A mass rally in Beirut and several events to honor women

Last weekend witnessed further activities in celebration of the International Woman’s Day. Under heavy rain, a civil march was organized on Saturday in Beirut with the participation of nearly 2000 feminist and young activists, demanding the endorsement of a number of laws for fostering women’s rights. In the same vein, Kataeb Party launched its first day forum for woman under the banner ‘rights, partnership, parity’ during which Kataeb President Sami Gemayel announced that his party submitted a law proposal to exempt all Lebanese women wishing to run for elections from candidacy fees. The exemption, which includes as well the electoral insurance, should cover the Parliamentary, municipal and mukhtar elections for 2 rounds of fees. Moreover, Haigazian University organized a ceremony in honor of 4 women pioneers in social and professional areas, while Bank of Beirut and the Arab World (BBAC), and for the third successive year, offered a special package of banking services targeting women . Similarly, the Arab Women’s Council, held the Arab Woman Festival to honor a number of outstanding female entrepreneurs, while The American University for Science and Technology (AUST) in Halat, launched the first meeting hub for women of society. For its part, the Lebanese Council for Women (LCW) opened its 9th conference entitled, ‘one stop on the road of a long struggle for the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women: a political, social and economic reform, building the civil democratic state’. Similar events, included a ceremony by Ramgafar Party under the patronage of minister of state for administrative development, Inaya Ezzideen, who hailed efforts by Armenian women to bring up active and skilled (men) artisans, professionals and innovators! Finally, the Bsharri-branch of the Lebanese Forces organised a seminar on the occasion entitled “a new step towards social justice”. (Annahar, Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, Al Hayat, L’Orient le Jour, 11,12,13 March 2017)