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Safadi supports 3 women projects in Akkar

17-4-2018

The Safadi Foundation signed yesterday cooperation agreements with 3 women associations to fund development undertakings in the field of aromatic herbs in the district of Akkar. This comes as part of the ‘Women active in rural economic development- WARED’ project within the Afkar 3 Program funded by the European Union and managed by the Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform, in cooperation with the Municipality of Qobiyat, the Union of the Municipalities of kaitaa’ and Joumeh in Akkar. The following associations won 7000 Euro to implement their respective projects as such: Kouni Anti for ‘Atayeb al Wared’ projects; Social Work for ‘Beit el Mooneh’ and Ain al Zahab Women association for the project ‘Mathanitna’ (Our Mill). To note, some 11 women associations in Akkar have submitted their proposals after undergoing training on proposal writing. WARED project to recall, aims to promote the role of women as catalysts for achieving a balanced and sustainable economic development in Akkar, build their capacities to use modern technology in the manufacture of traditional agro-food products, and diversify and expand the sources of income of rural women in the aromatic plant production. (Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, April 17, 2018)

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Women’s role in strengthening governance in Baalbaq

16-4-2018

Abaad organization, the Family Support Center in Labweh, North Beqaa and Creadel-Lebanon organized a talk on Saturday entitled, ‘The role of women in consolidating local governance’. The event was held under the patronage of Baalbaq mayor, Hussein Lakis, who stressed the vital presence of women in politics, public administration and the private sector. Speeches given on the occasion outlined the definition of local governance and the significance of its application as a link between the administrative and political aspects, as well as the importance of women’s involvement and participation in the local authorities. The speakers included, the director of the Faculty of Law and Political and Administrative Sciences at the Lebanese University, fourth branch, Dr. Akram Yaghi; university professor, Dr. Ghada Sharim Ata; the member of the Planning and Studies Committee at the Lebanese Council of Women, Dr. Batul Yahfufi; deputy mayor of Arsal, Rima Kronbi; the technical supervisor in social intervention in cases of gender-based violence and coordinator of Labwa Family Support Center, Sahar Samhun. (Al Akhbar, April 16, 2018)

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2017 report of Observatory for Rights of Workers

16-4-2018

In a press conference on Friday, the Lebanese Observatory for the Rights of Workers and Employees launched its sixth report on the movements, violations and legislations recorded during 2017. The Observatory has developed its model annual report for the present year, noting for the first time, the legislations and consultations alongside the complaints and grievances. In its monitoring of the violations, the report revealed the delivery of some 169 consultation requests, 43.7% of which are related to arbitrary dismissal, noticing a decline in female requests, (only 36% of the total number of consultations), which focused mainly on the working hours and vacations, while ignoring the social security and pay matters. On the cross-sectoral level, the report noticed that the commercial sector represented the highest rate of infringements on workers’ rights (37%), followed by the media (12%). The report also found out that, despite that the civil society organizations, CSO, sector, is, so they say, a staunch advocate of rights, it came fourth, posting 10.6% in violations. The report went on to say that, the year 2017 has shown a slow return to legislations after a lengthy absence of the role of the Legislative. For more on the report, kindly visit the link below: https://goo.gl/qnDPiw. (Al Akhbar, April 14, 2018)

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Awareness on dealing with victims of sexual harassment

16-4-2018

The General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces and Abaad organization jointly organized on Saturday an awareness activity around a memorandum on “How to receive and treat victims of sexual harassment and human trafficking at ISF centers”. The activity included a parade by an ISF cycling squad, the Harley Davidsons Ladies Club and Lebanon Bikers from Ain Mreiseh neighborhood of Beirut through two awareness checkpoints at the National Museum and Chevrolet roundabout areas to finally reach the Memorial of the women victims of domestic violence in Baabda suburb of Beirut. During their tour, the cyclists distributed leaflets among passers to familiarize the above memo. Towards the end of the activity, the head of the PR division at ISF, Colonel Joseph Musallam, said: “When the ISF set its priorities for the protection of freedoms and human rights, it took into consideration the crimes committed against women,” and stressed the need to rethink some of the outdated inherited customs that impede the realization of women’s rights. Abaad director, Ghida Anani, for her part, pointed out that the memo is a sharp translation of ISF commitment to the file of domestic violence and violence against women and girls. (Al Akhbar, April 16, 2018)

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Political activist Carole Babekian candidate for peace and dialogue

13-4-2018

In its continuous support of women nominees for the upcoming parliamentary elections, L’Orient Le Jour spotlighted on the career path of Carole Babekian, the ambassador of peace for the Universal Peace Federation candidate, running for Beirut 1st district. Babekian clarified that although she runs on the electoral list affiliated with political parties, she considers herself as an independent nominee who relates to civil society within that list. Bebekian, a political science graduate from AUB, describes herself as the woman of peace and dialogue, boasting her aptitude as a debater and facilitator of dialogue between different groups of Lebanese society, including rival political factions. Her candidacy was not coincidental, she explained, for she has been planning it for some time, she told L’Orient Le Jour. She is a political activist and a volunteer in both Ashrafieh and Borj Hammoud, besides her support for MP Nadim Gemayel, through what is known as Ashrafieh 2020 association which she heads. Babekian concluded by saying that in the event of winning, she will focus on national dialogue, fighting corruption and the provision of free education for all the children of Lebanon. (L'Orient Le Jour, April 12, 2018)

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Yet another prostitution ring uncovered in Maameltein

13-4-2018

In its continued efforts to combat human trafficking, the General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces announced in a statement yesterday, that following surveillance action, a patrol from the Anti-Human trafficking and Morals Protection Bureau at the Judiciary Police Unit uncovered a new prostitution ring in the basement of a Maameltein hotel north of the capital, Beirut. The ring includes four girls (Syrian nationals) and the pimp T.Q (63-year-old man, Lebanese), in addition to the arrest of four other former suspects active in facilitating sex work, including 3 Syrians and one Lebanese. The ISF statement confirmed that the hotel has been sealed with red wax and the suspects referred to competent judiciary. (Al Mustaqbal, April 13, 2018)

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Women-only fashion week in Saudi Arabia

12-4-2018

In a first-ever move, the Saudi Kingdom hosted the Arab Fashion Week at Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh on April 10. The event will take place over four days with an exclusive women attendance and the absence of cameras. The event which is usually held in Dubai, saw the participation of celebrated foreign designers, like French couturier Jean Paul Gaultier and the Italian fashion house Roberto Cavalli, in addition to the Kingdom’s designer Arwa Banawi whose line and designs are well known and loved in the region. On the event, Princess Noura Bint Faisal Al Saud, the honorary president of the Arab Fashion Council, said there has always been an interest in fashion in Saudi Arabia, stressing that her Council is trying to bring the industry to an exceptional level. She disclosed that a second edition is already scheduled for coming October, whereby Dubai will continue to host its own fashion week between May 9 and 12. To note, the event comes after a swift policy change since the appointment of crown prince Mohamad Bin Salman mid last year, including allowing women to drive and the re-opening of movie theatres. (L’Orient Le Jour, April 12, 2018)

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Mountaineer Zeinab plants Lebanese flag on Himalayas

12-4-2018

Lebanese mountaineer, Zeinab Abdel Raouf Salam, completed yesterday the first phase of her trek to the 6189m- Island Peak in the Himalayas. Resisting the harsh weather conditions and freezing temperatures, Salam conquered the summit at an altitude of 5350m carrying the Lebanese flag signed by President Michel Aoun. To recall, Salam, a volunteer at the Lebanese Red Cross-Spears, has visited President Aoun about six months ago in the presence of Red Cross president, Dr. Antoine Zoghbi, to convey to him her desire to raise her country’s flag at Island Peak. President Aoun encouraged her move, praising her patriotic and humanitarian awareness and signed the flag. (Al Mustaqbal, April 12, 2018)

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Electoral bickering over women religious educators in the North

11-4-2018

After Al Diyar raised the issue of women religious educators in the North (https://bit.ly/2qp0L99), and they became the focus of a large segment of Tripoli’s community, former prime minister Najib Mikati asked to meet the teachers to discuss their demand for an hourly raise among other social claims. Mikati expressed his regret for not finding solutions in the near future, stressing that he will continue to follow-up this issue personally. The former PM also promised to take this matter to the Legislative to request equal treatment with other public school teachers. Following Mikati’s intervention, the electoral machine of the Future Movement in the northern city contacted the religious educators to set a date for their meeting with premier Saad Hariri, to which some agreed and others opposed. Those who rejected the initiative did not want their case to be manipulated in the elections auction, particularly that it has been there for a long time and the current PM never mediated to resolve it. Those who agreed justified the visit as important because Hariri is currently the prime minister and has the executive power to correct the situation. Should he be honest, the solution will see light in a week and will not drag on until after casting the ballots. On the other hand, and following in the footsteps of their Tripoli colleagues, 176 religious educators in Akkar, with their families and relatives, decided not to vote in the parliamentary elections, warning they will stage sit-ins in front of the polling stations on May 6. (Al Diyar, April 1, 3, 4, 2018)

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HSBC has worst gender pay gap in Britain

10-4-2018

The largest bank in Europe, HSBC, has topped the list of large British companies witnessing a large difference in salaries between male and female staff. The bank pays men 59% more than women, posting the biggest pay gap among companies with more than 5 thousand employees in the UK, according to an analysis on pay figures conducted by Reuters covering 491 of the leading firms, government departments, charities and local authorities, which employ more than 5,000 people. Virgin Atlantic came second, with men receiving 58% more, followed by a unit of Barclays (48%). To recall, the British prime minister, Theresa May, has since she got power introduced long-planned reforms forcing companies with 250 employees or more to publish details of the pay difference between male and female staff by last Wednesday evening and report back annually on the issue. According to Reuters analysis, men’s salaries are higher in over 97% of organizations, with women receiving higher pay in only 3% of these organizations. (Al Hayat, April 6, 2018)

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