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LGBTQI concerns

21-5-2018

In its continuous reporting of LGBT news and activities, L’Orient Le Jour addressed the issue during the closing evening of the LGBT exhibition ’Letters of Love to Gay and Transgender People’ (c.f: https://bit.ly/2IRFUGG). One passionate activist, Nayla, said she feels her femininity despite her birth as a boy, lamenting that her mother forced her to cut her hair out of denial of her effeminacy. Similarly, Dina, 29 years, born in the US, told L’Orient Le Jour reporter that she discovered her attraction to other women, a fact that was completely rejected by her family who decided to move her to a stricter school which exacerbated the situation further. The mother finally suggested sending her daughter to Lebanon where she eventually joined pro-LGBT activists. The event organizer, Dima Matta, explained that advocating women’s rights is inseparable from advocating LGBTQI rights, as both come under the big umbrella of human rights. She said she did not expect such a wide participation, especially after the suspension of Beirut Pride week 2018, stressing more work should be done to this end. (L’Orient Le Jour, May 19, 2018)

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New penal code amendments to protect minors

21-5-2018

MP Elie Kairuz submitted on May 18 a draft law to further amend Articles 505 and 518 of the Penal Code. To recall, while the first article pardons the culprit who sexually assaults a minor who completed 15 years if he marries his victim, the second is related to forced sex under seduction and deception of marriage. Kayrouz asked House Speaker Nabih Berri to refer the above proposal to relevant parliamentary committees for discussion and passing in the General Assembly. According to the new amendment, Article 505 will be modified to become as follows: ‘He who sexually assaults a minor under 15 years, shall be punished with imprisonment for not less than five years, and for not less than 7 years if the minor did not complete her 12 years. Also, he who sexually assaults a minor who completed 15 years but did not turn 18, shall be imprisoned for a minimum of three years.’ As for Article 518, it will become: ‘He who seduces and sexually assaults a girl with the promise of marriage, shall be imprisoned for at least one year and fined between LBP 5 million and 10 million. (An Nahar, L’Orient Le Jour, May 19, 2018)

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Activities to empower youth in Balamand, Antonine universities

21-5-2018

Within the framework of youth-supporting initiatives, the Antonine University-Zahleh branch, organized on Friday its annual Job Fair and Spring Festival at its Ablah campus in the presence of a crowd of people. On the occasion, the administrative director of the Branch, Tony Reiadi, stressed the purpose of the exhibition in gathering recruiting agencies and establishments from different sectors to showcase their employment or training prospects at hand and network with participating students from various faculties across the Beqaa area. Meanwhile, Balamand University hosted on May 11 a day to raise awareness on entrepreneurship organized by the Francophone University Agency (AUF), in collaboration with MEHE, Berytech, ESA Smart and RDCL. This event which comes as part of the Student Entrepreneurship Development in Lebanon (DEEL) aimed to introduce higher education institutions on how to train students to partake in the entrepreneurial environment, with focus on the role of teachers in student guidance. The AUF also organized two days of the same activity targeting Lebanese University students, while noting that some 15 universities in Lebanon will benefit from the project. (Al Diyar, L’Orient Le Jour, May 19, 2018)

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Lebanese beggar found dead with over a LBP 1.7 billion

18-5-2018

Al Mustaqbal today spotlighted the death of Fatmeh Uthman, the beggar who was found dead with a fortune of LBP 1.7 billion in her savings account. Fatmeh, 52, from the town of Ain Zahab, Akkar, is physically disabled, the newspaper wrote. At the age of 13, she left her family house (consisting of 9 children) to move to Beirut and start her career in panhandling. During a visit to her parents’ home in Akkar, Al Mustaqbal reporter discovered that the living conditions were very modest. And in an interview with her siblings, they said they knew their sister had cash but not a treasure, revealing that they found LBP 5 million in a bag inside her car-turned-home in Nouiri, and that there were rumors of additional bank accounts. To note, Fatmeh advised in her will that the money be used to build a mosque in her neighborhood. (Al Mustaqbal, May 18, 2018)

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Black women denounce racism, discrimination at Cannes Film festival

18-5-2018

After women film stars at Cannes Film festival called for gender equality and a larger share for women in the film industry, (c.f: https://bit.ly/2Ky9M8i), some 16 black and biracial actresses joined hands to denounce the lack of representation of people of color in cinema. The Senegalese-born French actress and co-author of “Noire N’est Pas Mon Metier” (Black is not my job), told AFP that the adoption of a quota system could be a possible option to combat what she described as the “invisibility” of people of color on the screens. To recall, the above book, which is a collective initiative by actresses, provides anecdotes of the racism actresses faced in their movie career. For his part, Olivier Rousteing, the creative director of Balmain French luxury fashion house which attaches great importance to diversity against racism in the world of fashion, said, “I have personally witnessed these humiliating remarks and fully understand the ignorance and discrimination (these actresses) faced throughout their career.” (An Nahar, May 18, 2018)

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Export of first 20 tons of Akkari potatoes to the Netherlands

18-5-2018

The Rene Mouawad Foundation (RMF) celebrated yesterday the export of a quantity of improved potato to the Netherlands. This comes as a result of collaboration between the ministry of agriculture, the Dutch Embassy and agricultural coops to complete a project for improving the value-chain for potato and leafy green farmers in Akkar, the North. The event took place at the Port Authority of Beirut Lecture Hall in the presence of the agriculture ministry director general, Louis Lahoud, representing minister Ghazi Zeiater and concerned parties. Lahoud on the occasion stressed the importance of the project aimed at the development of Lebanese agricultural products and inspiring farmers to stay steadfast in their lands. He underlined the role of his ministry in backing similar initiatives that contribute to enhancing made-in-Lebanon agro-food goods, and proposed a mechanism for export to EU countries of potato bound for consumption (Details of the mechanism on the following link: (https://goo.gl/2dF3nH). For his part, the Dutch Ambassador to Lebanon, Jan Waltmans, said European standards can be met if Lebanese potato farmers receive the proper support, pointing out that Lebanon currently exports nearly 20 tons of the crop to the Netherlands which were entirely sold even before the shipment was completed. (Al Mustaqbal, May 18, 2018)

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Tough anti-sexual harassment legislation in France

18-5-2018

The French Parliament approved yesterday a tough new legislation to fight sexual harassment requiring men who sexually harass women on streets be fined up to 750 Euros (USD 885). The bill, which was backed by the majority of lawmakers, according to Reuters, will be referred to the Senate for discussion. This comes after a wave of sexual assault charges against men in business, entertainment and politics which sparked wide protest on the internet. Under the new law, sexual harassers of both sexes will be faced with on-the-spot penalties ranging from 90 to 750 Euros, while the underage victims of rape will be given extra 10 years to file complaints against the assailants. Accordingly, the deadline will now be 30 years from when the minors turn 18. (Al Mustaqbal, May 18, 2018)

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EU backs LGBT rights in Lebanon

17-5-2018

An Nahar newspaper wrote today that, on the occasion of IDAHOT, and while the High Representative of the European Union, Federica Mogherini, declared EU commitment to combat all forms of discrimination against LGBT persons, Agence France Press was reporting the news of shutting down Beirut Pride platform that promotes LGBT rights due to pressure from the Lebanese authorities. An Nahar detailed the arrest of Hadi Damian from Beirut Pride and conditions for his release which involved signing a pledge to suspend all activities or refer him to the investigative judge for indictment on charges of provoking immodesty and breach of public morality (https://bit.ly/2k5ecZd). On the other hand, a group of passionate pro-LGBT activists continue with their exhibition in Jisr el Wati which started on May 2 under the headline, ‘Letters of Love to Gay and Transgender People’. The exhibition visually translates messages communicated among LGBTs which frequently portray challenges these people face in Lebanon. To note, the exhibition was planned to last till May 10 and to be extended until May 18. (L’Orient Le Jour, Al Akhbar, An Nahar, May 17, 2018)

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Prizes, scholarships in support of young talents

17-5-2018

Within the framework of supporting young talents, the industry minister, Dr. Hussein Haj Hassan, sponsored yesterday a ceremony organized by Lebanese Industrial Research Achievement program (LIRA) to distribute awards among university students for their industrial research projects in 2018. Some 46 projects have been implemented with the participation of industrial establishments, and the supervision of the industry, the Lebanese Industrialists Association (LIA), and the National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS), and with funding from Banque du Liban. Concurrently, Fransabank distributed certificates of appreciation to some 180 students in addition to USD 27,000 cash award to 22 students who participated in the academic contest ‘Talents for Lebanon’ launched in 2017 by the Bank. This, to note, comes as part of Fransabank’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and in the context of renewing the cooperation protocol signed with the General Secretariat of Catholic Schools. Meanwhile, Petrofac announced on Tuesday that it has set up a USD 5 million fund at AUB to honor the legacy of its co-founder Maroon Semaan who died in 2017. The Fund will provide yearly scholarships and training to 14 engineering students at the Maroon Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, May 16, 17, 2018)

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National Order of the Cedar bestowed to May Arida

17-5-2018

On behalf of President Michel Aoun, the minister of culture Ghattas Khury bestowed the honorary president of the Baalbaq International Festivals, late May Arida, the National Order of the Cedar with the highest rank of officer in recognition of her efforts to build Lebanon’s glory and foster art in the country. The award was handed during the memorial services at St Nicolas Church in Ahsrafieh in the presence of a crowd of dignitaries. Khury on the occasion, pointed out that May Arida not only ricocheted success and brilliance, but she was the woman who contributed to the making of the image of the homeland. For his part, Metropolitan bishop of the Greek Orthodox Church, Elias Audi, said May Arida was a pioneer woman in the world of culture and art and signified a bright era in Lebanon’s history. Similarly, Walid Jumblat, the head of the Democratic Gathering Bloc, tweeted: “With the passing away of May Arida, one of the main founding pillars of Baalbaq falls…”. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, May 17, 2018)

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