Other news

The UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States organized a high level regional consultation meeting in Amman last week to present a new initiative entitled “Promotion of effective and inclusive participation of Arab women in public life - Participation project” which is launched in collaboration of the Talal Abu Ghazaleh Organization and with the presence of the UNWomen Regional Director, Dr. Samira al-Tuwaijri, in addition to Dr. Sima Bahhouth and the assistant general secretary and the head of the media and communication unit at the Arab League of States Dr. Haifa Abu Ghazaleh. The new project will seek over the coming three years to address the gap in women’s participation in public life of Arab counties as well as gaps in women’s citizenship and to ensuring gender equality particularly in Arab countries in transition.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 9 May 2014

The National Council for Lebanese Women (NCLW) organized the day before yesterday in Beirut an event to honor and commemorate the occasion of the media martyrs which falls on May 6th> .The president of the NCLW, First lady Wafa Suleiman, spoke to the media and noted that many have died during the call of duty and many have stood up to injustice and have thus turned the fourth power into a tool to monitor misuse of power and poor consideration to people’s interests and rights.  She stressed the importance of holding on to the ethos of media and journalism now more than ever in Lebanon in order to preserve diversity and conviviality.  She invited the media to continue to support women’s issues and to build a vision based on equality and rights.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Nahar 9 May 2014

Dar al Amal organized yesterday its annual fundraiser at Biel with the participation of 350 invitees.  The income from this event will be used to fund the setting up of a shelter for women and girls victims of violence and exploitation.  The event included musical interludes as well as an exhibition of handicrafts made by beneficiaries and a competition.  The president of the association, Habib Hatem, thanked all those who supported the setting up of a shelter for women and children.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 9 May 2014

The Rassemblement Democratique des Femmes Libanaise, Dar el Amal, Caritas Liban-Migrants centre and Diakonia jointly organised an exhibition of communication material on women’s prisons within the framework of their project entitled “Reinforcing policies and the practices of human rights in women prisons in Lebanon” which is funded by the European Union.  The event was held the day before yesterday at the UNESCO palace and aimed at mobilizing the media on issues related to women’s prisons as a human rights issue and for the purpose of improving their situation.
The organizing NGOs called for the formation of a higher independent national council for prisons which would include representative of relevant ministries which are entrusted with the provision of services to protect the rights of women prisoners and rehabilitate the,.  The group also called for setting up a national machinery to visit prisons in compliance with Lebanon’s commitment to the UPR (clause 5-81) notably the 16th session for human rights.
The project coordinator at the RDFL, Manar Zeiater, explained the objectives of this activity as well as the training and competition which preceded it to prepare the material.  She noted that a jury, which evaluated and selected the material, included lawyers, judges, journalists and human rights activists.  She also added that the material will be sent to the Ministry of Interior to be exhibited and will be shown in the media and via the project’s website http://www.lebanonprisons.org and social media pages.
Source: Al-Akhbar, Al-Nahar, Al-Mustaqbal 8 May 2014

Kafa Violence and Exploitation issued a statement yesterday in which it deplores the President's endorsement of the law to protect women from family violence and which was endorsed by Parliament on April 1st.
The statement notes that the Coalition called on the President not to sign this law as it does not provide effective protection of women from violence.  The President nevertheless signed the law despite his promise to discuss the presented comments and criticisms.  According to Kafa, this is a sign that no due consideration is given to the plight of women and their daily ordeal which often lead to murder.  According to Kafa priority was given to giving a false image to the local and international community by pretending that this was a major achievement through the passing of a mutilated law.
To be reminded that the Director of Kafa, Zoya Ru7hana, had sent a letter to the President detailing the non-constitutionality of the law and its violation of the autonomy of the state.  She added that the present law defeats its purpose which was essentially to protect women from violence.  In her letter, Ru7hana also spoke of Lebanon's violation of its international commitments.  Ru7hana had also invited the President to correct the mistakes and gaps which were brought into the law.
Source: Al-Safir, http://www.almustaqbal.com/v4/Article.aspx?Type=NP&ArticleID=616163">Al-Mustaqbal 8 May 2014

The Lebanese Association for Reform and Rehabilitation (LARR) organized last Monday a cultural and recreational day at the women’s prison of Tripoli under the auspices of the Minister of Justices General Ashraf Rifi, represented by lawyer Hani Merhbi, and with the participation of the president of the department of social affairs in North Lebanon, Majed Eid, representing, Rasheed Derbas, the Minister of Social Affairs.
After a tour of the prison to observe the living conditions of women prisoners and to listen to their demands, an event was organized with all the 80 women prisoners during which, the president of the association, Fatima Badra, gave a speech in which she emphasized the importance of taking into consideration the request of the prisoners and the realities of their lives.  Merhbi highlighted the important role that prisons play in reforming and rehabilitating prisoners.  He added that the Cabinet had already taken a decision to move the prisons administration to the Ministry of Justice and added that this decision will shortly be implemented after completing the comprehensive implementation plan via the preparation of a special unit who will be mandated with execution.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 7 May 2014

The Lebanese League for Women’s Rights (LLWR) honored last week, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Hanna Wakim Cultural Foundation, the students who won its annual cultural competition which was dedicated this year to “protecting women from violence: the responsibility of the state and of society”.  The event was held at the UNESCO Palace, Antoine Harb Hall.  Winners of this year’s competition include: Alaa Ahmad Moussaoui (first), Farah Nasser al-Zein (second), Maryam Ibrahim Quossan (Second), Sergio Jean Harb (third), Liwa2 Wissam Azzam (fourth), Sleiman Joseph Iskandar (fourth), Maritta Kamal Akl (fourth), Hisham Hasan Jaffal (fifth), Maroun Charbel Ramya (sixth), and Najib Khalid Abou Ismail (sixth).
Source: Al-Safir 6 May 2014

The Beirut Marathon organized yesterday its second women marathon under the slogan of “run forward… enough going back” and under the auspices of first lady Wafa Suleyman.  In her keynote address before the start of the 5 kms run, Suleyman noted that this occasion is a civilized message which calls on women to realize her potentials.  She is added that this is a different message since it is carried through sports which is part of everybody’s life.  The president of the Beirut Marathon, May el Khalil, noted that this is a sports event.  She highlighted the principles of her organizations namely its national and humanitarian values and its endeavor to support causes that are critical to the Lebanese society.
Some 9117 women and men participated in the marathon of who some 836 runners participated in the 10 kms run which was won by Ethiopian national Aregu Abbatte.  The special 5 kms marathon for people with disabilities was won by Rita Saadeh and the regular 5 kms by Manal Tayyar.  Some sixty organizations took part in this event many of whom work on women’s rights issues, violence against women, early marriage and sexual harassment.

To be noted that a number of social media activists had launched a counter slogan entitled “run for free and independently”.  Their move was in reaction to what they perceived as an exploitation of women’s causes and the exclusion of poor women who are mostly in need of protection of their rights.  The activists asked the organizers to be financially transparent and not to use women as a profit making commodity.

Source: Al-Hayat, The Daily Star 5 May 2014

As Safir newspaper published the story of Dalal (30 years) who refused to surrender and sued her husband for battery and attempted murder.  She said that she did not wish to become a number added in the list of abused women and did not want to be carried in a coffin.  Hence, she decided to speak out and she could no longer bear to remain silent.
Dalal noted that her 38 year old husband has been beating her for three months and started only three days after their marriage.  She said that she wanted to leave him immediately but her mother advised her to be patient.  However, his violence increased and became unbearable.  Last Saturday he kept beating her repeatedly and savagely whilst knocking her head on the wall and breaking her nose.  
After this incident, she called her brothers with whom she went to the police station in Borkayel and lodged a complaint against her husband.  The police told her that the abuser will be punished.  Her husband was called for interrogation on Sunday.  Meanwhile, Dalal sued for divorce at the religious court. Dalal simply wishes to have a divorce.  She adds that her husband is not human and does not deserve to raise children as he is harsh, aggressive and rude.  She noted that he wanted to go to the hospital where she works to cash her salary as he says this is his right!
Source: Al-Safir 29 April 2014

Ahluna organized a brunch for women including key social figures as well as supporters of the organizations.  The event was sponsored by Boecker and was held on Thursday April 24th at the Pavillion Royal Hotel.
Ahluna is a nonprofit NGO which was created in 2001 and focuses on providing social and educational services targeting women, youth, children, the elderly and individuals with special needs, and which operates in Saida.  The sponsor, Boecker, is the largest company in the Middle East providing products and services related to food safety, pest control and biological sanitation.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 29 April 2014