Other news

The Human Rights Centre at the USEK Law School in Kaslik organized a seminar on the issue of prostitution which aimed at creating a space for dialogue on the realities of prostitution in Lebanon and how to combat it. The event included a discussion about Lebanese laws in relation to sexual exploitation of women.  It also included a number of interventions notably by Lorenza Trulli of the UNHCR on displaced Syrian women refugees who were coerced into prostitution.  Judge Reine Matar spoke about the nebulous nature of the law in relation to prostitution.  She also spoke about the causes of prostitution, its evolution and widespread trend.  The representative of the Ministry of Social Affairs, psychologist Maria Bruni, noted that prostitution is neither a choice nor a conscious decision but rather a result of difficult psychological and social circumstances.  Bruni concluded by presenting a number of recommendations notably: the set-up pf a programme to treat both victims and perpetrators, raising public awareness and education in collaboration with CSOs, formulating policies to combat trafficking in women and children and to protect displaced and refugee women.
Source: Al-Nahar 17 October 2014

American Ambassador David Hale attended yesterday the sixth national graduation ceremony of the Teaching Women English (TWE) programme which is implemented by Hayya Bina and Ma3akum associations with financial support from the American Embassy.  In his keynote address, Hale called for unity in facing groups that are seeking to create hatred.  He emphasized the importance of learning new things, meet new people and exchange ideas to challenge extremism.  The director of Ma3akum, Ghena 3allush, who is implementing the project in Northern  Lebanon, noted for her part that at a time when the region was invading the news with events related to violence, extremism and explosions, her organization was collaborating with municipalities and local NGOs from diverse affiliations to strengthen the concept of conviviality through meeting around education and learning amongst women who are coming from diverse backgrounds and who wish to arm themselves with knowledge.  The event was concluded by the distribution of certificates to some 720 graduates who completed 36 sessions which were spread over 6 months.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Diyar, 17 November 2014

L'Orient le Jour noted in an article published today that, in spite of the recent control efforts carried out by the Minister of Labor, Sijaan Azzi, the bringing in of migrant domestic workers to Lebanon, by employment offices continue to be subject of gross violations especially in relation to setting costs.  According to the newspaper, the overall costs covered by future employers include price of the air ticket, admin expenses in source countries, and honorarium for the employment offices.  L'OlJ ascertains that the calculation of the overall costs largely varies in range and is a factor of these aforementioned costs, noting that employment offices tend to manipulate bills and receipts.
The newspaper further stated that the salary of migrant women domestic workers depend on their nationality and may vary between USD 180 and USD 250 and will normally include the cost of the work permit, health insurance, lab tests, etc..., and may all add up to USD 500 – 600, which is more than the current minimum wage of USD 450 in Lebanon.  
(Source: L’Orient le Jour 14 November 2014)

 

Al Nahda Women Gathering convened a seminar yesterday on “the civil marriage contract in personal status laws” with the participation of the president of the Gathering as well as the member of the committee entrusted with the preparation of a civil family law within the Bar Association, lawyer Iqbal Dughan.  The event was attended by a large number of heads of women organizations, representatives of women sectors in political parties, and a number of people interested and active in the social and human rights sector. Mona Fares, the president of the Gathering noted that the issue of the civil family code is relevant to all current issues namely rampant confessionalism and problems of acceptance of other citizens.  The issue of civil family laws are also related to the practice of daily living that is not well known to citizens especially in relation to inheritance and custody rights.  Fares noted that the National Social Syrian Party had already submitted a proposal for a civil code to the Parliament back in 1997.  She stressed that the party will continue its struggle for the endorsement of this law as this will build citizens that have a national belonging rather than an allegiance to a confession.
For her part, Iqbal Doughan spoke about the current civil codes which adopt different religious precepts.  She added that religious courts cannot continue replacing civil courts in matter related to family law such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and custody thus the need for change.  She reiterated the importance of organizing family laws around a civil basis as the only way to resolve problems; mainstream the justice system and ensure justice amongst all citizens.

(Source: Al Diyyar 12 November, 2014)

 

Minister of Labor, Sejaan Azzi, issued yesterday a statement in which he requests all employment offices to remove all forms of advertisement regarding the recruitment of migrant women domestic workers and which violate human dignity especially since some these employment offices advertise their work through the media and through public posts and use inappropriate language such as “we secure servants”… “the cost of bringing in a servant”…”cost may be paid in installments”, “24 hour servant”, and “servants upon requests”. Azzi considered that such forms of advertising violate local laws and international ILO conventions.  He confirmed that should employment offices fail to remove their advertisement, the Ministry will consider these behavior as a form of trafficking and the employment offices will be liable to legal pursuits.

(Source: Annahar and Assafir 12 November 2014)

 

The Minister of Agriculture, Akram Chehayeb, organised a Press Conference he held yesterday after presiding over the meeting of the committee to plant 40 million trees convened by the Cabinet.  During the press conference, Chehayeb revealed that degradation of the vegetation covering Lebanon has shrank from 13% to 11% despite the reforestation interventions because tree logging and violations of forests have gone on unabated regardless of the tens of files deposited with the district attorney. The conference was attended by the General Director of Cooperatives, President of the Administrative Committee of the Green Project, Gloria Abi- Zeid, representatives of the concerned ministries: environment, education, defense, interior, youth and sports, justice, finance, energy, and agriculture, of NGOs and the private sector.  Chehayeb further said that although several forest criminals have been referred to the juridical system, such crimes are recurrent on a daily basis.  He added that the meeting aimed at regulating the reforestation sector as well as protecting forests.  In a related vein, Cheyayeb added that a mechanism has been launched to develop a national reforestation plan which should be implemented during the upcoming 2014-20015 reforestation season which is about to kick off.  He also noted that the said committee will re-start its work during the month of November and so as to prepare for launching the committee’s plan during a national conference that will be held at the Grand Serail on December 10th coincinding with the celebration of the Day of the Tree.

(Source: Annahar, Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, Al Akhbar, 11 November 2014)

 

Within the framework of the project entitled “Emergency project to support poorest families in Lebanon” financed by the World Bank (USD 8.2 million), the Minister of Social Affairs, Rachid Derbas, launched yesterday a new service in the form of a temporary food vouchers available to the poorest families.  The vouchers are financed by the Lebanese government, the World Bank and UNHCR which contributed USD 3 million as well as technical support from the World Food Programme.  Derbas indicated that the total number of beneficiaries has reached 5,076 Lebanese families (or 27,209 individuals) considered to be the poorest and registered in the Project as such.  The number of beneficiaries is expected to reach some 36,000 persons by then end of this year. Derbas further clarified that each member of the targeted families receives an amount of USD 30 a month whilst the cap is put on 6 members per family.  He concluded by saying that the beneficiaries from the food vouchers are spread all over Lebanon but that the highest concentration can be found in the North and the Beqaa where poverty pockets are widespread, adding that Tripoli counts 922 beneficiaries whilst Akkar 2229 beneficiaries and Northern Beqaa 639 beneficiaries.

Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Diyar 6 October 2014

Smart centre for media and advocacy concluded the second phase of its leadership programme “She Leads” implemented in Byblos, Tripoli and Nabatyeh during a six month period with funding from the American Embassy in Beirut.  A special event was held for that occasion yesterday and included presentations from three participants namely Randa Mrad from Byblos, Fidaa Ahmad 3uaydah from Tripoli and Ikram Zorkot from Nabatieh. Certificates were also distributed to some 300 women who took part in the programme which sought to empower and train them to become decision makers in their communities as well as more efficient politically, socially and economically. The director of Smart centre, Randa al Yassir, highlighted the importance of collaboration between CSOs and the public sector, notably municipalities.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 29 October 2014

Dr. Azza Sharara, member of Lebanese Women Researchers (Bahithaat), presented the major issues related to women and their struggle in the post-Taef era at the conference organized last week by the Civil Center for National Initiative from 22 to 24 October 2014, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Taef Accord.  Sharara noted that women’s struggle over the past twenty years was guided by an interpretation of two clauses of the accord namely Lebanon’s commitment to the UN convention and treaties and the fundamentals of the Republic being social justice and equality in rights and responsibilities amongst all citizens with no discrimination.  As such, Sharara noted that the Taef Accord constituted a small breakthrough for determining women’s legal position as the women movement used it to lobby legislators to adhere to the Accord.  Sharara also spoke about the major demands of the women’s movement whilst expressing her tacit pessimism regarding a possible feminist legislation as, according to Sharara; women’s issues are at the heart of the present confessional regime, the protection of which, as per the stipulations of the Taef Accord, will be entrusted with the-yet-to-formed Senate.

Source: Al-Nahar, 28 October 2014

To read the full article, please click on the following link (Arabic): Women Rights and the Taef Accord

Following the revolting incident of MP Fattush allegedly aggressing Manal Daou at the Justice Palace in Baabda, Mr. Fattush convened a press conference last Thursday during which he revealed privileged information related to the court case he was depositing against Minister Michel Pharaon and also attacked publicly the President of the Beirut Bar Association.  As a result, the Board of the Beirut Bar Association took a decision on the same day to disbar Mr. Fattush.  The Bar Association considered that what Mr.  Fattush said and revealed disrespect the position of Bar President and is a violation of the profession, its by-laws and ethics.
The Legal Agenda condemned the decision of the Bar Association which, it believes, “creates a dangerous precedent and may threaten the autonomy of lawyers”.  The Legal Agenda wondered about the legitimacy of disbarring a lawyer without trial and without allowing him to defend himself.  The Legal Agenda insisted that although Fattush needs to be tried and prosecuted for what he did; however, his right to defense should not be violated.   Other similar reactions were aired by many a legal expert who noted that referring Fattush to a disciplinary board would have probably led to his prosecution up to inflicting a certain period of disbarment.  However, the hasty decision of the Board of the Bar Association will regretfully make it easy for Fattush to appeal this decision with the appeal court for lawyers and argue that he has been denied to right to defend himself.
Source: Al-Akhbar, 25 & 27 October 2014