the experience of Aseel Hamad, the first female member of the Saudi National Motor Federation, and the first female to drive a Formula One car in France this past June to mark the end of the driving ban. A number of women are also training on riding motorbikes at a driving school in the capital, a scene which is an anomaly in the preservative country. (An Nahar, August 29, 2018)

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