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SEZ of Tripoli will create 5000 jobs

24-5-2018

The head of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Tripoli, Raya Hassan, disclosed that the Knowledge and Innovation City (KIC) project endorsed by the Cabinet and launched at the Rashid Karameh International Fair will contribute to activating the economic cycle in Tripoli and the North. The initiative is expected to attract local and foreign investments and generate scores of jobs for the youth, especially for fresh graduates who boast creative ideas and wish to build their own startups, explained Hassan. The latter’s speech came during a workshop held by SEZ General Authority at the Serail which spotlighted the planned sectors within the KIC. These include for example, a center for consulting services, a complex housing public departments, companies or local and international institutions, a training venue and a startup accelerator center. Hassan made clear these sectors will benefit from the incentives and facilities offered by SEZ to the end of creating not less than 3,000 direct jobs inside KIC/SEZ, including professional, technical and administrative vacancies, in addition to indirect opportunities within the region of Tripoli and the North that could reach nearly 2,000 jobs, according to studies by international consulting firms. (Al Mustaqbal, May 24, 2018)

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Euro-Med promotes women’s political participation

24-5-2018

The Euro-Med Women Network organized yesterday a dialogue table at the Riviera Hotel, Beirut to follow up on the outcomes of the 4th ministerial meeting of the Union for the Mediterranean on women’s rights hosted by Egypt last November. On the occasion, the minister of state for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian, said the Arab woman, and the Lebanese woman in particular, boasts aptitudes that allow her to continue the struggle to achieve her rights, hoping the recommendations from said meeting be implemented in line with a clear strategy, and wishing the new cabinet will embrace women ministers. Similarly, Christina Lassen EU Ambassador to Lebanon, said women in Lebanon still face many challenges, especially in terms of political participation, demanding further effort to realize the goals related to women’s rights. For her part, the executive director of Euro-Med Women Network, Boriana Jonsson, pointed out that women’s participation is fundamental, stressing that legislation to this end should be at the center of gender, education and human rights work. She called for the formation of committees to create an action plan for the implementation of the ministerial statement. (Al Mustaqbal, May 24, 2018)

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Sayyid Ali Fadlallah calls for women’s rights, ends of discrimination among citizens

24-5-2018

Cleric Sayyed Ali Fadlallah reiterated his support for women in their struggle to achieve their full rights and safeguard their role and dignity. Among the rights he highlighted, are the right of women to grant nationality to their children, which he noted, is still subject to religious rather than human considerations and the right of mothers to the custody of their children because they are adept. Fadlallah, who was speaking during the annual Iftar dinner held by Al Mabarrat Charity Association’s Women Committee, stressed that a “change is not brought about by a simple decree but by the human being himself.” Politicians, spiritual leaders, educators and sociologists do have a part, but the main responsibility remains that of women who alone are qualified to play this role. Whoever debases or abuses his wife, Fadlallah stated, does not harm his wife alone, but also impairs his future and the future of his own children, for an oppressed mother cannot bring up a healthy and sensible generation. In conclusion, Fadlallah asked women to be more efficient at this stage in order to face growing challenges outside and inside the country, especially the challenge to build a state governed by the law. “We want a state free of corruption, allocation and quotas and discrimination. We want a modern and fair state.” )Al Mustaqbal, May 24, 2018(

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Potato & tobacco growers appeal to government for help

23-5-2018

Tobacco and potato farmers continue to suffer in Lebanon (c.f: https://bit.ly/2s0yuau). After the call made by MP, Tarek Mer3abi, to concerned authorities for an immediate halt to the entry of Syrian potatoes smuggled into the country, a number of potato growers in Akkar discussed yesterday in an emergency meeting at the Cooperative Association of Potato Farmers in Akkar threats caused by climate change and unlawful competition. The Association President, Omar Hayek, appealed to the president of the republic, the prime minister and the ministers of finance and agriculture to end the illicit entry of Syrian potatoes into the country which has adversely affected the agricultural seasons, warning of an imminent disaster that could hit potato growers as a result. Hayek threatened to take to the streets if the government did not enact deterrent measures needed to resolve the smuggling impasse. On the other hand, a joint Lebanese Forces and Kataeb (Phalange Party) delegation from Rmeish, Bint Jbeil, visited yesterday the secretary general of the Higher Relief Committee, Maj. Gen. Mohamad Kheir, to brief him on the large losses inflicted on the tobacco produce in the town and the diseases hitting the crop. Kheir in turn promised to start an estimate survey of the losses in Rmeish early next week. It is to be noted that the president of the Tobacco Farmers Union in the South, warned last week of a real disaster to the industry in a number of villages, particularly in Bint Jbeil, calling the government for action. (Al Diyar, May 23, 2018)

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Hijab in the Sorbonne triggers Islamophobia

23-5-2018

Al Diyar newspaper cited today student Mariam Pougetoux, president of Sorbonne UNEF student union, 19, who described as “sad” politicians criticism of her wearing hijab as a means for political gain. In the details, Al Diyar wrote that the French interior minister, Gerard Collomb, has personally slated Mariam for appearing on TV last week wearing a veil, and dubbed this as a “provocation” and a “shock” to him. Similarly, Equality Minister Marlene Schiappa, stressed that Pougetoux’s appearance was a form of political promotion of Islam, warning that UNEF should notify about the values it wants to promote clearly and precisely, as she put it. Meanwhile, reacting to the collective attacks targeting Pougetoux on social media, a student posted on Buzzfeed News saying: “This is my faith. My hijab has no political function whatsoever.” To recall, France has imposed a ban on wearing headscarves or any religious symbols in public schools since 2004, to become in 2011 the first European country barring hijab in public places. (Al Diyar, May 23, 2018)

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Women Leaders Council discusses Cedar 2018

23-5-2018

The Women Leaders Council of Lebanon (WLCL) organized yesterday a seminar to discuss Cedar 2018 donor conference (April 6, France) under the headline, ‘Economic priorities for the coming period’. The seminar focused on the goals of Cedar, including increasing public investment and ensuring financial and economic stability, in addition to, the introduction of sectoral reforms bound for investment sustainability, structural reforms and the development of a strategy to upgrade various production sectors. On the occasion, WLCL chair, Madiha Reslan, said the aim of the above panel discussion was to highlight economic priorities, clarify the vision and set an action plan independent of ongoing political discord, describing the meeting as a new initiative to endorse the role of women in national economy. “We are responsible here to not allow any marginalization of women in the future,” she said. Hazar Caracalla, the premier’s advisor for economic affairs, for her part, said the meeting was an initial step for cooperation between the Women Leaders Council and the Office of the Prime Minister in support of productive sectors and companies in which women make a large part of their workforce. She concluded by saying that the government has identified the social and economic challenges the country has faced by the end of 2016 and has set a roadmap for stability, growth and job prospects, noting that the worksheet presented by the Lebanese government to Cedar was key to this effect. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, May 23, 2018)

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

22-5-2018

Human Rights Watch noted on Friday that the Saudi authorities have detained 7 human rights and women’s rights activists since May 15. The charges, HRW stated, were unprecedented against them especially that their activities were limited to advocating women’s rights to drive, abolishing male guardianship system and defending freedom of expression detainees. HRW statement stressed that these arrests were blatantly in violation lwith the recent reform and modernization campaign spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohamad Bin Salman. On the subject, the Middle East Director at Human Rights Watch pointed out that said campaign has been a rage of fear for genuine Saudi reformers who openly and publicly advocated for human rights or women empowerment. On the other hand, Al Diyar newspaper brought attention today to the movement launched 5 years ago by Masih Alinejad against the compulsory veil in Iran and which attracted thousands of women. The protest movement, Al Diyar wrote, travelled fast on social media inspiring scores of activists to plan and organize unprecedented demos in the streets of Iran, and wondered if this means the movement is very close to achieving its goals. For more on the subject, kindly visit the following link::https://goo.gl/TDm9y8. (Al Diyar, May 22, 2018)

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Initiatives, awards to encourage young people on entrepreneurship

22-5-2018

As part of initiatives inspiring youth to become entrepreneurs, Ruwwad Lebanon launched yesterday its ‘Youth Economic Empowerment’ program. This comes in the framework of partnership with City Foundation aimed at promoting the culture of entrepreneurship and empowering young people with the required skills to ensure their access to jobs and allow them to contribute to economic growth in both Lebanon and Jordan. The 2-year program also targets youth in areas struggling to beat marginalization in the cities of Tripoli and Amman through a series of educational programs and entrepreneurial projects. For its part, Beirut Municipality said it will carry out training courses next month for some 600 university graduates on how to write a CV and prepare for job interviews in an attempt to fight unemployment among fresh graduates. Meanwhile, Alfa and Erikson held last week the second edition of the Alfa & Erikson LoT competition, in cooperation with IEEE Young Professionals Affinity Group in Lebanon. The competition saw an increase this year in the number of participating teams and colleges as compared to last year, (with 17 teams of 47 students representing 12 universities). (Al Mustaqbal, Al Akhbar, May 22, 2018)

 

Relevant news:
Activities to empower youth in Balamand, Antonine universities
Prizes, scholarships in support of young talents
Six Lebanese startups qualify for the Hult Prize finals
 

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Trafficking in women increase five times in Lebanon

22-5-2018

Al Akhbar highlighted today the findings of a study published last April by Euro-Mediterranean Women’s Foundation in collaboration with the League for Lebanese Women’s Rights (LLWR). According to the study, ‘Prostitution and Trafficking in Women in the Eastern Suburbs of Beirut, the total number of women victims of trafficking in Lebanon rose from 19 women in 2015 to around 87 women in 2016, that is by nearly a 500% increase, noting that 94% of them are Syrian nationals. The results have shown that the influx of Syrian refugees and the concentration of the majority of displaced persons in the capital exacerbated this phenomenon. The study also pointed to a new type of trafficking in women under so-called ‘fake marriage’, where traffickers marry  Syrian girls as young as 15 years and sway them into prostitution and begging. Another category spotlighted by the study involved European women who enter Lebanon under permits allowing them to work in night clubs and who are eventually subjected to sexual abuse and sometimes to human trafficking. To recall, the study is based on interviews with various Lebanese associations and on courts and ISF statistics. It focused on the densely populated eastern suburbs of Beirut, namely Al Jadid neighborhood in Sin el Fil, which is the center of interest for workers driven away from other countries ad seeking better economic conditions. (Al Akhbar, May 22, 2018)

 

Previous related news:
Three women are sexually abused weekly and death penalty for wife killer
Since 2011 Syria is a country of origin for women trafficking not just for transiting
Family prostitution ring uncovered in Tripoli
New prostitution ring and trafficking involving Syrian women busted in Junieh
 
 

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Tobacco potato and wheat growers register heavy losses

21-5-2018

The agriculture minister Ghazi Zeiater met yesterday with a delegation of wheat farmers from West and Central Beqaa and from Baalbaq-Hermel, who demanded compensation for the losses resulting from rainfall scarcity. The minister for his part, while confirming the large losses, advised setting a national plan to support wheat cultivation in the different Lebanese regions, disclosing that he referred the subject for debate at the Council of Ministers. On the other hand, MP elect, Tarek Mer3abi, during a meeting on May 18 with Customs officials and representatives from the ministry of agriculture and agricultural committees, called for an immediate halt to the entry of Syrian potatoes smuggled into the country. He predicted heavy losses in the Akkar potato season due to the surplus of the imported crop in the markets, among other factors, and described the situation of farmers as ‘tragic’. Meanwhile, the president of the Tobacco Farmers Union in the South, Hassan Fakih, warned last week of a real disaster to the industry in a number of villages, particularly in Bint Jbeil, due to sudden climate change. Fakih pressed the need to control the green tobacco sickness which causes the drying of leaves, anticipating a smaller harvest. (Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, Al Akhbar, May 18, 20, 21, 2018)

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