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Media skills for covering VAW

30-5-2018

Fe-male association, in collaboration with ABAAD organization, launched yesterday the ‘working document on media coverage of violence against women’ at NDU, which is part of the Naseej project: ‘Enhancing Lebanon national system for the prevention, protection and response to gender-based violence’. The document, supported by the Dutch Foreign Ministry, is the outcome of a workshop that brought together experts and journalists in various legal, social and psychological disciplines, in addition to testimonies by Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian women survivors of violence and abuse. The workshop drew a protocol for media coverage aimed to reduce the exploitation and stereotyping of women in the media, noting that NDU has fully adopted the document provisions. According to Fe-male activist, Hayat Mershad, the coming period will see coordination with the ministry of information and other media institutions to this end. In addition, a training handbook on media coverage was presented which contained sections on how to use skills to cover the news of female survivors of violence, including legal aspects, as well as, an elucidation of terminology and notions of gender-based violence. A series of training workshops on the handbook will be implemented at a later stage. (Al Akhbar, May 30, 2018)

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Fadia Kiwan honored after election as secretary general of AWO

30-5-2018

The Commission for Activating the Role of Women in National Decision honored yesterday Dr. Fadia Kiwan after her election to the position of secretary general of the Arab Women Organization (AWO). The ceremony was held under the patronage of the president of the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW), Claudine Aoun Rukuz, and in the presence of Hayat Arslan. The latter after congratulating Kiwan on the new position demanded a fair share for women in the seats of the upcoming cabinet. Kiwan for her part, said, “When we unite, we can play many roles in our environment and the world,” and hoped to see a qualitative shift in the status of women at this stage. Rukuz in her turn said Kiwan’s election comes as an Arab recognition of her distinctive personality, describing her career life at various stages as an inspiration to the youth, especially her role in promoting women issues. (Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, Al Akhbar, May 30, 2018)
 

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Dr. Fadia Kiwan director general of Arab Women Organization
  
 

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Shame: Pregnancy not allowed at Amal educational institutions

30-5-2018

In its issue of today, Al Akhbar newspaper brought attention to an internal circular issued recently by the Amal Movement Educational Institutions and which went viral on social media. The circular bars pregnancy and dubs it as an act punishable by either ‘immediate resignation’ or by unpaid leave. The circular, cited by Al Akhbar, read the following: “In the interest of academia and of students, granting a health leave due to pregnancy is prohibited. Any leave due to pregnancy related health conditions of the teacher is considered a leave-without-pay… and in the event of repeated absence from school, the teacher in question should resign immediately…” The administration in turn released a statement explaining that the above circular came after a series of suspect medical reports submitted by teachers and related to their pregnancy conditions, a fact which has adverse repercussions on the institution. The purpose of the circular, the administration statement added, is to contain the situation through intimidation. Al Akhbar wrote that, due to the uproar caused by the circular, the administration replaced the provision of resignation with a petition for a leave without pay. Meanwhile, the media officer at the National Council for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, Marie Debs, stressed that the labor law explicitly mandates the right of the female employee to a health leave as a result of pregnancy or other relevant reasons based on a medical report from a competent physician. Any administration that doubts the validity of medical reports can resort to alternative measures while not banning the granting of leaves. (Al Akhbar, May 30, 2018)

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Lebanon third among Arab countries in technology startup investments

29-5-2018

A report published by Arabnet earlier this month covering digital investments in the MENA region during 2013-2017 has shown that Lebanon succeeded in attracting some 58 investment transactions in startups in the field of technology with a total value of USD 53 million in 2017, as compared to 39 investments of USD 58 million in 2016. According to the report, Lebanon has gained the third largest number of investors in tech startups among Arab countries by the end of 2017, accounting for nearly 13% of the total number of investors in the region, preceded only by the UAE (32%) and Saudi Arabia (17%). The survey also revealed that the ratio of investors in Lebanon to the total number of investors in MENA has risen by 90% during the past four years jumping from 7% in 2013. In a related vein, men represented about 82% of tech startup founders between 2013 and 2017, against 18% of women, the report said, noting that the rate of female founders is among the three highest in the region despite the huge gender disparity at the local level. On the other hand, the chairperson of the American Lebanese Chamber of Commerce, Salim Zeenni, launched during a press conference 2 days ago the third edition of ‘Start-Up Lebanon Executive Innovation Retreat’ program in the presence of the US Ambassador to Lebanon, Elizabeth Richard. To recall, the initiative was first launched in 2015 with the aim to bolster the knowledge-based economy in Lebanon. Zeenni said this year will organize a 5-day visit (June 5-8) for more than 25 Lebanese firms executives to San Francisco. This trip will give them the chance to witness the future innovation methodology, design thinking and current trends in the field which will allow them to enhance the capacities of their companies and transform their businesses in Lebanon. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, May 26, 28 2018)

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Ban of import of cloths, food from Turkey to support domestic industry

29-5-2018

The Lebanese Cabinet in its last session on May 21 has approved measures to protect the productive sectors based on a memo from the minister of economy Raed Khury, Al Diyar reported today. Khury identified in his letter the challenges and hitches facing the industrial sectors, including the imbalanced competition by goods imported from specific countries, notably Turkey. Thereafter, since Lebanon has no trade agreements with said country that ban taking any measures to restrict importation, the government decided to disallow the entry from Turkey of certain items, namely, biscuits and wafers, cleaning material and detergents and burghul. The Lebanese Customs were also requested to strictly monitor specific items in terms of evasion of customs duties, like for example, egg cartons, fluting papers, testliner paper and semi-chemical fluting paper, in addition to used clothing for environmental and health reasons. Commenting on the decision, the president of the Lebanese Industrialists Association, Fadi Gemayel, described it as a bold step, noting that the industry sector is a catalyst for all other sectors and generates jobs. On the other hand, the ministry of industry submitted yesterday to the general secretariat of the presidency of the council of ministers a proposal to establish an advisory group for national dialogue between the private and public sectors. The projected mission of the group targets mainly small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to first: improve the business environment, second, increase productivity and exports and finally to upgrade the quality of goods and marketing through adopting the concept of specialization and integrated manufacturing inside Lebanon and within the Euro-Mediterranean region. The Cabinet is expected to issue a decree to this effect. To note also, a sub-steering committee will be set up to draw the policies for the private-public sector dialogue; follow up the requisites for the dialogue and make the necessary recommendations, and build relations to advance the exchange of information as well as, trade relations with industrial bodies in foreign states aimed to develop markets and facilitate joint production relations. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, May 28, 2018)

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Hotlines in France and US against sexual harassment in film industry and McDonalds

29-5-2018

The Cannes Film Festival which kicked off its 71th edition this month announced the launch of a hotline jointly with the French Government to help women victims report incidents of sexual harassment, Al Diyar daily reported on Thursday. This step comes in the wake of allegations of sexual assault, misconduct and abuse by American producer Harvey Weinstein against an actress and multiple women during past festivals. To recall, film stars have called for equal pay and a larger share for women in the industry. Also, black actresses have denounced the lack of representation of people of color in cinema industry. On the other hand, around 10 female workers at McDonalds filed sexual harassment complaints against the fast food corporation. On behalf of the workers, the Fight for $ 15 group which campaigns against discrimination in wages and sexual harassment, has lodged the complaints with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. On the subject, Fight for $ 15 said that female workers in cities like Miami, Detroit and Los Angeles, have been ignored or mocked when they reported incidents of harassment by their managers, while McDonalds made clear it is treating these allegations very seriously. (Al Diyar, May 24, 2018)

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Agriculture in Lebanon has yet to receive the due public attention

28-5-2018

L’Orient Le Jour brought attention to the continuous neglect by the government of the agriculture sector which accounts for nearly 5% of the GDP and sustains some 200,000 households directly or indirectly, according to Research Center for Agricultural Studies figures. In this respect, the head of the Lebanese Farmers’ Association, Antoine Howayek, lamented the absence of adequate policies to regulate the sector, blasting the current government in particular. Howayek pointed to a decline in exports by over one third following the closure of the Nassib Crossing on the Lebanon-Syria border and the increased smuggling and illicit competition. Similarly, MP Wael Abu Fa3ur pressed for a plan to combat smuggling that has flourished recently on the legal border crossings, appealing to the Customs Department and the ministries of agriculture and economy to step up measures that protect Lebanese production. For his part, the president of the Syndicate of Exporters of Fruits and Vegetables in Lebanon, Naeem Khalil, said smuggling is mostly carried out via the Abboudieh crossing in the North, and while praising the work of the Lebanese Customs, he noted inadequate human resources within the apparatus to monitor and control the smuggling activity. On the other hand, prime minister, Saad Hariri, mandated the Higher Relief Council (HRC) to carry out the estimate survey of tobacco losses in the southern town of Rmeish, Bint Jbeil. This comes after the premier received calls from former minister, Mohamad Fneish and MPs Ali Bazzi and Hassan Fadlallah on the situation. To recall, a joint Kataeb-LF delegation last week visited HRC secretary general to brief him on the huge losses in the Rmeish tobacco season. (: https://bit.ly/2Jbd7go). (L’Orient Le Jour, Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, May 24, 25, 28, 2018)


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Potato & tobacco growers appeal to government for help
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Combating sexual harassment in S.A, fasting of unveiled women in Egypt

28-5-2018

Following a wave of arrests involving human and women rights activists in Saudi Arabia on May 15 (https://goo.gl/nN8f4C), Saudi authorities released on Friday four of the detained women activists. Citing Amnesty International, AFP said these women were within the group which spearheaded protests in the nineties demanding women be given the right to drive. No comment was given by Saudi officials on the news, AFP reported. On the other hand, a joint government committee endorsed on Wednesday a draft proposal to combat sexual harassment in the Kingdom, which will be submitted to competent parties for approval. The proposal stipulated penalties of up to 15 years-imprisonment and a maximum of 3 million Saudi Riyals (USD 800,000) for the perpetrators. (For the complete provisions, kindly visit the following link: https://goo.gl/yv1RW6). Meanwhile in Egypt, and in reply to a question on whether the fast and prayer of a woman who is not muhajabat (veiled) are recognized, the secretary general of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, Yusef Qardawi, said yes. He based his view on the fact that everything is recompensed in Islam, but advised the 'uncovered' Muslim women to wear a hijab instead of “pursuing her life in haram”, as he put it. Qardawi also admonished the Muslim woman who removes the veil for she is committing something that is proscribed by the Islamic Law in the eyes of those who look at her. By uncovering parts of her body, she is implicating the others (males) to commit haram, Qardawi stated. (Al Diyar, May 24, 26, 2018)
 

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Human rights activists arrested in Saudi Arabia, protest against compulsory veil in Iran

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USJ annual magazine on gender equality

28-5-2018

L’Orient Le Jour spotlighted today the first ever feminist journal, The Movement of Gender Equality, MEG, published on March 8 by the Feminist Club at USJ. The publication aims to raise awareness on gender equality and contemplate the status of women independently of conformist ideas and stereotypes. According to Dalia Kowatli, junior student at USJ and vice president of the Feminist Club, the working team consists of students who are members of the Club, with financing from the department of students services at the university. Kowatli explained that the magazine is printed in English and French, revealing that a digital version of The MEG will be released soon to reach a wider audience. Among the topics tackled in the first issue are the rights of migrant women domestic workers and the stereotypical view of women in the country, as well as, the role of men in feminist movements. (L’Orient Le Jour, May 28, 2018)

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Lebanese women encourage football, change stereotypes

24-5-2018

Al Akhbar newspaper today wrote about the controversy over the relevance of women’s backing of football, noting a misplaced debate on principles that are commonplace but that are viewed subjectively within Lebanese society. Everyone, including girls, are looking forward to the release date of the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia after a couple of weeks, Al Akhbar said. The newspaper article pointed to a change in the global mood, even in our own society, a mood that transcends male dominance of the game and of the passion for it. On this, the newspaper spoke to the chair of the official Real Madrid Fans de Libano club, Baraah Hassan, who did not deny facing challenges, firstly, as a female, and secondly as a ‘mohajaba’ (wearing hijab). “Today I am an informed and trustworthy source for international sports news after I became a qualified professional and interviewed a number of international players and senior management staff,” , Hassan told Al Akhbar reporter. Similarly, the human resources officer at the official Barcelona Fans in Lebanon, Najla Abdallah, refused to comment on the issue of violation of the girl’s femininity if she is passionate about football, wondering what kind of question is this, and calling on everyone to start to get used to the idea. “There is no single unified formula for a woman… ,” Abdallah said. For her part, sports journalist, Yasmin Obeid, said the rejection voiced by some men comes from their rejection of the idea that a woman can change the stereotypic association between football and males. More on the feature on the link below: https://goo.gl/D1Wj2o. (Al Akhbar, May 24, 2018)

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