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As violence against women continues unabated, the head of the bailiff department at Jwaya court, end of October sentenced Rita Choucair for 3 months in prison for declining to hand over her child Adam, who refused to leave her and go with his father. The court argued that the mother had to convince her 5-year old son to stay with his father, stressing that she was responsible for the consequences. It should be noted, that Rita said she was willing to hand her son many times to the legal officer but the child did not want. On the other hand, the defendant M. A claimed during the interrogation session before the military court on October 30, that his brother in law Mohamad A used to beat his sister every day since their marriage 14 years ago, and later sold her for sex. It started when he sent her to bring a sum of money from a man who forced her to have sex in order to get the money. In a related instance, according to a judicial statement, the Anti-Human Trafficking Department received information about a group of foreign prostitutes at a number of Lebanese hotels. A notification was broadcast on two websites to this end, which led to uncovering the ring with the help of an informant. The info revealed that the procurer is a Russian woman who exploits sex workers from Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. (AL Mustaqbal, Al Akhbar, October 31, November 2, 3, 2018)

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Future MP Dima Jamali emphasized the need to provide youth with quality education and opportunities and build appropriate skills that stimulate their access to the labor market. Jamali, who was speaking during a conference she initiated under the title, ‘The role of the youth and women in the development of Tripoli’, called for the integration of women in the labor force, with focus on regions outside the capital. Only one out of five women participate in the labor market in Lebanon, compared to 73% of males, Jamali said, stressing her commitment to work for gender equality, equal pay, and to promote women’s education in preparation for their acquisition of leadership, management and decision making positions. In conclusion, Jamali announced the inception of ‘Tripoli First Foundation’ for the empowerment of women and young people in the social and economic fields in the capital of the North, with the support of prime minister Saad Hariri. Recommendations issued after the conference included: development of national policies and legislations that observe gender equality to the end of promoting economic empowerment of women in the labor market; backing large projects in the industrial sector; investment in the business sector in Tripoli and creation of jobs for the youth and women; empowerment of women artisans to become producers and finally, the right of women in the representation quota to strengthen their political participation. (Al Mustaqbal, November 2, 2018)
 

Pakistan’s Supreme Court on October 31 repealed a death sentence and ordered the release of a Christian woman, Asia Bibi who was convicted in 2010 of blasphemy after a quarrel with a Muslim woman who accused her of insulting Prophet Mohammad. The verdict sparked mixed reactions. While Bibi’s lawyer described the verdict as great news for the country, Amnesty International deputy director for South Asia said it was a historic event. The verdict he said, sends a message that anti-blasphemy laws will no longer be used to persecute oppressed minorities. On the other hand, the radical Muslim political party, ‘Tehreek e Labaik Pakistan’ gave its religious ruling to kill three prominent judges of the supreme court after they chose to acquit Bibi. Thousands also took to the streets in protest of the ruling and closed roads in main cities as well as schools. Meanwhile, after Rashida Tlaib reached very close to become the first Muslim woman in the US Congress (https://goo.gl/3PbCVL), Al Mustaqbal newspaper reported on Friday that Ilhan Omar, Somali immigrant, 36-year old veiled Muslim, is another projected congressional candidate for the November 6 midterm elections. Recalling, that Omar fled Somalia when she was 8 before she emigrated to the US with her parents. In 2016, she won a parliamentary seat for Minnesota where a large Somali community lives. (Al Hayat, Al Mustaqbal, November 1, 2, 2018)

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Professor Jinan Khoury was appointed last week as the regional secretary general for the Middle East of the UN International Society of Social Defense and Humane Criminal Policy (ISSD). The organization is involved in shaping a modern structure for criminal policies on a reparative and reformist basis and creating fundamental and balanced changes to the prevailing penal systems and principles. Khoury, to recall is a professor of criminal law at the Lebanese University (LU)- Master Program, head of the Legal Department at the Juridical Information Center at the Faculty of Law, LU, international expert at ESCWA on cybercrime and cyber related legislations as well as lecturer at CERSA (Beirut Airport), Banque du Liban and the Finance Institute- Ministry of Finance. She is also a trainer at the Common Force for Surveillance of the Lebanese Border program, a cooperation initiative between the Ministry of Defense and the Danish Embassy. She published several studies and research on modern penal systems. To note, the board of directors of ISSD is formed of the president, vice president, assistant secretaries’ general and regional secretaries for North and Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. (Al Diyar, November 4, 2018)
 

After the Criminal Court of the North acquitted on Wednesday Karam Bazi of the crime of causing his wife’s death (https://goo.gl/juYkbG), Attorney General Samir Hamud asked Appellate Attorney General of the North, Judge Nabil Wehbe, to challenge the verdict before the court of cassation. On the subject, Al Akhbar cited a number of lawyers following up the case as saying that the ruling is the answer to the frequently asked question, “why are crimes against women not abating?” The answer is in the facts, particularly in the section of assessment of medical evidence. The court argued that the bruises on the victim’s body are not related to her death, while voicing contempt of the conduct of a husband who commits this form of assault against his wife!. (Al Akhbar, An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, November 2, 2018)
 

Two weeks after the formation of a cabinet split equally between men and women, and one week after the election of the first woman president of the African country, the Ethiopian Parliament swore in Meaza Ashenafi as the first female to head the supreme court. This is a new step in the reformist efforts of prime minister Abiy Ahmed to achieve gender equality in government. Meaza, a well-known rights activist, has served recently as an advisor on women’s rights at the Addis-Ababa based UN Economic Commission for Africa. Following the majority vote, Abiy told lawmakers that the court system needs advanced capacities to successfully implement the requirements of justice, democracy and change in the country. (Al Mustaqbal, November 2, 2018)

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In response to the arrest by the State Security on October 29 of HIV patient, Richard G. on charges of providing tattoo services in a Verdun beauty center, (https://goo.gl/WuxyZ9),the Lebanese AIDS Network Association, LANA, yesterday strongly denounced a State Security statement which stigmatized, criminalized and denied AIDS/HIV patients certain occupations. LANA cited reasons for its objection, explaining that, first, living with the virus is not a felony or charge, but a chronic health condition requiring continuous treatment; second, communicating or working with HIV patients is not life-threatening to others, third, there is no law or text that bans these patients from practicing any job. The State Security’s handling of the issue, LANA said, designates lack of education, ignorance of human rights and laws. It is a discriminatory action that endorses stigma and stereotyping, for it pictures HIV patients as intimidators, and appallingly transforming the human immunodeficiency virus infection into a national issue that jeopardizes national and social security in the country. (Al Akhbar, October 31, 2018)