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Blatant violation of LGBT rights and of people with AIDS

8-11-2018

In its today’s edition, Al Akhbar newspaper drew attention to the attempts to influence sexual tendencies of LGBTs through an interview with psychiatrist Omar Fattal, founding member of the Lebanese Medical Association for Sexual Health (LebMASH). Fattal explained that such attempts in Lebanon are still unclear, because homosexuality is still considered a taboo, pointing out that persistence on sexual transformation threatens the mental health of the person in question, starting from guilt feeling to depression and ending up in suicide. Fattal told Al Akhbar that some of the cases received by LeBMASH revealed that the therapist made them feel guilty, while another lured them to have sex with a prostitute or prescribed certain hormones supplements, though studies have not shown any relation between sexual tendencies and hormonal levels, Fattal stated. On the other hand, Al Akhbar reported the arrest by the State Security units of HIV patient, Richard G., for providing tattooing services at a beauty clinic (https://bit.ly/2SBFTIQ). It mentioned the many violations committed against the detainee, including the following: exposing the confidentiality of investigation on the media and uncovering the identity of Richard and his same sex partner who transmitted the virus; accusing Richard and insinuating the presence of suspicious parties behind him that conspire to spread the disease; a justice ministry employee refusing to hold the file signed by Richard for fear of catching the disease, and one prison guard screaming in front of the prisoners, “bring me that person with the AIDS disease, he has a visitor.” Al Akhbar also cited judiciary and security sources involved with the investigation as justifying keeping Richard in detention for 14 days without closing the case. The detainee’s record was divided into three parts, one by the disciplinary bureau at the ISF for the charge of same sex relationship, another for transmitting an infectious disease and the third for checking the legality of his work permit. (Al Akhbar, November 7, 8, 2018)

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First Muslim women in US Congress, Trump to scrap birthright citizenship

8-11-2018

Two Muslim women from the States of Minnesota and Michigan were elected on Tuesday to the House of Representatives for the first time. The Palestinian American, Rashida Tlaib, received a majority of the vote in the US midterm elections to become the first Muslim woman in the House, and Ilhan Omar for Minnesota has become the first woman to wear a hijab in the Congress. On the other hand, one week before the elections, President Trump disclosed in an interview with Axios TV that he plans to sign an executive order against the previously constitutionally-guaranteed birthright citizenship. “So-called birthright citizenship is very unfair to our citizens and costs our country billions of dollars, and will be canceled one way or the other,” Trump tweeted. On the reactions to this decision, while the US House Speaker Paul Ryan said it is not possible, the Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, welcomed it, boasting, “finally, a president willing to take on this absurd policy of birthright citizenship.” In turn, Laurance Tribe, professor of Law at Harvard tweeted: “If Trump can wipe out the 14th Amendment with the stroke of a pen, then the whole US Constitution could be erased that way.” )Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, An Nahar, October 31, November 1, 8, 2018(

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Widening gender gap in Gaza

7-11-2018

The Palestinian human rights lawyer, Lana Badwan, said in an article published today in Al Hayat newspaper, that the results of an international investigative study on gender equality clearly show the widening gaps in rights and duties between men and women. The survey found a lack of equity between the genders despite the progressiveness of Palestinian legislations in relation to women compared to other countries, and the historic role and constant presence of the Palestinian woman at all the stages of the Palestinian struggle. The study to note, was prepared by the Women’s Studies Institute (WSI) at Birzeit University with funding from UN Women in Gaza Strip. Badwan emphasized that, as the Palestinian woman is a key component of the social development strategy and a partner in struggle, she should be on a par with her male peer, particularly in her social role and within the ministry of social development to support the resilience of vulnerable and underprivileged groups. Badwan also pointed out that the internal Palestinian arena, notably Gaza, requires reinstituting and investing in the role of women as active players on the political scene and in all areas, in a better and more effective way in order to reach the desired development of society. No active engagement of Palestinian women in public life, no development, Badwan concluded. The article in Arabic can be found on the following link: https://goo.gl/JG5SZZ. (Al Hayat, November 7, 2018)

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Syrian woman murdered in Tamnin, Lebanese woman missing in Akkar

7-11-2018

In the latest of assaults against women, the body of R.A, Syrian national, was discovered and transferred to the State Hospital of Tamnin. Traces of redness and scratches were spotted on the neck of the woman who is a resident of the Tamnin Tahta valley. The forensic doctor, Faisal Dalloul, arrived at the scene to examine the body and determine the causes of death. On the same day, the General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces, at the mandate of the competent judiciary, circulated the picture of Amoun Ali, a Lebanese woman, 23, who went missing after she left her house in the Akkari town of Arida on 30/9/2018. Anyone who finds her or has information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Judiciary Police Unit in Halba, the ISF said. (Al Mustaqbal, November 7, 2018)

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Regie begins collecting tobacco from southern farmers

7-11-2018

The Regie Libanaise de Tabacs et Tombacs began yesterday the delivery of tobacco supplies from southern farmers at a price of LBP 13,500 and 14,000 per kg. Tobacco growers for their part, appealed to House Speaker Nabih Berri, the finance minister Ali Hassan Khalil and all concerned officials to raise the prices commensurate with the costs of cultivation of this crop. The chief of the Federation of Trade Unions of Tobacco Farmers in Lebanon, Hassan Faqih, explained that the delivery process is underway in 11 Regie centers in the South, namely, in Nabatiyeh, Saida, Siddiqin, Tibnin, Sawaneh, Srifa, Rmeish, Aitroun, Mais el Jabal, Aita el Shaab and Dahir. This year’s harvest was good, as well as the prices, he said, asking the Regie administration, in collaboration with the Federation and agricultural coops, to continue their support program to this agriculture. (Al Mustaqbal, November 7, 2018)

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Maya Nassar inspires weight bearing for women

7-11-2018

In its issue of yesterday, An Nahar spotlighted the well-established Lebanese owner of a fitness club located on the rooftop of a building in Antelias, east of the capital, Beirut. Nassar has won three awards for three categories at the UK’s largest bikini and fitness and modeling contest, Pure Elite Diamond Competition 2018. In an interview with An Nahar, Nassar said she succeeded in acquiring this position through weightlifting, stressing that the latter boasts many health and mental benefits that women can gain if armed with a will to daringly but reasonably dive into this world. “When I talk about bodybuilding, I don’t mean twisted muscles and steroids,” May said. “It is about absolute femininity and health. Women can lift very heavy weights and still be seductive,” she added. (An Nahar, November 6, 2018)

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#Min Felten# campaign for tougher sanctions against women aggressors

6-11-2018

In partnership with the ministry of state for women’s affairs, NCLW, and with funding from the Dutch and British Embassies in Lebanon and the Norwegian People Aid, ABAAD organization launched the #ShameOnWho# Min Felten campaign on the occasion of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, 2018. The campaign which started on Saturday with text messages to the Lebanese from a “felteneh” asking “who is felten?” has sparked uproar on social media networks and was followed by messages containing the answer, “punish the rapist, don’t lay the blame on the survivor”. This ran concurrently with a video released by ABAAD on rape and violence against women. For more on the subject, the founder and director of the organization, Ghida Anani, explained that the objective of the campaign is to press for tougher penalties and speed up trials against culprits in cases of sexual violence and rape in particular, and to change social notions that stigmatize female rape victims pushing them to keep the assaults secret. It also seeks to create a sympathetic public opinion that condemns the act of rape as a crime punishable by deterrent punishment, and urge victims to exercise their rights by speaking up and reporting the rapists/perpetrators up to bringing them to justice. (An Nahar, Al Akhbar, November 6, 2018)

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Tripoli conference on job opportunities recommends a comprehensive recovery plan

6-11-2018

The development follow-up committee of the Order of Engineers of Tripoli announced during a press conference on Friday the recommendations of the ‘Unemployment and employment prospects for Tripoli and the North’ conference held on October 20. The recommendations called for the adoption of a comprehensive and cohesive recovery plan to address unemployment, and for the amendment of legislations related to public sector recruitment through prioritizing area residents. They also emphasized the need to review the educational system taking into account the relatedness of college majors and labor market requirements, while noting the structural transformations that have taken place in recent years. Recommendations also highlighted the need to encourage small and medium enterprises to invest more in promising sectors that endorse the principle of sustainability in the use of resources; promote the culture of quality throughout the entire production process reaching up to the consumer; launch of government led initiatives to speed up the return of industries to Tripoli, and release updated periodic data to be used by decision makers in the public and private sectors. (more info on the following link: : https://goo.gl/VLxW46. (Al Mustaqbal, November 3, 2018)

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ISF anti-domestic violence units

6-11-2018

Under the patronage of the general director of the Internal Security Forces, Maj. Gen. Imad Othman, and in collaboration with Kafa organization, a graduation ceremony was held at the Institute’s premises in Aramoon for officers who completed a training session on supporting victims of domestic violence. The Commander of the ISF Institute, Brigadier Gen. Ahmad Hajjar, who represented Othman, said domestic violence is one of the main challenges facing ISF because of the difficulty in uncovering cases that are often kept hidden. He pointed out that the partnership between ISF and civil society organizations stems from the conviction that fighting domestic violence and other uncalled for phenomenon is a humane and legal duty that contributes to and promotes stability and security in society. Hajjar said many officers and generals have undergone intensive training on skills to ably take care of complaints of domestic violence, pointing to the latest achievements which included the completion of a rigorous workshop on conflict resolution and social guidance by some 64 female units. In a related vein, NCLW chief, Claudine Aoun Rukuz, stressed the need to set up a specialized police station for the protection of domestic violence victims. Zoya Rouhana, Kafa executive director, for her part, underlined the importance of constantly holding similar training courses which proved their efficiency. (Al Mustaqbal, November 6, 2018)

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Campaigning against breast cancer

6-11-2018

After the exclusion of Palestinian women from the ministry of health led National Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign 2018, (https://goo.gl/e9mq7e), Saida was the scene last week for two activities as part of the campaign ‘You are the whole story’, in support of breast cancer patients. The campaign to recall is organized by Hammud Hospital University Medical Center throughout October and November to help patients face challenges in their battle against the disease. The first activity was a marathon in the streets of Saida festooned with floral balloons under the motto, ‘We stand next to you so you can claim your right’ demanding the ministry and insurance companies to cover breast reconstruction after treatment. The second activity ‘Make the cut’ is a hair donation event to provide wigs for patients who cannot afford it. Similarly, the flower retailer, Exotica, launched on Friday a special workshop in the Nakkash area east of Beirut where it gathered a group of ladies, including cancer survivors, social figures and influencers. The event aimed to give them the opportunity to relax and design their own UnReal Bouquet under the supervision of Exotica professionals who guided them through the whole process. To note, that part of the proceeds will go to the Lebanese Breast Cancer Foundation. (Al Akhbar November 1, 6, 2018)

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