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MP Fattush aggression against a woman civil servant steers reactions

24-10-2014

Social media websites have been overwhelmed during the past few days with the incident involving MP and lawyer Nicolas Fattush who allegedly aggressed, Manal Daou, a woman civil servant at the Justice Palace.  When the story first broke out, Daou had said that she will not be lodging a formal complaint against MP Fattoush.  However, Daou then spoke to As Safir and retracted in view of the public support she received.  She noted that as a mother of three, she was hesitant to take such a step.  To be noted that a number of public and civil reactions in support of Manal Daou were recorded.  The Minister of Justice, Ashraf Rifi, called for a proper investigation of the incident followed by the necessary corrective measures.  The Rassemblement Democratique des Femmes Libanaises (RDFL) condemned the MP’s action considering that Fattush's behavior is but a reflection of the patriarchal mindset of the ruling elite which has always disregarded women's rights and human dignity.  The Lebanese Women Council also expressed its resentment vis-à-vis this behavior.
For its part, the “Administrative Board of the Association of the General Administration Staff” called for a two hour strike yesterday to be observed in all public institutions.  A sit in was also convened in front of the Ministry of Justice yesterday with the participation of citizens, employees, lawyers, trade unionists and civil activists. Furthermore, the Trade Union Coordinating Body also issued a statement condemning this unprecedented aggression on civil servants and declared its solidarity with the association. Fattush for his part counter-attacked and belittled all the public outrage against his action and called on demonstrators to "return to their offices”.

Source: Al-Akhbar, Al-Safir, Al-Nahar, Al-Akhbar, Al-Safir, Al-Akhbar, 22,23,24 October 2014)

Manal Daou's fear and Fattoush continuous arrogance lead us to think further about this incident and from various points of view.  First, there is the issue of an MP assaulting a citizen with the latter fearing to complain officially in a country which denies people their basic rights especially the right to safety and security.  The second issue is the lack of awareness of basic rights.  Indeed, article 381 of the Lebanese Penal Code notes that any person who assaults an employee during the course of his duty is liable to a 3 to 6 month prison sentence, while article 383 stipulates that using humiliating language and threats against an employee in the course of his duty is liable to 6 month imprisonment.  Add to that, it is to be noted that with regards to clause 381, there is a public right that can not be dropped, even if the victim did not file a complaint. Finally, this unfortunate incident leads us to ask the question as to whether Fattush considered that it was fine to assault Manal Daou only because she is a woman.  (Z.M.)

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NCLW warns against the continuous deterioration, calls for presidential election, and for increasing women representation

24-10-2014

The National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) met yesterday and issued a statement after its meeting noting its serious concern towards the deteriorating security and economic situation on and impact on women in Lebanon and the Arab world. Hence, NCLW called for solidarity and for mitigating the impact on women and children.  The NCLW further called for strengthening national unity and preserving Lebanon against possible external plots and intrigues.  The NCLW also emphasized the importance of electing a new President of the Republic as soon as possible, in order to ensure that state institutions are functioning properly in serving the state and its citizens.  In closing, the NCLW insisted also on the importance of carrying out speedy parliamentary elections calling for acceptable women’s representation, while reiterating the importance of supporting the Lebanese army as a guarantor of unity, freedom and independence.
Source: Al-Diyar, 24 October 2014

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Leadership training in Byblos by women of Future Movement

21-10-2014

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation organized last week in collaboration with the empowerment committee of the Future Movement a workshop on the principles of leadership.  The workshop which was organized last in Byblos and was attended by the members of the local bureau and the areas coordinators, extended over three days and was facilitated Youssef Khury. The trainer spoke about time management and the characteristics of the leader who has the responsibility of training others and listening to them to reach the desired goal and overcome obstacles. Khury also noted that a leader should also adopt a problem solving approach and should seek improve action performance.  The workshop also included a speech by the coordinator of the women sector, Afifa al Sayed, who thanked the organizers for their efforts in strengthening leadership.

Source: Al-Mustaqbal 21 October 2014

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Launch of 2014 national breast cancer awareness raising campaign

16-10-2014

The Minister of Public Health launched from the Serail yesterday the 2014 national breast cancer awareness campaign entitled “she reminds you of everything… your turn to remind her of her mammography”.  The event was held under the auspices of the PM’s wife, Lama Tammam Salam, and was supported by the Syndicates of doctors, pharmasicts, nurses and hospitals in additional to the national breast cancer committee.  This year, the Campaign highlighted the important role that men play in raising awareness about breast cancer and early detection.
In her keynote address, Salam called for modernizing the national breast cancer register, the setting up of a national early cancer detection programme, improving social services to all citizens as well as providing a better treatment for serious diseases.  The Minister of Public health, Wael Abu Faoor, noted that breast cancer constitutes 42% of total cancers afflicting women and 21% of all cancers affecting women and men.  He added that this is a high percentage that necessitates special care and intervention from the state and from civil society as well as the medical corps in Lebanon.  Abu Faoor further noted that the level of interaction of rural women with this campaign is low compared to urban areas, which, according to Abou Faoor, is indicative of the failure of the state in reaching remote rural areas.
To be noted that this campaign will go on for three months during which women can have a mammography at any public hospitals and at designated private hospitals and dispensaries at LBP 40,000.  A list of the latter health centers can be obtained from http://www.moph.gov.lb and http://www.roche-arabia.net, and the hotline 1214 can be called, for further information or for lodging complaints.
Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Diyar, Al-Safir 16 October 2014

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The Parliamentary Commission for Human Rights adopts the draft law to regulate early marriage despite Kafa reservations

15-10-2014

The Parliamentary Commission for Human Rights adopted yesterday the draft law submitted by MP Mokhaiber and the NCLW, and which regulates early marriage without any consideration as to the reservations and objections expressed by Kafa namely the fact that the draft law violated the concept of human rights and provided official and civil legitimacy for marrying girls aged 9 and 12. Kafa’s statement was covered by WEEPortal on 2/10/2014, on the following link: Kafa rejects the draft law on marriages of minors.
The president of the Parliamentary Commission for Human Rights, MP Michel Mussa, noted that the Commission considered the law proposal is a necessary step towards protecting underage children from early marriage and legitimizes the role of parliament in ensuring child protection in accordance with the Human Right covenant, the Child Rights Convention, the Constitution and other relevant laws.  Accordingly, the MP decided to refer the law petition to the Parliamentary Commission for Administration and Justice in order to introduce the final legal wording on the text.

Source: Al-Akhbar, Al-Nahar, Al-Mustaqbal 15 October 2014

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LTA and women’s role in combating corruption

15-10-2014

The Lebanese Transparency Association – LTA, concluded last week a workshop it held in Beirut in collaboration with Women in Front and other women organizations.  The workshop was entitled “the role of Lebanese women in combating corruption” and aimed at discussing the cases of corruption which were previously recorded as well as developing recommendations against corruption in the public, private and academic sectors.
The workshop started with a keynote address by the President of LTA, Yehyah Hakim, followed by a video address by the coordinator of Transparency International, Stephanie Twigg from Berlin, who reviewed the cases of corruption which were identified in earlier training events notably corruption in religious courts, men abusing power to halt women’s professional advancement, pay-offs for administrative procedures, and others. Participants were then divided into three groups according to the 3 above-mentioned sectors, so that each group discusses the key problems and formulates recommendation for their specie sector.  The workshop concluded by electing six participants to attend the regional workshop which will be held in Jordan with the participation of Yemen, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Tunisia and Lebanon.

Source: Al-Mustaqbal 12 October 2014

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A CFUWI workshop on advocacy for women’s rights in Zghorta

14-10-2014

The National Committee for the Follow up of Women's Issues (CFUWI) organized yesterday its first training workshop within the framework of the project entitled “Improving the livelihoods of women in North Lebanon” which it is implementing in partnership with the René Moawwad Foundation, Fair Trade Lebanon, DOT Lebanon and Mada and with funding from the European Union.  The workshop was held at the RMF premises in Mejdlaya (Zghorta) and was entitled “advocacy for women’s rights”.  It included 20 women from villages of Akkar and North Lebanon and aimed at developing women’s conceptual and practical skills so that they are able to plan and implement advocacy campaigns.
Source: Al-Nahar 14 October 2014

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Future seminar in Beirut on women and legislation and 100 women graduates of English language in Akkar

13-10-2014

The committee for legal awareness at the women sector of the Future Movement organized last week a seminar on the situation of women in labor law and NSSF legislations in Lebanon.  The seminar included a speech by trade unionist Adib Bou Habib who noted that there is a need of reforms in Lebanese laws especially in what concerns the labor law and the NSSF and so that they are in harmony with the provisions of international conventions. Bou Habib spoke at length about the main gaps in the Lebanese labor law and in the NSSF, whilst noting the reforms that were introduced to improve the conditions of women workers. For her part, the sector coordinator, Afife al Sayyid, noted that the legal situation of working women suffers from discrimination and lack of justice in several areas.  She spoke about the struggles of women organizations to reform discriminatory laws and also highlighted main advances especially the reform of the honor crimes law.
In a separate vein, the women sector of the Future Movement, Akkar section, organized last week an event to celebrate the graduation of 100 women and girls who completed an English training course. The class valedictorian was Shadia Mohammed who noted that this training gave her new opportunities, while insisting on the important role that women play in public life.  The event concluded with a documentary on the training and the distribution of certificates.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 11 & 13 October 2014

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MOSA and the national campaign to support women in governance

10-10-2014

The National Commission for Lebanese Women (NLCW) launched yesterday, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs (MOSA), the national campaign to support women in governance that falls within the framework of the MOSA-implemented project entitled “Strengthening women’s participation in local governance and development” which has received financial support from the Italian Embassy.  The event included only speeches by women including the NCLW representatives, Sossi Boladian, Carmen Geha representing Beyond who trained the women, and the acting director general of MOSA, Randa Bou Hamdan.  The latter noted that the past four decades witnessed increased concern in women's participation in decision making and setting public policies.  She added that women face many challenges namely marginalisation of their role and little opportunities to truly become equal to men.
The first secretary at the Italian Embassy, Palma D'Ambrosio, spoke for her part, about the role of the media in highlighting women's issue. She invited women to go beyond their political affiliations and to defend their right to political participation.  The event was concluded with testimonials of 8 women leaders in a number of political parties.

Source: Al-Nahar 10 October 2014

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A draft law to legalise the role of pharmacists in fighting violence against women

9-10-2014

The head of the pharmacists' department in the Kataeb (Phalangist) Party, Dr. Joe Sallum, noted during a conference on "Pharmacists and women: the role of pharmacists in combating violence against women", which was organised last Sunday by the departments of women's issues and pharmacists in the Party, that the idea to organise the conference arose because of the pharmacists endeavor to support the implementation of the recently adopted law to protect women from family violence.  Sallum went on to explain that women victims of violence are likely to approach pharmacists as a first interface in order to obtain painkillers.  Henceforth, pharmacists of the party decided to submit a law petition entitled "pharmacists obligation to report" whereby a pharmacist is required to report cases of domestic violence through a special hotline, after receiving the consent of the victim, and is expected to benefit from immunity and not be legally pursued for this action.
For his part, MP Sami Gemayel insisted on the important role that pharmacists can play in reporting violence.  He also highlighted the need for of enacting a civil family law which he considers to be an entry point for protecting women.  Gemayel also referred to the draft civil marriage law submitted by his party in 1969, while calling for its endorsement.
Source: Al-Akhbar 8 October 2014

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