Other news

Lebanese media covered in great details yesterday the release of young Eva from her abductors while she appeared on New TV talk show programme “Lil Nasher” with talk show host Tony Khalifeh.  Law enforcement secured the release of young Eva following the intervention of middle people after she spent 16 days in captivity during which she was forcibly married to the son of her captor.  She was interrogated at the police station in Ouzai with the presence of a representative of the office of protection of minors and is due to be subsequently delivered to the care of a social centre after the legalization of her divorce by the Jaafari Mufti Ahmad Kabalan.  Meanwhile, the police is still looking for her abductors.
According to Al Akhbar newspaper, the case of Eva is expected to remain open as long as her abductor, her rapist and whoever signed her marriage are still free.  According to Al Akhbar, the operation that led to the release of Eva included a raid on several locations where the girl was believed to be held captive in addition to using other forms of investigation including the use of mediators who promised to bring young Eva back.  The legal authorities subsequently ordered that the young girl be kept in a safe place which is suitable for minors until her captors are brought to justice.
Eva’s family lawyer Bushra al Khalil outlined the harm done by the New TV programme Al Nasher which not only cast a stereotype on the young woman by presenting her as a model happy housewife but the programme also presented a positive image of her abductor whom the TV showed as saying that “Eva has now become like my daughter”.  According to the lawyer, the NTV programme tried to shift the parameters of this case which had severe consequences on the little girl by resorting to cheap sensationalist methods.  The TV programme further added insult to injury by presenting the opinion of the Muslim clergy Hasan Chahin who indicated that this forced marriage to a minor is legal if the union is consensual and if the girl is well treated especially that she is more than 9 years of age, and, therefore, fit to marriage according to the clergy!
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Akhbar, Al-Nahar, Al-Safir 30 October 2013

The Women and Children Parliamentary Commission held a session during which it reviewed local laws that are discriminatory against women and compared these with the provisions of international convention with emphasis on the arguments accompanying each.  The Commission also reviewed a compendium of discriminatory Lebanese law and decided to start developing law proposals to address discrimination in the letter of the law and submit these for approval by the Assembly so that the latter can review and adopt these suggested reforms.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 30 October 2013
 

Within the framework of the project entitled “Strengthening human rights policies and practices in prisons for women in Lebanon”, implemented in collaboration with Diakonia, Dar el Amal and Caritas-Lebanon Migrants Centre, the Rassemblement Democratique des Femmes Libanaises )RDFL(, organised last week a seminar at the municipality in Jounieh on the reform of policies and practices related to human rights within women’s prisons in Lebanon and so as to reach gender equality in family laws, penal code and social security.
The coordinator of the project, Manar Zeiater, presented during her intervention at the seminar, an overview of the situation of women as well as the issues faced within women’s prisons.  She highlighted the main recommendations regarding the needed reforms of laws and policies and which emerged as a result of the studies and reports prepared by the project partners, namely the need to take into consideration the specific health needs of women in prisons, their right to comprehensive medical checkups upon entering the prison, to reproductive, sexual and preventive health care as well as providing special needs for women namely safe nutrition in adequate quantities with due attention to pregnant and lactating mothers and women with special needs, in addition to giving due consideration to women’s personal hygiene.  Zeiater also outlined the various ways to boost women’s participation in campaign to protect them from violence and to improving conditions in prisons so that prisons meet international standards of human rights and also clarified the various mechanisms to secure the rights of women prisoners and to respecting the rights of detainees.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 27 October 2013

Young Eva, 13 years, was abducted in lieu of a debt that her father was not able to repay to his creditors.  Eva is known to have been detained by her captors for more than 11 days, and then forcibly wedded, but nobody has any information about her current situation, as the state seems to have thrown this matter into the hands of clans and have failed to pursue the abductors.
Lawyer Bushra Khalil, now in charge of the case since October 26th, has now filed a case of abduction and rape to the district attorney.  She expects new developments within the coming 24 hours including an arrest of the abductors.
Source: AL-Akhbar 26 & 28 October 2013

An Nahar newspaper published a profile report on the Aleya Ibn Al-Insan which was set up in 2005 by the former spiritual guide of prisons in Lebanon, Father Marwan Ghanem.  The centre which seeks to treat and rehabilitate victims of substance abuse, has now allocated a new section for women.  So far, the centre has received 13 young women three of whom have completed their rehabilitation and reintegrated society.  Aleya Ibn Al-Insan is the second of such centre targeting women with care and rehabilitation similarly after that of Um al Noor.  Rehabilitation programmes are diverse and included spiritual guidance, psychotherapy (both individual and group therapy conducted with specialised social worker), personal assessments, and family visits in order to improve family relations as well as family follow ups.  In addition, the centre sets up social groups and organises awareness raising lectures and various cultural activities such as reading of literature and spiritual books and attending ICT training.  Language training is also provided in addition to theater and music sessions.  The period of the therapy will extend over a minimum of one year which once completed is followed by psychotherapy, spiritual guidance and social support.  To be noted that the daily needs of the centre and its patients are secured with external funding in addition to donations and auto generated income from various fundraising activities.
Source: Al-Nahar 23 October 2013

The Ministry of Social Affairs (MOSA) implemented earlier this week its "Shariki" project in Khenshara in collaboration wit the Municipality as well as the Lions' Club of Ain Saadeh and as part of the broader project entitled “Promote Women's Participation in Governance and Development” which is funded by the Italian embassy.
The project seeks to strengthen the role of women in public life whilst recognising women's skills and capacities, boosting their full confidence to build their talents, encourage them to develop and contribute to gender equality, develop their talents and capacities to become independent in managing their affairs and strengthen their political participation beginning with women’s participation in local governance and subsequently strengthen women's participation in parliamentary elections as well as in holding executive positions.
The activity implemented in Khenshara extended over three days and included a specialised exhibition which hosted 12 kiosks belonging to various associations and banks. It also included raising awareness activities through holding seminars and meetings on the importance of women's participation in public life.  The event also included discussion seminars with Ghassan Moukhaiber and Hayat Areslan and health awareness session and early breast cancer detection tests for 50 women and diabetes tests for 60 individuals and the running of lectures on health nutrition organised in collaboration with the Lions' club.
Source: Al-Nahar 23 October 2013

Lebanese Association for Rural Development (LARD) organised in collaboration with the Jumeh coordination body of the Future movement and the Lebanese Red Cross a training workshop in first aid for women focusing on how to deal with household accidents.  The training which was organised last Tuesday in Darat Minyara, Al-Jumeh - Akkar, sought to upgrade the cultural and social knowledge and capacity of women to deal with emergency accidents at home, was attended by a number of women from the region and was conducted under the supervision of the representative of the Lebanese Red Cross, Yola al Sarraf.
The training is part of a series of workshops which are being organised by LARD and addressing various subjects related to the training of women in Akkar and in such fields as creativity, production, health awareness, social interaction as well as engaging in the modernisation and development process within local communities.
Source: Al-Nahar 10 October 2013

The “Daily Star” newspaper published a report yesterday dealing with the widespread and provocative adverts promoting the idea of women as objects of violence, sexual aggression and mindless commodities, while highlighting the personal views on this matter expressed by selected designers working in international and national advertising agencies.
At first, the report pointed out to several examples of objectifying women that can be found in numerous advertisements and marketing campaigns commissioned by economic sectors , such as nightclubs, nut and confectionary companies, fashion industry, etc… These advertisements, according to the report, can be easily seen everywhere in street billboards and in social media. Nevertheless, some of the interviewed advertisers declined the responsibility and even regretted producing objectionable or distasteful material; arguing that often they are just complying and promoting the vision of their clients.
Claude El Khal, creative director for M&C Saatchi in the Middle East and North Africa, told “The Daily Star”, that in final instance, he is answerable only to his clients and as such his policy is not to argue with them, even if the concept is contrary to his own beliefs.
From his part, Marc Daou, chief operating officer at the Rizk Group, another leading Lebanese advertising firm with operations throughout the region, stated that there is in the industry an over-reliance on stereotypes and on a shock approach in an effort to attract consumers, while acknowledging that there are no ethical standards for working in this industry.
For his part, and while attempting to clarify the shock factor, Jad Melki, director of the Media Studies department at the American University of Beirut, said that the consumer reaches a point where the shock factor ceases to have any effect and thus become normal, adding that while sexism in advertising is a worldwide phenomena, it is worse in Lebanon because of the lack of regulation, watchdogs and weak public awareness. Melki warned against children, especially girls, growing up with such visual messages which force them to value their looks, bodies, hair, the way they are dressed up, instead of valuing other elements in their personality that make them "human". He concluded by saying that such advertisements not only affect women’s own emotional well-being, but also have the potential to affect their physical health, noting that increased awareness through school programs and denouncing companies that indulge in such practices, may be the best solution to combat sexism in advertising.
Source: The Daily Star 9 October 2013