Other news

Within the framework of the “Reinforcing policies and the practices of human rights in women prisons in Lebanon” project financed by the EU and SIDA, Dar el Amal, RDFL, Caritas – Lebanon, and Diakonia is organising a training of trainers for the benefit of the ISF.  The training which will extend until the end of this week addresses human rights standards in prisons with emphasis on women’s prisons.
A joint statement issued by the four implementing organizations noted that this training comes after the completion of a number of previous phases namely the development of training material on human rights standards for women prisoners in Lebanon, the implementation of training for the benefit of prison warden, directors and nurses.  The statement noted that subsequently collaboration took place with the training department of the ISF in order to integrate this material into the curriculum of the ISF training school. The present training will ensure that the new standards are put into practice.

Source: Al-Mustaqbal 26 August 2014

The family department at the Islamic “Irshaad and Islah7 charitable association, organized yesterday at the UNESCO palace, a seminar entitled “a marriage and not a funeral”.  The event was attended by the representative of the Minister of Social Affairs, Mona Nasrallah, as well as representatives of women organizations.  Jinane Mneymneh noted that the organization held this event in order to come up with solutions to help women victims of violence especially in terms of how the religious courts deal with cases of domestic violence.  She added that the seminar also addresses how to implement the new law and the role of internal security in this matter.  She added that Lebanon still exhibits several cases of violence despite the enactment of the new law to protect family members from family violence.  She called for a special law to protect women victims of violence.  Following that input, a visual presentation of the organization was made include Q&A on violence against women.  People expressed various opinions on this matter notably “calling for women to leave their houses and go back to their parents”, “stand up against violence as soon as it starts” and “subjecting violent men to psychotherapy”.
The seminar included a lecture by Judge Cheikh Abdel Aziz al Shaffei who explained the various reasons which can lead to divorce according to the Sharia law.  He reiterated that he supports women refusing violence and speaking out against it.  He also noted that it is unacceptable that women suffering from domestic violence should find themselves forced to return home if violence does not cease as this will distort the children’s image towards their humiliated mother.  Shaffei noted that acceptance of violence against women starts with raising girls in a way that strips them of self esteem.  He asked families to raise their daughters in a way that they appreciate themselves and demand their rights while most importantly loving themselves and imposing respect.

Source: Al-Mustaqbal 21 August, Al-Safir 25 August 2014

The Internal Security Forces declares that on the morning of 20/8/2014, they found the corpse of N.K. killed inside her relatives’ home in Barja.  ISF’s security branch was able to apprehend the perpetrators following intensive investigations.  It was discovered that the alleged murderer is the victim’s uncle who confessed to the crime which he indicated was for “family reasons”.  The crime weapon, a knife, was also apprehended.

Source: Al-Akhbar 21 August 2014

A number of Lebanese women organizations held yesterday a sit-in at the offices of the general Union of Palestinian Women in Shatila in solidarity with Palestinian people and against the Israeli assault on Gaza.  The head of the General Union of Palestinian Women, Amneh Gebril, expressed her appreciation of this gesture and that the Israeli assault not only targeted Gaza but also the larger Palestinian dream to have their own state and return to their homeland.  For her part, Linda Matar, the responsible of international affairs at the Lebanese League for Women’s Rights and the general coordinator of the Arab Regional Centre of the International Union of Democratic Women noted that the Palestinian cause is central to the Arab world and added that Arab leaders disappointed their people by failing to sever their relations with Israel. The sit-in also included speeches by members of the visiting delegation who condemned the Israeli attacks and asked the international community to refer Israel to the International Criminal Court given that it has committed war crimes.

Source: Al-Mustaqbal 20 August 2014

Mothers of Lebanon association launched a solidarity campaign with the army and with the armed forces.  The event kicked off at Martyrs Square yesterday with the participation of a number of women many of whom wore army fatigues.  The founder and president of the association, Khulud Kassem, spoke of the importance of supporting the army and the security forces in order to protect the country in present difficult times.  
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Safir 19 August 2014

The Lebanese Women Council organized yesterday at the UNESCO Palace a solidarity event with the Lebanese army.  Key speakers included former Minister Mona Ofeiche, poet Randa Kage, former Council President Lawyer, Iqbal Doughan, and the current Council President, Jamal Hermez Ghabril who insisted in her speech on the total solidarity of the Council with the Army.  Ghabril saluted the army and deplored the inefficiency of politicians in resolving the problems face with Islamist extremists whilst the army is now the only protection for women and girls.
Former Council President, Linda Matar, insisted on the need to support the Lebanese army which has given martyrs to Lebanon. She suggested the setting up of small support committees composed of representatives of women and youth organizations who would go around schools and talk about the army to the young generations.  Matar added that the Army is a red line and the Council is in fact the popular parliament who should take on this suggestion and implement it.

Source: Al-Nahar 14 August 2014

The South Beqaa Office Progressive Women Union organized in Rashaya last week a seminar on the relation between soul and body.  Dr. Jude Abou Sowan lectured on how the soul-body relation can be nurtured and polished.  He added that spirituality helps strengthen confidence as well as elevate humans beyond material concern and personal interest, while valuing the culture of giving, faith and forgiveness.  He also spoke about the realities of women and the violence they are subjected to as well as ways to protect children from violence. The Municpal Head of Akabeh village stressed for his part the importance of raising health, education and cultural awareness and added that such activities strengthen citizenship.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 1 August 2014

The Lebanese Women Council condemned the absolute Arab and international silence vis-à-vis the tragic events on the region notably what women are enduring in areas of armed conflict. The Council noted that the first victims of armed conflict are Arab women whose dignity and lives are violated with the use of rape, violence and forced marriages. The Council also added that ِArab girls are now sold as sex objects against their will and often against the will of their custodian. The Council called on all Arab human right organizations, the UN and the UN Security Council to work to end these attacks on women. Furthermore, the Council reiterated its condemnation of the brutal Israeli attacks on civilians in Gaza as well as the forced expulsion and attacks on Christians in Mosul.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 1 August 2014
 

The accusatory body in North Lebanon responded to the request for appeal in the case of Rula Yaakoub and issued a decision last week authorizing an in-depth investigation including conjuring witnesses for the new hearing set for September 29th.  This came as a response to the Yaakoub family who lodged an appeal for continuation on February 14th.  As such, the case will not be closed and will allow the hearing of witnesses linked one way or the other to the day Rula was murdered.  Raymond Yakoub, the family lawyer refused to name the witnesses who will appear next September since they have not been officially subpoenaed yet but he confirmed that they are key witnesses to the crime committed a year ago.
Following this decision, Rula Yaakoub’s mother, Leila Khoury, said in an interview with Al Akhbar newspaper that God has responded to her appeal as she was a victim of injustice and can only invoke the Almighty to secure her daughter’s right. 

Source: Al-Akhbar 31 July 2014

On the occasion of the International Justice Day, Justice without Frontiers organized in collaboration with the Lebanese Bar Association in Beirut as well as other NGOs a seminar entitled Sexual and Gender based crimes in conflict. Participants discussed primarily the absence of the concept of justice.  The representative of the president of the Beirut Bar Association, Pierre Hanna, noted that gender based sexual crimes in times of conflict are one of the key human rights issues.  He called for restraining such practices and for providing protection to survivors and for the creation of an office for victims of sexual crimes and for providing them with moral and financial compensation as well as treating physical and mental damages.  He added that the creation of the suggested office will also ensure the upholding of the Rome Convention for the International Criminal Court with regards to sexual crimes during conflict.  Hanna considered that the fact that Lebanon is not party to the Rome Convention and subsequently to the ICC constitutes a gap which allows the country to be a safe haven for perpetrators of sexual crimes.
The event also included a session during which Lt. Colonel Elie Asmar of the ISF spoke of sexual crimes.  He clarified that articles 503 to 506 of the penal code penalize the crime of rape.  However, clause 503 is an obstacle to criminalizing marital rape as it penalizes “anybody who forces a non spouse into non consensual sex”.  He also noted that the Lebanese penal code shies away from using the term “sexual crimes” and uses instead “crimes that violate public morals”.
The seminar concluded with lawyer Brigitte Chalabian who emphasized that sexual crimes in Lebanon are still considered to be a taboo which is borne by the victim and not by the perpetrator.  She added that sexual crimes will not become actual court cases unless a judicial system is found to protect victims and witnesses.

Source: Al-Akhbar, Al-Nahar, 22 July 2014