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English

Another missing woman this time in Qaa’!

7-12-2018

The phenomenon of kidnapped and missing women continues to spread in Lebanon (c.f: https://bit.ly/2Sz3qJE). Following the circulation of pictures of missing women in less than one month in the regions of Tannourin, the Southern Suburbs, Shweifat and Akkar, the General Directorate of Internal Security Forces circulated yesterday, the picture of yet another Syrian national. Zeinab Arafat (17), has disappeared after she left her house in Qaa’ on December 1, the Directorate stated, asking anyone who has information or saw the woman in question to call the Qaa’ police station, the regional gendarmerie unit, at the following number: 08 /225159. (Al Mustaqbal, December 7, 2018)

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Head of Lebanese-Gulf business development against women’s quota

6-12-2018

The head of the Lebanese-Gulf Business Development Commission, Elie Rizk, reportedly rejected the women’s representation quota in the legislature, according to Al Diyar yesterday. He said he preferred to see females get their rights through the work they perform, in criticism of some women who entered the parliament but were preoccupied with serving their own interests while not participating in drafting bills like European female lawmakers who, he claimed, respect their occupation. Rizk also condemned discrimination inside Lebanese unions of business women, like the union headed by Madiha Arslan, which is not represented by one single man, compared to businessmen’s associations that include women members. (Al Diyar, December 5, 2018)

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9.7% expected growth of Lebanon ICT sector

6-12-2018

The minister of administrative development in the caretaker government, Inaya Izzedine, disclosed yesterday that the IT and communications sector in Lebanon has seen a cumulative growth rate of 7% in the past years, anticipating a further growth of 9.7% by 2019. Izzedine was speaking during the opening of the Informatics and Telecommunications Conference organized by the Order of Engineers and Architects, 3rd branch (Consulting Electrical Engineers) under the title: ‘ICT in Lebanon: Towards a brighter future’. Izzedine said the distinctive feature of the IT sector is that it helps create complementary investment milieus among the vital economic sectors. She stressed that providing incentives and supporting stakeholders in their shift towards a knowledge-based economy can stimulate the growth of small and medium enterprises. Another feature of this sector, Izzedine maintained, is that it is considered as an essential source of comprehensive and sustainable development due to its contribution to growth and production, creation of jobs, innovation of environmental mechanisms and improvement of health conditions. For his part, the head of the OEA Third Branch, Jamal Haidar, pointed out that the ICT sector in the country embraces some 800 companies, mostly SMEs. He said that companies which produce software products and services employ around 5,000 high skilled people, with a growing demand on ICT skills on annual basis. (Al Mustaqbal, December 6, 2018)

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Youth employment: 2018 fair for job orientation, WB reports on work & education

5-12-2018

With the support of Drosos Foundation, the European Institute for Cooperation and Development (IECD) and Semeurs d’Avenir association organized yesterday the 7th edition of the Orientation and Employment Fair, 2018 at Forum de Beyrouth. On the occasion, the head of the association, Julien Feghali, said the labor market badly needs technical Lebanese youth talents, asking how a company or institution can survive without its maintenance and technological crew who connect technology with the consumer. Meanwhile, during a seminar held at AUB last Friday and entitled, ‘Preparing for the future: dialogue on youth, education and technology’, the World Bank launched two respective reports, ‘The changing nature of work’ and ‘A new framework for education in the Middle East and North Africa’. On the occasion, the vice president for the World Bank Group for Middle East and North Africa, Farid Belhaj, emphasized that above reports are closely related and key to the development in the region and Lebanon, which already made a few constructive steps. But what is needed today, Belhaj explained, is for Lebanon to have a vision for the future, especially in light of the anticipated large numbers of graduates in the labor market. By 2030, Belhaj said, 350 million jobs will be needed, which means that there are some 350 million young people out there who want to enter the labor market. Education is essential for preparing the youth to draw a better future, with a focus on technology, Belhaj concluded.(Al Mustaqbal, December 1, 5, 2018)

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Made in Iran saffron seeks global competition

5-12-2018

AFP published a feature on Iranian saffron which is considered a vital national resource in the country as it produces nearly 90% of the herb around the world. The saffron harvest season lasts only 10 days during the month of November where flowers blossom ready to be picked. Then comes the delicate process of removing stamens from saffron petals, an activity done mainly by women either at their home or in a factory. The price of one kg of saffron in local markets is more than 600 euros, and the price could increase 10 or 20 folds for the exported spice. AFP said, that in the absence of proper promotion and publicity, Iranian saffron does not seem to be familiar to people abroad, as the largest part of domestic production is exported wholesale to countries that reprocess them according to their needs. The CEO of Novin Saffron, Ali Shariati, is campaigning for ‘Made in Iran’ motto, yet the mission is tough, he maintained, given the major export markets have their own needs for the spice. Spain for example, wants the powder for paella, Britain is after the entire threads for Indian cuisine and Sweden wants tiny amounts to use for seasonal treats, Shariati explained. He finally pressed for innovating and adapting production to compete with the marketing in other countries. (Al Mustaqbal, November 29, 2018)

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2018 Award winner, Lebanese architect Hala Yunis

5-12-2018

The Lebanese architect, Hala Yunis, won the Middle East Architect Award (MEA Award) for 2018 in Dubai. Yunis participated in the residential project offices from various countries of the Middle East region. Her winning project, ‘The terrace Villa’ is located in Qalaat al Hsar, Batrun area, Lebanon and was built in a stone quarry deserted for 30 years. To note, Yunis was given the award in recognition of the simplicity and modesty of the project, as well as, its harmony with nature and its blending with the landscape for maximum use of the sun in the upper level and the view of the valley in the lower level. Accepting the award, Younis said she was happy to receive it, stressing that residential projects have to stay humble and integrated. (An Nahar, December 5, 2018)

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Gender equality in higher education, leadership posts

5-12-2018

Under the auspices of the British Embassy, the American University of Technology, AUT, organized a panel discussion on ‘Gender equality in higher education and in leadership positions’. On the occasion, Nada Talhuk, Beirut Bar Association member, said it is time to shift from the notion of clan to the notion of state and from the idea of conflict to the idea of participation of both women and men, namely moving towards the principles of democracy, justice and equality between individuals and society. Talhouk maintained that what is needed today is a revision of the values and principles based on gender discrimination in accordance with Article 5 of the CIDAW agreement. For her part, AUT president, Ghada Hnein, pointed to the absence of equality in senior positions within the education sector, noting that it is unacceptable in a country like Lebanon which provides equal opportunities for higher education to continue to suffer from a serious imbalance when it comes to female leadership positions. Similarly, MP Enaya Izzedine said” “We live in a patriarchal society par excellence,” adding, that change should be made on multiple levels, including laws and bills. She mentioned the challenge by Lebanese women to seize political decision making positions in the cabinet and the parliament, stressing that enhancing the status of women is in fact a societal process and culture that requires a proper environment to succeed. (L’Orient Le Jour, December 1, 2018)

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Yet two more women disappear in the North

5-12-2018

Following the circular on November 23 about Sarah Rida who disappeared in the Southern Suburbs of Beirut, the ISF General Directorate, under the mandate of competent judiciary, circulated the picture of Jihan Butros Sassine (37) who went missing after she left her house accompanied by her five children. Jihan left her house in the neighborhood of Bassatin al Asi- Tannourin area on November 19 and disappeared. Her children are three girls (born in 2016, 2011 and 2008) and two boys (born in 2012 and 2009). The Directorate also circulated the picture of missing Syrian woman, Ola Nuri Khleif (17 years) who disappeared after she left her brother’s house in Minyeh. (Al Mustaqbal, December 5, 2018)

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Strong criticism of awareness film on rape in Lebanon; first marathon on VAW in Egypt

4-12-2018

In an article published in Al Akhbar newspaper on Friday, anthropologist Hiba Morkos criticized the awareness film produced by ABAAD on rape and violence against women (c.f: https://goo.gl/xZSzf8). The film, Morkos noted, has been released without the slightest regard to the sense of professionalism and responsibility, pointing to the two main rules of respecting the victim which the film missed. These are, a warning at the beginning of the video that shows the content of the scenes focused on sexual assault, and an early warning that the video scenes are not real but played by an actress. ABAAD, Morkos went on to say, has sought thrill and ignored values, encroaching upon our fragile psychological state which we struggle to keep in balance, as she put it. Morkos explained that ABAAD’s campaign video has faded at the first marathon, where the organization hailed the courage of rape victims who do not run away from their rapists but confront them, saying this form of confrontation endangers the lives of victims (for more on the article in Arabic, click on the following link: https://goo.gl/GXrHFP). On the other hand, in collaboration with UNFPA, Cairo Runners and the Ministry of Sports and Youth, the National Council for Women in Egypt organized on Friday the first official women marathon in Heliopolis district of Cairo. The marathon wanted to tell the world and the Egyptian society that they should work to eliminate all forms of violence against women. (Al Akhbar, Al Mustaqbal, November 30, December 1, 2018)

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Divorce rate in Lebanon doubles in 10 years

4-12-2018

The statistics of the Directorate of Personal Status in the interior ministry has shown that divorce rates have increased by 101 % in Lebanon from the period extending between 2006 and 2017. Reportedly, 8850 divorce instances were recorded in 2017 against 4388 in 2006, noting that these figures are not final, given many divorce petitions pending at Sharia Courts. The latter to mention, often procrastinate in similar cases. Besides, divorces do not usually include separation, particularly within Christian communities. According to above figures, North Lebanon governorate recorded the highest divorce rates, (1840 contracts) during 2017, followed by Beirut (1486), Beqaa (1405), Mount Lebanon (1348), Nabatiyeh (1270) and the South (1231). On the subject, social researcher and religious scholar, Hassan Fadlallah, said deteriorating economic conditions and increasing poverty and unemployment rates are essentially related to the extraordinary increase in the number of divorces. He pointed to a shift in the notion of marriage due to the development in women’s situation as a result of education and participation in the labor market. Many women, Fadlallah noted, no longer accept patriarchal conception of marriage which views women as subordinates to men as well as sex objects. Likewise, Father Josepth Bou Raad stressed that the change in the role of women in society is one of the main reasons for the rise in divorce rates, as women today boast an economic role within the family, which could, in many instances, exceed that of their male partners. This increased their awareness of their rights and respect for themselves, hence, changing the requirements in the relationship with men which involves civility in communication. Similarly, legal specialist, Mari Rose Zalzal, maintained that the legal and social rules of marital relationships are no longer valid. (Al Akhbar, December 1, 2018)

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