Other news

Many parts of Lebanon celebrated yesterday the 14th anniversary of Liberation day which falls on 25 May 2000 and witnessed the withdrawal of the Israeli army from most parts of South Lebanon.  This victory could not have been possible without the martyrdom and sacrifices of many women and men.  In commemoration of this national occasion, As Safir published last Saturday the names of the women martyrs who died for this cause including Hamida Mustapha al Taher (Syrian national) who joined the Arab Socialist Baath party in 1983 and died in South Lebanon on 26/11/1986, Françoise Kesteman (French) and member of the PLO who died on 23/9/1984, and Zaher Abu Assaf, Syrian national and member of the Syrian Social National Party, who died in early November 1986.
The newspaper also listed the names and details of Lebanese women from the National Lebanese Resistance Movement and who gave their lives in resistance to Israeli occupation, namely:

1. Yassar Ahmed Mroueh: Born in Zrarieh-South of Lebanon, in 1965, she joined the Communist Party and was the first martyr of the Lebanese National Resistance Front, after she died in May 1984 during an operation near Tyre.
2. Sana'a Youssef Mehaidli: Born in Anquon in 1968, she joined the Syrian Social National Party, she died on the 9th of April 1985 during a big operation on the Bater-Jezzin route when she blew herself next to an Israeli convoy.
3. Lola Elias Abboud: Born in Qaroon in 1966, the daughter of the Journalist Elias Abboud joined the Communist Party and died in a heroic operation on April 21st 1985 in Qaroon.
4. Wafa2 Noureddine: Born in Nabatieh in 1962, she joined the Communist Party in 1981 and the Lebanese National Resistance Front on the 9th of May 1985. She was a mother of one child before she died on 9/5/1985 during an operation at the Abu Qam7a crossroad, near Hasbayya.
5. Ebtisam Farid Harb: Born in the town of Ghareefeh – Shouf in 1957, she joined the Syrian Social National Party, and died on 9/7/1985 during a heroic operation on the Hamra-Bayyada-Naqoura bridge.
6. Mariam Kahyreddine: Born in Douress Baalbek in 1966, joined the Syrian Social National Party, as well as the Lebanese National Resistance Front, and died on 11/9/1985 in an operation at the Israeli militant commander headquarter in Hasbayya.
7. Norma Badaoui Abi Hassan: Born in Qebbeh – Tripoli, in 1959, joined the Lebanese National Resistance Front on 1985, and died in Dahr el Ramleh operation in the South of Lebanon.
8. Yusra Ismaeil: Born in Eastern Zawtar, joined the Lebanese National Resistance Front and died in late 1989 in a heroic battle in Wadi al 7ujair.
9. In3am Hamzeh: Born in 3beih in 1962, joined the Lebanese National Resistance Front, and died along with 2 of her comrades; Hussein Daher and Hussein Hujjeili, at the foothills of Mount Hermon in November 1990.

Source: Al-Safir, Al-Diyar 26 May 2014

The European Union Delegation in Lebanon organized last week a seminar on Gender-Based Violence at the Haigazian University.  The seminar addressed some aspects related the law to protect women and their families from domestic violence and which was endorsed by government last April, notably how to benefit from the positive aspects of this law and until the needed revisions are put in place.
Judge Ghanem who had taken part in the work of the parliamentary Commission which studied this law acknowledged in his intervention that the confessional system is the cause of the gaps in this law.  According to Ghanem, one has to recognize however the positive aspects of this law.  According to MP Ghassan Mokhaiber, member of the same Parliamentary Commission, efforts should be extended now to explain this law to women and facilitate access to its benefits.  Mokhaiber’s explanation of the issue of marital rape was refuted by members of the audience as Mokhaiber had noted that confirming marital sex as a right came in the form of a civil and not a religious text and was intended to tell men that even if this is a right, it cannot be claimed using violent means. The representative of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), added that both organizations will be issuing a statement explaining their position vis-à-vis this law.
The director of Kafa, Zoya Ruhana, noted for her part that this new law poses new challenges to women namely in terms of seeking help as it does not give the district attorney a mandate to issue protection memoranda as this was left to the discretion of the investigating judge, criminal court judge, or the urgent matters Judge.  Ruhana noted that the “Coalition” will not accept a law that does not recognize women’s need for protection from gender based violence and, as women, we cannot accept a legislation that condones marital rape under the guise of marital rights.

Source: Al-Safir 26 May 2014

My Nationality is a Right for me and my Family Campaign addressed an open letter to the President of the Republic Mr. Michel Suleyman as the highest authority entrusted with the task of safeguarding the Constitution and implementing the law in a way that guarantees equality between women and men and ensures transparency and accountability.  The letter reminds the President that Lebanese women, notably those married to non-nationals have been struggling for a long time to secure their natural and inherent right in dignity and equal citizenship.  However, and because of the historical discrimination against them which is reinforced by patriarchy, they remain in a subordinate position whether economically, social, or politically and suffer unprotected from all forms of violence namely legal and physical violence.
The Campaign’s letter notes that the struggle of women during the mandate of President Suleiman to achieve any quantum leap which may lead to recognition of their rights by the political circle was not very successful despite all efforts, sacrifices and mobilizations which were undertaken by women and women organizations during this period.  The main achievement is only at the level of adopting a mutilated law to protect women from domestic violence as well as some partial and minimal reforms of some of the discriminatory laws in place.
The letter further deplores the official approach of Suleiman’s consecutive governments which continued to deny the importance of liberating women from discriminatory shackles and allowing them to play a role which will ensure a role with their full potential so that, together with other members of society, they can contribute to rid Lebanon of its current crisis.  The letter further reiterated that the worst failure during this mandate was during the tenure of PM Mikati whose cabinet refused to recognize Lebanese women’s right to transmit their nationality to their families according to an unfortunate outcome of the discussions of a ministerial committee created for this purpose whilst using the same old excuse of fear of implantation of Palestinians and demographic imbalance.
The letter commented on the recent news shared by the media about a possible presidential decree which will grant nationality as a presidential gift to some 700 individuals.  Whilst deploring this act if verified, the Campaign had hoped that the President will end his mandate with an initiative to challenge the denial of women’s right to transmit nationality on the form of an egalitarian nationality law.  The letter finally hoped that the upcoming elections will bring in a President who will be ready to overcome confessional interests and will realize the rule of law and bring about equal citizenship through ensuring equality between women and men particularly through a just and fair nationality law.
Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Akhbar, NNA, Al-Safir, Al-Mustaqbal 23 May 2014

Rassemblement Democratique des Femmes Libanaises (RDFL) organized yesterday a round table on early marriage and its impact on society.  The event was held under the auspices of the Minister of Social Affairs, Mr. Rachid Derbas and in coordination with the Bar Association of Beirut, and was implemented within the framework of RDFL’s current women rights programme funded by Swedish Kvinna till Kvinna.

A number of participants intervened in this round table notably Maitre Mirna Azar, head of the Beirut Bar Association, Georges Jreij, Judge Fawzi Khamis, and MoSA representative, Abeer Abdel Samad who indicated that “the subject of early marriage gained further highlights in Lebanon after the Syrian crisis”. The RDFL project coordinator, Maitre Otaibah Merhbi, noted that there is no unified law on minimum age of marriage in Lebanon and that is exacerbated by the diversity (15) of religious family laws.

The event ended with a series of recommendations, namely a) ensuring that all marriage certificates are recorded and impose penalties in case they are not; b) endorse a civil law that determines minimum age of marriage; c) setting up of a hotline at the Ministry of Social Affairs to receive complaints related to violence against minors; d) strengthening the role of the judiciary especially the power of  juvenile judge to interfere to protect minors from dangers; and e) organize awareness raising activities on the dangers of early marriage.

Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Safir 20 May 2014

Kafa Violence and Exploitation released on its YouTube a video entitled “Driving Change”.  The video aims at encouraging people to report cases of violence against women as well as speak out loud against violence and exploitation.  The video shows women mistreated in taxi cars and unable to keep silent about the abuse.  As such, the video encourages victims of violence to speak out and report their misadventure through calling Kafa.
This initiative comes at a time when Kafa continues its advocacy regarding the revisions requested on the law to protect women and family members from violence in order to render the new law more effective through ensuring that as many women as possible benefit from it.
Kafa’s media coordinator, Maya Ammar, noted that Kafa has adopted this initiative given its effectiveness in highlighting situations of harassment through prompting people to act.  She added that this initiative is unique because it uses people’s immediate reactions which show that the culture of intervening can take primacy over indifference.
To watch the video, please click on the following link: Driving Change
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 20 May 2014

The Ministry of Telecommunication announced yesterday that, according to decree 1/194 dated 28/3/2014,  it will be issuing new postal stamps of the value of LBP 2,000 commemorating four Lebanese women namely, Alexandra Issa al Khoury, Mounira Solh hamadeh. Laure Moghaizel, and Anissa al Najjar.  According to the same announcement, 30000 stamps of each will be printed and these will be made available in all postal offices as of 22/5/2014.
Source: Al-Nahar 20 May 2014

The Daily Star newspaper published a report today about early marriages and how some judges are re-interpreting existing laws to protect underage girls from this practice. Judge Fawzi Khamis, who served as the head of the juvenile court from 2004-09, told the newspaper that the key to protecting girls from early marriage lies in how a judge chooses to interpret the legal definition of “danger”, as it relates to Articles 24-26 in the law for juveniles.  Khamis continues by saying that although the articles do not mention early age marriage in particular, they do state that “if a juvenile is subject to danger, either in an environment where they might be exploited or abused, the judge can use this article to protect them”. However, his jurisprudence often clashes with that of religious court, which argues it has the prerogative over marital matters. Judge Khamis also indicated that when laws are not explicit, judges must follow precedents or set their own, through broadening the application of the “danger” clause, by arguing that the marriage could imperil a minor. Khamis added that the question of danger in early age marriage becomes nebulous when probing the details, and that any future law prohibiting child marriage must tackle the underlying subtleties, adding that the issue may differ when a 17-year-old woman is marrying a 21-year-old man, or a 50-year-old man.
Another high-profile judge, who requested anonymity, said that Article 503, in the Penal Code, which relates to consent in a sexual relationship, in addition to the exploitation clause included in the 2011 anti-trafficking law, could also be used to protect child brides. However, the judge added, the problem often lies in the primacy of parents as consent givers, according to religious courts.
It is important to note that the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) is lobbying to have marriages registered in the personal statute, which would require the approval of a civil judge, making it possible for the judiciary to intervene if the marriage involves minors. NCLW, however, is still in the process of drafting a comparative legal study, looking at laws regulating early age marriage in Europe and the Arab region, in the hope of drafting a law to prohibit such marriages in Lebanon soon. “Doing so would require bypassing the core values of the confessional system”, according to a commission member involved in the drafting of the law, who also requested anonymity.
Source: The Daily Star 16 May 2014

Al Hayat newspaper published a report on married and non-married women in Lebanon.  According to the report which quotes a study undertaken by Radio Holland, some 85% of Lebanese women in the marriage age category are unable to find spouses.  The study was based on statistics and data gathered from NGOs as sources of information.

The report talks about a new trend and that is the proliferation of tens of matrimonial/matchmaking sites on the web and via the social media.  Indeed, Lebanese women and men are now bombarded on a daily basis with advert claiming that they can help find their soul mate.  Such ads claim first that they provide services for free but when a match is about to be done, users are requested to pay fees ranging between 10 to 20 USD.  These sites use the profiles provided by their users as well as the characteristics they give for their desired soul mate.  The characteristics include height, skin color, nationality, color of hair and eyes, educational attainment, financial situation, etc…These sites are also taking into consideration the peculiarities of the Lebanese situation and have included place of residence and sect in their list of desired characteristics!  Many of the users of such sites note that the success rate is very limited as some are simply fraudulent, and people tend to give false information about themselves in addition to difficulties in communication.

The report compares real and virtual matrimonial and match making services.  One match maker said that she receives around 5 women everyday asking her to find them a suitable husband.  Men are more resistant to visit the matchmaker and prefer to send their mothers or sisters to find them a bride that is suitable to the social conditions of the family.  Sociologist Noor Hamadeh notes that whether real or virtual, the services of these matchmakers are but an illusion related to the ideal of finding a suitable partner.  She also cautions against the major fraud undertaken by many of these agencies which make a lot of money by encouraging people to marry.

Source: Al-Hayat 15 May 2014

My Nationality is a Right for me and for my Family Campaign expressed in a statement released yesterday, its rejection of the law proposal to restitute Lebanese Nationality to immigrants of Lebanese descent, stating that this law proposal further violates Lebanese women’s right to full citizenship.
The statement noted that according to media sources, the Speaker of the House, Mr. Nabih Berri, intends to place the new proposed law on the agenda of the parliament, to be discussed and endorsed as swiftly as possible after dealing with the law related to salary scales.  It was also announced that the Speaker of the House has called on the Parliamentary Commissions to meet on Tuesday May 13th to discuss this law petition and to decide on the criteria for reinstating Lebanese citizenship.
Thus, the Nationality Campaign expressed its rejection of this move, first because of the primacy of Lebanese women’s right to full citizenship over that of immigrants of Lebanese descent and second, because it undermines the right of Lebanese women to transmit, same as men, their nationality to their spouses and children.
The Campaign particularly highlighted the fact that, according to the suggested law, only immigrants of male Lebanese descent will be eligible to a restitution of Lebanese nationality, promising that it will make comments on the proposal law in a subsequent statement.
The Nationality Campaign reminded the public of the deplorable step taken by the former cabinet on 12 December 2011, when it approved by consensus the law proposal in question after revising one clause which allowed women to reclaim Lebanese nationality under the guise that they wanted the new law to be in line with the current discriminatory nationality law of 1925. (Part one of clause 1: if he or any of his kin or relatives of his father up till the fourth decree were physically living in Lebanon according to the census of 1921 as per the Ministry of Interior records and archives, notably the record of immigrants).
In conclusion, the Campaign called on those MPs who are keen on citizenship rights and on equality between women and men, to turn down the proposed law in its present form, and to demand its revision so as to ensure equality between women and men.
Source: Al-Safir, Al-Nahar, Al-Akhbar 13 May 2014

The Ministry of Social Affairs organized last week a training workshop on “reporters in the age of ICT” with the participation of several reporters and representatives of Lebanese political parties and women NGOs.  The workshop was implemented within the framework of the MOSA project entitled “strengthening women’s participation in local governance and development” which is funded by the office of Italian development aid within the Italian Embassy.  The workshop focused on the role of the media while highlighting key issues related to the law as well as using social media tools to support women and human rights.  The director of the project, Zeina Abdel Khalek, noted that the project will be launching a campaign next month focusing on women’s participation in decision making.  University professor, Jean Pierre Katrib, spoke on media coverage from a legal perspective as well as women’s participation in governance.  He highlighted the obstacles that the media faces and called for overturning the historical marginalization of women.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 12 May 2014