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Since women’s political participation is an entry point to challenge social stereotypes and as well as obstacles which bock women from reaching decision making positions, the women sector in the Future Movement organised last week in Beirut a training workshop on empowering women in political participation.  During the event, which was organised within a broader strategic framework, the coordinator of the women sector, Afifa al Sayyed, highlighted the realities of women’s political participation in political life in Lebanon and the problematic related to the weakness of that participation.  She noted that the key obstacles facing women are the predominance of the confessional and family based political system, the confessional electoral laws as well as the overall patriarchal culture which still undermine their role and image.  She also noted that women’s willingness to work and to seek education has produced a change at the individual level.  However, she added, this change was not accompanied by a change at the level of overall social values thus maintaining women’s participation in public and political life limited and poorly reflecting women’s capacities.  She finally disclosed that the women sector in the Future Movement is currently working on a comprehensive plan to support women in political life including a specific sub-plan to improve women’s active participation in the movement itself through providing empowerment support, training and raising-awareness.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 23 December 2013

Dar an Nahar and Dar al Amal organised yesterday within the framework of the Aran Book Fair in Biel a seminar around their new book entitled entitled: "Sayings by women prisoners in stories and vignettes.  The seminar was moderated by Maguy Aoun and was attended by MP Ghassan Mokhayber, Colonel Ghassan Maaloof Chief of Roumieh Prison, lawyer Fahmi Karami and the president of Dar al Amal, Habib Hatem. The book is a compilation of quotes and stories by a number of women residing in three Lebanese prisons, namely Tripoli, Zahleh and Baabda, where Dar al Amal engages in legal, psychological and other services.  The book materialised as an idea from Dar al Amal and was then adopted by the Dar Al Nahar publishing house.  Income from sales will be used to support women prisoners.
MP Ghassan Mokhayber highlighted in his intervention the situation of prisons.  He referred to the report which he produced within the framework of drafting the national human rights strategy and in which prisons were classified into three categories, namely as bad, very bad or inhumane.  He added that in theory prisons are supposed to be spaces for accessing justice and rehabilitation.  Colonel Maaloof noted for his part that the current situation of prisons is poor and efforts should be extended to improve them and to help the ISF in doing so, highlighting the role of NGOs and other supporting organisations.  He indicated that criticism needs to be constructive so as to improve the situation and not cause harm to those in charge of these prisons.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Nahar 19 December 2013

The National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) launched in collaboration with the UNFPA a new study entitled “Women’s Rights in the Lebanese Legislations: Amended texts from 2000 – 2013”.  The launch took place yesterday at the NCLW training centre in Hazmieh.
The General Secretary of the NCLW, lawyer Fady Karam, noted in his speech that this study was implemented with financial support from the UNFPA and consists of a detailed compilation of laws and decrees related to women’s rights in Lebanon and reflect the current state of the art of Lebanese legislation.  This study, according to Karam, will allow a rigorous monitoring of implementation of these laws, adding that the study covers all key axis related to women’s demands for rights including the right to nationality, political participation, and protection from violence as well as other key issues.
Karam noted that the NCLW had completed earlier a study entitled “indicators of women’s situation” which provides a tool for completed the CEDAW implementation reports.  At this stage, and also according to Karam, the NCLW is preparing another study with the help of Judge Arlette Tabet and Judge Fawzi Khamis on the issue of early marriage.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 19 December 2013

The Federation of Municipalities of Jabal Amel celebrated yesterday the graduation of 112 women who completed the literacy training course organised by the Federation in collaboration with Noor Association.  The event was organised in Majdel Selem and was attended by women graduates, MP Ali Fayyad, the President of the Federation, Ali Zein, heads of municipal councils in the area and key local figures.
To be noted that the literacy programme was launched by the Federation in collaboration with Noor in 2011 and aims at teaching reading and writing to people of rural communities regardless of age.  Thus far, some 16 workshops were completed benefiting 260 women and men over a period of three years.
Source: Al-Safir 18 December 2013

On the occasion of the International Human Rights Day (10 December 2013), the UNHCR organised, in collaboration with the UN Media office in Beirut a discussion with a group of media people and representatives of civil society organisations as well as human rights experts.  The discussion carried the slogan of “20 Years Working for Your Rights”.
The president of the Parliamentary Commission on Human Rights, MP Michel Moussa noted that the national human rights plan which was completed last year after extensive preparations, research, consultation and input from parliamentarians, local and international experts, will finally be implemented as soon as it is endorsed by the Assembly.
For her part, the director of the Beirut Office of the Arab Institute for Human Rights, Ms. Joumana Merhi, pointed out to problems that women still face in Lebanon and which mainly revolve around their exclusion from political life and from peace building during transitional processes.  She highlighted the regression in the implementation of CEDAW calling for serious endeavor towards achieving women’s full citizenship as well as mainstreaming human rights and equality in the texts of the new constitutions of countries in transition. Finally, Merhi also called for the enactment of new laws notably with regards to protecting women and girls from violence notably family and sexual violence.  Discussions generally focused on the global decline in human rights and called on UNHCR to translate its words into actions.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Nahar 17 December 2013

The General Directorate of General Security issued yesterday an administrative memorandum which provides women and men equal rights in issuing travel documents and approval to travel for their underage children.  This decision will come into effect as of 2 January 2014 after being uploaded on the Directorate General’s website.  Prior to that decision, the DGGS required both parents consent for acquiring travel documents for children below 7 years of age whilst consent for travel was only the prerogatives of fathers.
To be noted that the Progressive Women Union (PWU) launched a campaign over one year ago calling for the elimination of discrimination against Lebanese women in this particular issue.  The Campaign was funded by MEPI and was based on a legal study carried out by lawyer Paul Morcos and which seemingly played an important role in convincing the DGGS, according to the statement issued by the PWU.
Source: Al-Safir, Al-Nahar 17 December 2013

Within the framework of its relief project entitled Safety for Women and Girls and which seeks to strengthen the capacities of actors in civil society to meet the needs of women and girls affected by the Syrian crisis, Beyond Association organised, in partnership with Heartland Alliance and with UNICEF funding, a training workshop on communication through theatre.  The event was organised yesterday in Nabatieh and included a theater performance presented by Syrian girls, which deals with issues of economic and family violence as well as early marriage.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 17 December 2013
 

More than 70% of all women in the world are subjected to violence whilst 500000 to 2 million are trafficked every year.  Of the latter, 80% are women.  One in every five women is subjected to rape or to attempted rape throughout her life.  One in every three women is subject to physical violence in her life as well as to forced sex in addition to some 130 million women and girls who have been subjected to FGM in a number of Arab and African countries.
These statistics were presented by Lana Baydas, First Social Affairs Officer Center for Women- ESCWA, during an event organised by ESCWA last Friday and in which three studies on violence against women in the Arab world were released.
The studies were the following: “Policies to Empower Women in the Arab Region: Combating Violence against Women and Girls", conducted by the ESCWA and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of with support from the Norwegian Embassy in Lebanon. The second entitled: “Trafficking of women and children in the Arab region: A regional perspective”, where the third study was conducted in partnership with ABAAD and titled: Frameworks For Combatting Violence Against Women in the ESCWA Region”.
According to the ESCWA centre for women, Samira Atallah, the studies seek to develop a knowledge base on this issue as well as to provide comprehensive information on this dangerous phenomenon that Arab women are subjected to. The studies also aim to tease out recommendations and suggestions for developing laws and services to support national and regional efforts seeking to combat violence against women, within the framework of international human rights frameworks, including addressing the recommendation of the CEDAW committee, the provisions of the Beijing Platform of Action and the recommendations of the CSW. It is to be noted that the conclusions of the latter in March 2013 during its 57th session, indicated that all countries of the world should commit themselves to use all possible juridical, social, legal, and economic means to protect and strengthen human rights and basic freedoms for women and should provide care for women victims of violence and punish perpetrators of violence.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Akhbar, NNA 16 December 2013

Lebanese Youth Support Association organised with Cr Group last week a press conference at the Press Club to launch its new project entitled “do you want USD 40,000?” The new housing project aims at enabling young Lebanese to buy apartments at low cost.  The project builds on a study done by the association and which showed that 80% of the Lebanese youth cannot buy residential apartments at market rates which often exceed by two times their earning power.
The residential project entails the construction of residential agglomerations of 500 housing units each in various rural areas in Lebanon.  As such, it seeks to relieve the cities from the current population over density and make use of the available space in rural areas.  Each agglomeration will also include shops and will attempt tp become a model village.  Housing units will be offered on the basis of 80 square meters (at a cost of USD40000), 100 square meters (at USD65000), 120 meters (at USD85000), or 140 meters (at USD 110000).  Construction will be in accordance with international architectural standards.
Acquisition will be governed by certain specific criteria.  Prospective owners must not have another property and must commit not to rent or sale their estate or use it for commercial purposes.  The law governing this project has also allocates 60% of the housing units in each locality to young people registered in these localities and the remainder 40% to those living there for more than 10 years.  In doing so, the project, according to lawyer Charbel Chawwa7h, seeks to safeguard the current demographic balances in the regions.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Diyar, Al-Safir 16 December 2013

Lebanon celebrated the International Human Rights Day on December 10th with a flurry of activities.  The Parliament organised in collaboration with the UNHCR and the UNDP the 20th anniversary of the International Human Rights Declaration.  The event included the holding of two working sessions. The first was introduced by women’s rights expert, Joelle Shueifati, who presented a review of the Lebanese laws whilst highlighting discriminatory texts.  Shueifati also emphasized legal texts which are in contradiction with human rights in view of their discrimination against women such as for instance the electoral law, the labor and NSSF laws especially in relation to the issue of maternity leave and the fact that “celibacy” is still maintained as a condition for employment of women in the third categories and beyond in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the diplomatic corps. The second session included a presentation of findings from three studies on how to combat corruption in the water, health and education sectors.
For its part, the Bar Association celebrated the 65th anniversary of the International Human Rights Declaration with the presence of a number of political, legal and trade union figures.  The rapporteur of the committee for public freedoms and human rights, lawyer Fadi Karam, indicated in his keynote address that the Bar Association is continuously monitoring the implementation of human rights whilst highlighting the challenges in implementation namely at the level of strengthening the concept and practice of full citizenship with no discrimination amongst women and men and especially in the law and following the principle of gender equality and so as to reach equitable development.

Schools and universities also initiated a number of activities for that occasion.  The Lebanese University organised in collaboration with the EU delegation a seminar on political participation in the Middle East region.  The seminar was attended by the EU ambassador Angelina Eichhorst who noted that the major question is how to build a diverse civil state in Lebanon and which guarantees the rights and freedom for all.  She added that the youth hold the future and hence the importance of their participation in debates about the future of the region. Furthermore, the Notre Dame University in Loueyzeh inaugurated a commemorative statue of Dr. Charles Malek in recognition of his contribution to the International Human Rights Charter.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Nahar, Al-Nahar, Al-Safir 11 December 2013