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After Baalbaq El Hermel, West Beqaa, farmers of the North demand compensation for climate damage

26-6-2018

The negative effects of climate change continue to affect plantations. After the calamity which struck West Beqaa, An Nahar wrote that the apple, peach, pear, cherry, cucumber, citrus, beans and zucchini cultivation has been hit by diseases or by the sizzling temperatures during the month of May. As a result, the Union of Mukhtars of Donniyeh met last week to discuss the losses in the agricultural season in the area, including the damages in infrastructure, mainly roads and support walls, and to press the head of the Higher Relief Council and local MPs to step up compensation similar to other regions. To note, the mayors of Donniyeh have appealed earlier to concerned authorities for help (c.f: https://bit.ly/2yJo8Sh). As for the recent torrential rains in Baalbek and respective calls for assistance (c.f: https://bit.ly/2yJo8Sh), LF leader, Samir Geagea, asked the prime minister to instruct competent departments to dispense the required compensation among the aggrieved farmers and residents of Ras Baalbaq, Al Qaa, Hermel and other parts of North Beqaa. Meanwhile, a meeting was held with trade unions, and agricultural, political and social leadership in the municipality of Tal el Hayat, Akkar Plain area, in preparation for the upcoming National Agricultural Conference this September. The chief of the General Union of Agricultural Syndicates in Lebanon Youssef Mo7hyedeen pointed out that the conference will convene for the purpose of brining about real agricultural reform that can positively impact the livelihoods of a large segment of the population (30 percent). “We first need to identify the challenges facing the agriculture sector in order to be able to address them,” Mo7hyedeen said. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, June 20, 21, 26, 2018)

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Beirut merchants: Protecting industry is incompatible with free economy

26-6-2018

The ban of Turkish imports continues to steer both support and opposition, according to An Nahar newspaper. While the ministries of economy and industry backed the decision which aims to protect Lebanese industries, the Beirut Merchants Association and the head of the Syndicate of Importers of Foodstuff and Consumer Products refused it as it undermines the principle of free economy. Economic expert, Jassem Ajaqa, for his part, said Turkey could retaliate to the decision by disallowing the entry of made in Lebanon goods into its territory. Meanwhile, a report released in March 2018 by the Industrial Information Department at the industry ministry, indicated a growth of 5.4% in industrial exports compared to the same period of last year. The total value of imports of industrial equipment during the first three months of 2018 rose 36.9% compared to 2017. The food and tobacco exports ranked first, followed by ordinary metals and products, electric machinery and appliances and finally the chemical products, according to the report. On the hitches in the industry, the head of the Lebanese Forces LF Party, Samir Geagea, during a meeting with an LIA delegation last week, pressed for the ratification of the draft bills in support of the sector. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, Al Akhbar, June 15, 19, 21, 2018)

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Defining sexual harassment in the absence of deterring laws

26-6-2018

In its issue on Saturday, Al Akhbar newspaper touched on sexual harassment with particular reference to a recent incident which went viral on Facebook. A sexual innuendo mentioned in the electronic conversation between a young man and woman has developed into an accusation of sexual harassment and a decision to stop the harassing party until an announcement is made in the case of defamation filed by the complainant. Al Akhbar wrote that the endorsement of a law which criminalizes sexual harassment and the serious tackling of the issue by the former Legislature would have rationalized the debate sparked in the past few days on the definition of harassment, stressing that, in the absence of a competent law, the definition will remain obscure while the dispute continues. On the subject, Al Akhbar spoke to lawyer Karim Namur who collaborated with the Feminist Collective, Nasawiya, in editing a draft law related to sexual harassment, and who maintained that “an act is labeled harassment only if it implicates several elements. Otherwise, the laws would serve as a moral police regulating relations between people.” Hence, Namour went on to say, the legislation is important for it rationalizes any argument interpreted emotionally on social media networks.” It is not recommended to tag every word or phrase as an act of harassment for this trivializes the issue, Namour explained, adding that, unfortunately, this could exacerbate further macho reactions and play down feminist concerns. For more on the subject, kindly visit the link below: https://goo.gl/BneCrM. (Al Akhbar, June 23, 2018)

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Muslim Turkmenistan bans polygamy

26-6-2018

The Parliament of Turkmenistan approved last week a new law banning polygamy. The law signed by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow introduced amendments to the Family Code effective in the country, including adding a provision to Article 7 which states, that “polygamy is not permitted in Turkmenstan”. The amendment also explains the meaning of polygamy as ‘cohabitation with two or more women simultaneously within a common household’. To recall, the majority of Turkmenistan’s population practices Islam which allows men to have several wives (up to 4 wives), while at the same time, polygamy is considered a felony under the country’s Criminal Code, with penalties reaching 2 years of community service or a considerable fine. (Lebanon 24, June 20, 2018)

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Saudi women: Reforms and arrests

25-6-2018

The decision allowing Saudi women to drive (https://goo.gl/uh2ZbD) became effective yesterday in all parts of Saudi Arabia where a number of women appeared behind the wheels in a festive and euphoric atmosphere in the streets. Meanwhile, and as part of reforms underway, the Saudi Armed Forces Hospitals Department announced the opening of vacancies at the College of Nursing for Girls at the General Authority for Military Industries in the city of El Sih. The department said it will start receiving applications through its electronic website as of Sunday until next Wednesday. The applicant should be born and raised in Saudi Arabia, be not older than 23 years and holds a high school diploma. Simultaneously, however, and in the wake of the arrest of 7 human rights campaigners, Saudi activist Manal Sheriff, spoke to BBC about a new ‘smear campaign’ targeting women’s rights advocates. She criticized the arbitrary detention of women allegedly accused of treason. “Now back to square one. We have returned to the police state,” Sheriff maintained, warning of an imminent and systematic crackdown on supporters if women’s rights. To recall, Sheriff lives in Australia and has had a prominent role in defending and promoting the right of Saudi women to drive. (Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, Al Diyar, June 22, 23, 24, 25, 2018)

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Kafala is Slavery: Migrant women domestic workers protest

25-6-2018

On the International Day for Domestic Workers, Amnesty International in collaboration with a number of civil society organizations and MWDWs in Lebanon, organized yesterday and for the 9th consecutive year, a demonstration calling for the legal protection of MWDWs and for resolving issues resulting from the ‘kafala’ sponsorship system. Hundreds of domestic workers marched from Dora to Sin el Fil carrying placards which read, ‘Kafala is Slavery’, demanding the inclusion of domestic work in the Lebanese Labor Code and the repeal of the Kafala system. A joint statement by the participating organizations advocating the rights of MWDWs, requested four main demands that protect the rights and life of domestic workers, namely: the abolition of sponsorship and its replacement by a fair arrangement; suspension of administrative detention of workers who are victims of violence and exploitation; a closer monitoring of recruitment agencies with the tightening of punishment of rights violators, and the ratification of the ILO Convention 189 to this effect. Similarly, Al Akhbar newspaper referred to a study conducted two years ago by AUB which showed that nearly 40% of Lebanese employers do not regularly pay the salaries of their domestic workers and that 94% of sponsors withhold the passports of their workers. Al Akhbar also published a letter by 8 Syrian women in Tripoli recounting the stories of two of them, where the sponsor forced them to do additional chores, including the preparation of mouneh as a condition to sustain the sponsorship. (Al Akhbar, June 25, 2018)

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Lebanese women MPs’ agendas

25-6-2018

Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) in collaboration with Smart Center organized on Friday the first talk with female members of the Parliament to discuss their national programs with the participation of students from the debate clubs at the different Lebanese universities. MPs taking part in the debate were, Inaya Izzedine representing Speaker Berri, Bahiya Hariri, Paula Yacubian, Dima Jamali and Rula Tabsh. The representative of Konrad in Lebanon, Malte Gaier, stressed the need to activate the role of youth in the political, social and public life in the country. MP Izzedine pointed out that, the empowerment of women and young people was no longer a luxury, noting that investment in these two components and empowering them to engage in the development process is a requisite for achieving solid progress in the areas of development and stability. Likewise, MP Hariri pointed to her role in the Legislature and her dedication to youth, sustainable development and education in this regard. Yacubian touched for her part on the participation of women in political and legislative life and on the women representation quota, leaving Jamali to highlight the role of the private sector and underline the importance of the Cedar donor conference. Jamali also called for the adoption of laws to support women, put an end to violence against them and grant them the right to confer nationality to their family members, with a special attention to the rights of persons with special needs. MP Tabsh, for her part, talked about the Cedar Conference, demanding the endorsement of fundamental schemes, related to electricity, water and transportation. She also tackled the status of women and their legislative functioning, hoping that the ministry of state for women’s affairs would become a real government ministry, and emphasized the significance of the women’s quota. (Al Mustaqbal, June 22, 25, 2018)
 

Previous related news:
Only six women candidates voted to Parliament

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Sexual assaults during anti-slavery demonstration in India

25-6-2018

Armed men in the Indian state of Jharkhand abducted and raped five female activists during an anti-slavery demonstration. Al Diyar said yesterday that the activists were involved in a campaign to raise awareness about human trafficking in cooperation with an NGO. After staging a street performance to this end, the activists were dragged into a car and raped in a distant place in the jungle, local police sources told BBC. The police said an investigation has been launched into the issue but arrests have yet to be made, stating that it is securing the necessary protection for the girls. To recall, around 40,000 rape incidents have been recorded in India during the year 2016 only, while many cases remain unreported due to a stigma related to sexual assault. (Al Diyar, June 24, 2018)

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Two Kenyan women subjected by a military to physical violence in Burj Hammoud

22-6-2018

Two Kenyan women have been beaten by a man found to be a military in the Beirut neighborhood of Burj Hammoud, according to Al Akhbar newspaper today. The two women were upset when the suspect approached and almost touched them in his car, and the result was that he got out and started beating them with the help of a man and woman who were on the street during the assault. The newspaper learned that as the attacker was from the Army, he was not deterred by the internal security forces and was instead referred to the military police. The two Kenyan women were arrested on the charge that their presence in the country was allegedly illegal, and will later be transferred to the Public Security. Al Akhbar wrote, that what happened is not alien to Burj Hammoud whose mayor once recommended introducing special rent agreements or laws for non-Lebanese. Burj Hammoud municipality, the newspaper added, had previously enforced an evening curfew on foreigners, referring namely to ‘dark skin people’, which certainly does not apply to French nationals, as it said. Mayor Mardik Boghousian denied over a phone call with AL Akhbar his knowledge of the incident. (Al Akhbar, June 22, 2018)

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Women sexually harassed in UK music festivals

22-6-2018

In its issue of today, AL Diyar highlighted a report published by the UK based public opinion and data company, YouGov, on sexual harassment in Britain during music festivals. The survey which covered 1188 music festivalgoers, found that nearly 43 percent of young women under 40 attending festivals have faced some kind of unwanted sexual behavior. Al Diyar cited the study which revealed that around 22% of young female festivalgoers, and 30% of women in particular, have been sexually harassed, the most common form of harassment being ‘sexualized language or verbal harassment or unwelcome and forceful dancing’. The study has shown that only 2 percent of harassment incidents have been officially reported to the police. Al Diyar also wrote that according to the Crime Survey for England and Wales conducted by the Office for National Statistics, more than 80 percent of victims of sexual assault in February of this year did not report the offences. (Al Diyar, June 22, 2018)

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