Other news

Hasbaya area boasts some 25 Saj bread bakeries each one employing between 5 to 12 women according to a work schedule that starts in early morning hours until noon time at a daily wage rate of LBP 25-35 thousand. Speaking to Al Diyar newspaper, one woman baker explained that each flour bag produces 40 to 50 packs of bread, containing 10 loaves per pack and sold at LBP 5,000 per one pack. In addition to the 25 Saj bakeries operating in this area, there are a number of housewives who operate form home and who have chosen to use their skill as a source of livelihood. Um Hussein who is one of them noted that this household activity provided her with a good source of subsistence to her family. (Al Diyar, 4 April 2015)

L’Orient Le Jour published on April 2 an interview with the representatives of German Agency for International Cooperation in Morocco, Heidi Belud and CEO of the Association for the Support of Self-Development in Tunisia, Asmaa Muhamadi Bin Mabrouk on the occasion of the fourth week of the Conference on Forests and Climate Change. The event which was held in Barcelona between March 17th and 20th was aimed at designing policies and plans for the conservation of forests in Mediterranean countries. Belud highlighted the gender gap which is present in the forestry sector while indicating that that effort should focus on two tracks. The first, she explained, is to enhance the participation of women in the management of the sector, and second, is to give greater attention to rural women who depend on forest life, while identifying their needs and mobilizing their efforts in selected local projects that can be of benefit to them. For her part, Bin Mabrouk shared the successful experience of her Association in promoting the participation of women in decision making and not only in project implementation. (L’Orient Le Jour, 2 April 2015)

The National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) called for the enactment of a new electoral law that will guarantee a women’s quota in Parliament by not less than 30% of total seats. NCLW, during a meeting of its executive board, urged women and civil society organizations to intensify their common efforts in order to push for the desired electoral law. The meeting also emphasized the important role that women play in challenging physical and non-physical violence, marginalization, infringements of their rights, and exclusion from public life and decision making processes. (Al Mustaqbal, 4 April 2015)

One year after the passing of the VAW law, KAFA launched a legal handbook entitled: ‘challenges of enactment of Law 293’, which summarizes debates with a large number of judges who pronounced during 2014 a series of women protection related legal decisions (Relate to the news on 1st of April, 2015). The guide, which outlines the effective mechanism to apply the law, is part of a UNFPA-supported project, was launched during a seminar at the Beirut Bar Association headquarters in Beirut, held in cooperation with the BBA family unit. The event was sponsored by BBA President, George Jreij, and was attended by a number of judges as well as representatives of civil society organizations and the Internal Security Forces. The Interim Relief Judge in Beirut, Jad Maaluf, and Appellate Lawyer assigned to look into domestic violence complaints in the capital, Judge Maya Kanaan, shared their experiences regarding the implementation of the VAW law. Kanaan stressed the importance of respecting the freedom of the plaintiff party to choose their expert reference for protection, pointing to challenges and gaps. For her part, KAFA representative, Lawyer Leila Awada outlined the objectives of the handbook and gave a synopsis of its basic features. Besides, a short film entitled ‘by the law’ was shown.  The film is based on true stories of women who were subjected to violence and resorted to law. (Al Mustaqbal, 2 April 2015)

A delegation of the Business and Professional Women – Beirut, took part in the sixty third conference of the Global Forum for Business Women in Bahrain. The event organized under the slogan: ‘our bridges to the world’, was held under the patronage of Princess Sabika Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of Bahrain King, and hosted delegations from 54 countries, including Lebanon. The Lebanese delegation which comprised 20 professional and business women from all sectors and specialties was unprecedented and represented a significant participation in such an international platform. (Al Diyar, 1 April 2015)

Since the passing on March 27th 2014 of the Law on the protection of women and family against domestic violence, the Judiciary has pronounced some 48 decisions out of 54 cases in favor of women who filed legal cases against their spouse for domestic violence, according to Leila Awada, the Head of the Legal Unit in the women right organization, KAFA. To this effect, attorney Nizar Sagiyyeh presented his interpretation of the recent judiciary record is dealing with implementation of the said law. He pointed out that some judges have adopted an open interpretation of the definition and criminalization of violent acts against women, whereby they did not restrict themselves only to cases directly stipulated by the Law. As such, recent cases included non-physical acts against the rights of women which are normally condoned by tradition and practice, like for example, preventing a woman from leaving the house or confiscating her identification documents or private property and using children as a mean for blackmailing. Sagiyyeh praised the attitude of judges who have created breakthroughs in protection measures. In fact these judges in their legal practices are no longer limiting the protection of minor children of the battered mother to the provisions of joint custody; instead they are now arguing that the child of a battered mother and a witness to his father’s brutal treatment of his wife, is also exposed to danger and therefore should be protected even if the request for protection did not include him. Sagiyyeh noted the significance and impact of civil society action and general public discourse in raising awareness among the Judiciary and consequently paving the way for developing laws, notwithstanding the political will. The development of laws, as he put it, is the result of an interactive relation between civil society, human rights groups and judges. In this respect, Awada noted that some judges tend now to expand protection measures pending a final legal decision on the fate of the matrimony relationships. For example, she explained, a Shia woman who normally will not get a divorce without the approval of her spouse was issued an indefinite protection decision made by Judge Hassan Hamdan in the case of a battered woman. With the enactment of the new law, the need to create protection shelters has become less urgent. Because of the new law women can now continue to live in their homes while forcing the violent husband to vacate it and to pay his wife an allowance. The issuing of the VAW law also encouraged battered women to seek help. Kafa data indicated that some 542 women have turned to the association for support since March of last year. (As Safir, 1 April 2015)

The traditional straw weaving craft is currently at risk of dying out in the village of Baysoor, Mount Lebanon. Being mainly a woman’s activity, local craftswomen are currently striving to revive it. One craftswoman, Ibtissam Malaeb, explained to Al Diyar newspaper that she “uses wheat straw because it is more resilient and resists damage.” She pointed to some 100-year-old utensils that are still in very good condition, she boasted. “We make kitchenware and utensils as well as decorative items,” she said. Voicing her concern over the fate of this endangered craft, Malaeb appealed to Ministries of Labor and Social Affairs to save this centuries-old tradition from extinction by giving crafters and manufacturers the right incentives and motivation. “Workers in the domain need the straws of wheat the least to continue in business,” she said. “There are many women out there who have stopped working for many reasons, mainly financial, adding that presently there are only 12 Baysoor women active in this industry”: Malaeb added. For his part, President of Green Hand association, Engineer Zaher Radwan told Al Diyar that the his association is presently setting up a syndicate for traditional artisans and manufacturers in an attempt to regulate, develop the sector and create new job opportunities. (Al Diyar, 29 March 2015)

The League of Lebanese Women’s Rights in Mount Lebanon and Al Risala Social Association held an event at Al Risala’s Hall in the town of Alley to commemorate the International Women’s Day. The occasion was held in the presence of Agriculture Minister, Akram Chehayeb, and Minister of the Displaced, Alice Shabtini, as well as representatives of various civil society groups. The ceremony devoted some of its time to honor leading women activist, Linda Matar, for her decades-long fight for women’s rights in Lebanon, who Chehayeb described as “the seeker of a bay for humankind in a world that has almost lost its humanity and kindness.” The Minister went on to say, “Matar is a defiant fighter for justice and equality and a fearless advocate for the dignity of working women, struggling mothers and women partners in citizenship.” He brought to mind some other distinguished women figures, like Wahida Sharafeddine, Jamal Obeid, Salma Sfeir, Anissa Najjar, Hayat Al Nakadi and Hayat Arsalan, pointing out that “honoring Matar is an honoring for all pioneers in the fight for equality”. For her part, Matar hoped that women can gain influential in the Cabinet so as to support their rightful demands. To conclude, Matar received a symbolic shield of appreciation before signing her latest book, “Landmarks of My Life”. (Al Mustaqbal, 30 March 2015)

Women students enrolled in communication at Saint Joseph University organized an evening at the Music Hall to support breadwinner mothers of disadvantaged students. Funds collected will be distributed among some 327 women providers who have filed for the USJ Administration assistance, as agreed with the Social Affairs Department at the University. The event which was held under the program “University for All” is part of several planned activities aiming to help mothers who strive to educate their children “at the best universities”. (An Nahar, 28 March 2015)