On the occasion of the International Women’s Day, and in collaboration with the Arab Organization for Young Lawyers-Lebanon Branch, the Tripoli Bar Association organized a seminar on March 9 entitled, ‘the Lebanese woman: between reality and the law’. During the seminar, North Bar chief, Mohamad Murad, pointed out that there are women and girls who crossed the red lines to fight for their natural rights. This, he said, resulted in equality in some of the laws, but still need fair amendments, pointing to the injustice in depriving the Lebanese woman of her right to pass on nationality to her children, and advising against political interference to this effect. For her part, the head of the Lebanon Branch, Suha Ismail, stressed that Lebanese women have made good progress at all levels, yet there remains a pressing need for legislative reforms. Reservations on certain provisos in international agreements are not in favor of the desired reforms, she warned, criticizing Lebanon’s reservation on the CEDAW Agreement particularly on the right of women to confer nationality to their children. Ismail also addressed political participation of women in Lebanon, maintaining that this starts with the adoption of the representation quota for a transitional period. Likewise, MP Rula Tabsh Jaroudi, said Lebanese women have struggled for years to claim their rights, however, they are still underrepresented in politics and political life. On the same occasion, hundreds of activists and students marched yesterday from Fouad Chehab Bridge and ended at Ain Mreisseh, under the slogan, ‘Economic justice is a feminist cause’. Among organizers were, the Lebanese Feminist Bloc, the Secular Club (AUB), the Feminist Club (AUB), Red Oak Club (AUB), Gender and Sexuality Club (AUB), Anti-Racism Movement, Helem Association and the Alliance of Migrant Domestic Workers in Lebanon. Organizers said the demonstration is against a system that links personal, sexual, and social rights with religion. (Al Mustaqbal, March 11, 2019)