The Office of Women Affairs at the Phalangist Party Batroon District in the North honored last Sunday women from the local community during a ceremony held at the Holy Family University-Batroun, in the presence of Joyce Amin Gemayel, MP Samer Saadeh, the head of the Phalangist Batroon District, Arz Fadous and a number of local figures. Addressing the honored women, Fadous praised their capacities and pledged to support them and to step up efforts to pressure the civil society and youth organizations, in particular, to increase the number of women candidates in the upcoming municipal elections. He called for the formation of alliances with the various political and family groups to this effect. For his part, Saadeh, describing the woman as the “pillar of society”, said he shares and backs her demands and rights, “particularly in the wake of the horrific corruption scandals infecting our communities.” Among the honored women, are the director general of Petroleum Resources, Aura Feghali, the National News Agency director, Laure Sleiman Saab, the mother of the martyr pilot Samer Hanna, Yvette Saba Hanna, the president of the Holy Family University, Marie Basbous, the president of the Lebanese Red Cross in Batroun, Claude Darazi and mothers of martyrs. (Al Mustaqbal, April 12, 2016)