Other news

Lebanese journalist and activist Rouweida  Mroweh won the Pavoncella award for women creativity in recognition of her role in serving a number of human rights and conflict related issues in Lebanon such as for instance supporting the Lebanese army as well as launching the campaign for women’s quota in politics, supporting women’s rights in South Yemen, and the rights of Sahrawi women held in the Tindoof camps of Algeria as well as her overall action in support of women and freedom through the production of documentary films such as: “Al-Makhlouh”, and “Bahiya”.
It is to be noted that this award has been granted for the second year running to women who have been outstanding in various fields such as arts, sports, business and scientific research.
Source: Al-Nahar 21 June 2013

The Arab Women Gathering started its series of seminars entitled: “Media: sensation or impact”.  The first event in the series was organised at the Notre Dame University in Loueizeh and was opened with a keynote address by the president of the higher commission of the Gathering Ms. Carmen Zoughaib.  Zoughaib clarified the objectives of the event describing it as a call against the current situation in the media which she described as being inappropriate and immoral.  She raised the question as to whether the media serves the community or the other way around noting that viewers follow drama, entertainment and advertising which seem to seek to corrupt society.  She promised that by the end of the seminar, a committee will be formed to follow up its recommendations and to liaise with decision makers in the Ministries of Education and Information.  She stressed that improving the situation of the media begins at the level of educational institutions and universities.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 20 June 2013

MP Bahiya Hariri honored Ms. Zahia Osseiran (born 1917), a pioneer of the association of women’s renaissance in Saida.  The event coincided with the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the association which was founded in 1933.  The event was held at Ms. Hariri’s residence in Majdelyoon.  The honoree was granted by the Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development a Lebanese flag scarf and a special medal of distinction for continuous contributions and in recognition of her social and human giving
The event started with a documentary tracing the life and work of the honoree followed by a keynote address by the head of the Saida Municipal Council, Eng. Mohammad Saoudi who pointed out to the achievements of Ms. Osseiran in the fields of women’s rights.  He also talked about the renaissance of women in the thirties and the challenges they encountered.  The honoree then spoke and extended her thanks and noted that what she did was only her duty to her country.
Source: Al-Nahar 18 June 2013

MOSA concluded last week a programme to raise awareness of health and social workers, belonging to those NGOs benefiting from contractual agreements with the Ministry, on issues related to women’s human rights.  The programme culminated in the graduation of 25 health workers which were chosen according to specific criteria.  These followed eight in-depth and specialised awareness raising workshops on women’s human rights.  The graduates form now a core reference group for all those NGO. In total some 120 health and social workers have benefited from this programme since its launch, all of whom are active in rural and civil society organisations.  The implementation of this programme was made possible with funding from UNFPA aiming at strengthening social and development work, building women’s skills and raising their awareness to facilitate their participation in decision making.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 17 June 2013

The SMART centre for communication organised last week a political debate which is the first in a series of debates it is planning to carry out in the different regions amongst women candidates.  This event was carried out in Byblos and brought together two candidates Josephine Zougheib and Nehmat Badereddine.
According to the project director, Silva Akl, the SMART Centre is seeking through its projects and training events to engage women in politics through building their capacity and that of their campaigning teams as well as changing stereotypes of women in Lebanon and the Arab world.  She also added that the project entitled Women Advocates for Women's Votes seeks to visibilise women as politicians as well as prepare electors to practice accountability vis-à-vis elected candidates.  Akl described the various stages of the project and noted that it has so far trained 41 women in various topics which will enable them to run successful political campaigns.
Source: Al-Nahar 17 June 2013

A delegation representing the Association of Lebanese Business Women headed by Ms. Leila Karameh visited the new Prime Minister Tammam Salam and his wife Lama Salam in their family home in Mossaytbeh last week.  The Delegation called on the new Prime Minister to ensure that women are appointed in his new Cabinet urging him to speed the process of forming his government for the sake of Lebanon and the Lebanese people.  The Delegation also stressed the need to give special consideration to Tripoli and North Lebanon in view of the worsening conditions of this area.
Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Safir 16 June 2013

The Helem organisation and its supporters celebrated last Sunday in Sunflower Theater, Tayyouneh, the international day against homophobia IDAHO.  The event included an address by lawyer Nizar Saghieh calling for an exemplary legal for the removal of article 534 of the penal code and which he felt is the best way to address homophobia.

This event did not go unnoticed as a group of young people gathered in front of the event venue while carrying post signs invoking "religion", "traditions" and the "rules of nature".  According to the Al Akhbar newspaper, the protesters were provoked by the event's poster which they accused of being "lewd".  They even threatened to take over and burn the place if it was not for the presence of the security forces. They also threated that they will not keep quiet should such event recur in the future.

Responding to the protest, Rana, a member of Helem’s steering committee, said that what the protesters did was only "natural" in a society which has not evolved and especially that Helem has recently scored a number of gains in relation to the anal tests and in reaction to the closure of the Ghost night club in Dekwaneh.  She added that the purpose of Helem’s actions is to send a clear message that LGBTs are an integral part of the Lebanese community and that they will not back off everytime there is opposition against them.  
Source: Al-Akhbar 10 June 2013

"My Nationality is a Right for me and my Family Campaign" called in a statement issued yesterday, the United Nations Human Rights Council to exert pressure on Lebanon to commit to women’s citizenship rights and cease maneuvers that aim at excluding women and maintaining them in subordinate positions and in a situation of inequality. This statement was issued in response to the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding ‘Discrimination against women in matters related to nationality’ in Lebanon which quoted a statement made by Lebanon's permanent representative at the Human Rights Council. The campaign pointed out the importance of addressing the issue of women's rights to nationality but considered that the report made by Lebanon's representative included misleading and partial information especially with regards to the ministerial committee that was appointed by the Lebanese Prime Minister in March 2012 presided by Minister Samir Moqbel with the membership of the ministers of interior, foreign affairs, labor, media, justice and social affairs as members, and which did not start working on its assignment until July 2012.
The campaign elaborated in its statement the following points: ‘ the committee met with a delegation of the campaign in December 2012 and committed itself in front of the Campaign delegation to study all available options with the aim of reforming the nationality law in a fair and equitable way; however, the Nationality campaign was surprised and so were Lebanese women afterwards with the issuing of an unprecedented set of recommendations that affirmed that gender equality is not a binding principle if it threatened higher national interests, and this despite the fact that equality between men and women is enshrined in the Lebanese constitution. For the same considerations, the committee also reaffirmed that Lebanon is not bound to implement international conventions and agreements pertaining to human rights’.
The Nationality campaign renewed in its statement ‘its call to the Government of Lebanon to honor its commitments to the International Human Rights Convention and to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and to proceed forward without any hesitation to amend the discriminatory nationality law of 1925 so as to align it with the international women and human rights instruments.
Source: Al-Akhbar, Al-Safir 6 June 2013

The Danish Refugee Council indicated during the weekly briefing to the UNHCR that there was an increase in the reported cases of the number of Syrian women refugees who have suffered from gender based violence.  According to the DRC, the contributing factor include psychological trauma and difficult living conditions.  The report adds that women who come to Lebanon without their husbands feel more vulnerable.  Humanitarian agencies have started to distribute hygiene kits for women, scarves, torch lights and personal hygiene items so as to help women feel more secure and to strengthen their sense of dignity.  During the month of May, organisations have reportedly stepped up their action to encourage women victims of violence to speak out and seek help.
The UNHCR noted in the same report that the number of Syrian displaced in Lebanon has now reached around half a million people of whom 418,000 people have been registered and are receiving support from UNHCR and its partners.  The registered displaced population is distributed as follows: 159000 refugees in North Lebanon, 144000 refugees in Bekaa, 68000 refugees in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, and 47000 refugees in South Lebanon.
Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Mustaqbal 4 June 2013

The The International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) launched its project to support primary health care and prenatal care to pregnant displaced Syrian women at risk.  The project targets 150 women of whom 80% are Syrian and 20% are Lebanese.  The project is funded by the OHCR and was launched from the premises of the Saint Paul Medical Centre.  The director of Saint Paul Medical Centre, Dr. Youssef al-Rashkidi, noted that women targeted by the project are essentially pregnant Syrian displaced women who are at health risk during and after pregnancy who will receive all medical tests which will be carried out by specialized doctors.  The director of the programme Linda Chaker Berbari outlined the project details and introduced the project team.  The project which will be implemented within the premises of Saint Paul Medical Centre will provide a walk in clinic for pregnant women for whom medical files will be established cover the pre natal period and until delivery.  The project will also contract a number of local hospitals to admit women beneficiaries during the project duration which will end in September 2013.
Source: Al-Nahar 4 June 2013