Women’s social-economic situation in Lebanon during a EMHRN workshop in Barcelona

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) organised a workshop during the Euromed summit for social and economic councils which was held last week in Barcelona by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), and the European Economic and Social Committee EESC.  The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network’s workshop focused on women’s economic and social situation and included an intervention given by the president of the Lebanese Women’s Council, Ms. Jamal Ghibril, who spoke of the difficulties women face in entering the job market and the discrimination they face.
Within that same framework, the president of Lebanon’s Economic and Social Council, Mr. Roger Nasnas, noted that the project launched by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) should aim at strengthening the infrastructure while protecting the environment and developing the economic capacities of the region within the framework of comprehensive development so that no area or social group remains marginalized or excluded.  He added that such projects are an opportunity to create new jobs and to develop the capital market.  Nasnas added that the region will not develop without new efforts to strengthen small and micro enterprises, the adoption of new policies conducive to production and creativity, opening markets, developing new social contracts which guarantee standards for decent work and secure safety at work, decent income and the protection of communities from poverty and marginalization.  Nasnas also emphasized the role that economic and social councils need to play so as to meet these priorities of the.
Finally, the president of the Arab Network of NGOs for Development, Ziad Abdel Samad, highlighted during a special workshop the current opportunities and challenges facing NGOs and the need to adopt a  new development model for the state and the economy that will include mechanisms for effective CSOs participations in decision making and monitoring.
Source: Al-Safir 18 November 2013