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2017 report of Observatory for Rights of Workers

16-4-2018

In a press conference on Friday, the Lebanese Observatory for the Rights of Workers and Employees launched its sixth report on the movements, violations and legislations recorded during 2017. The Observatory has developed its model annual report for the present year, noting for the first time, the legislations and consultations alongside the complaints and grievances. In its monitoring of the violations, the report revealed the delivery of some 169 consultation requests, 43.7% of which are related to arbitrary dismissal, noticing a decline in female requests, (only 36% of the total number of consultations), which focused mainly on the working hours and vacations, while ignoring the social security and pay matters. On the cross-sectoral level, the report noticed that the commercial sector represented the highest rate of infringements on workers’ rights (37%), followed by the media (12%). The report also found out that, despite that the civil society organizations, CSO, sector, is, so they say, a staunch advocate of rights, it came fourth, posting 10.6% in violations. The report went on to say that, the year 2017 has shown a slow return to legislations after a lengthy absence of the role of the Legislative. For more on the report, kindly visit the link below: https://goo.gl/qnDPiw. (Al Akhbar, April 14, 2018)

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Awareness on dealing with victims of sexual harassment

16-4-2018

The General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces and Abaad organization jointly organized on Saturday an awareness activity around a memorandum on “How to receive and treat victims of sexual harassment and human trafficking at ISF centers”. The activity included a parade by an ISF cycling squad, the Harley Davidsons Ladies Club and Lebanon Bikers from Ain Mreiseh neighborhood of Beirut through two awareness checkpoints at the National Museum and Chevrolet roundabout areas to finally reach the Memorial of the women victims of domestic violence in Baabda suburb of Beirut. During their tour, the cyclists distributed leaflets among passers to familiarize the above memo. Towards the end of the activity, the head of the PR division at ISF, Colonel Joseph Musallam, said: “When the ISF set its priorities for the protection of freedoms and human rights, it took into consideration the crimes committed against women,” and stressed the need to rethink some of the outdated inherited customs that impede the realization of women’s rights. Abaad director, Ghida Anani, for her part, pointed out that the memo is a sharp translation of ISF commitment to the file of domestic violence and violence against women and girls. (Al Akhbar, April 16, 2018)

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Draft bill to reduce food wastage in commercial sector

13-4-2018

MP Ghassan Mkheiber has put forward to the Legislative a proposal to fight food waste and food loss. During a press conference to present his case, Mkheiber pointed out to the squandering of food in hypermarkets, grocery stores and eateries in the country, pointing to the huge amounts of discarded, uneaten or unsold foods while there are plenty of hungry families out there. The proposed bill, Mkheiber explained, creates a social deterrent to make use of the wasted foods to feed poverty-stricken households. Mkheiber outlined the explanatory statement of the proposal which contains disciplinary penalties and positive incentives enforcing involved parties to comply, hoping that the Lebanese parliament will discuss and ratify the draft. The main explanatory statements state that, statistics conducted globally has maintained that food waste could cause an economic imbalance locally and internationally. All world countries, especially advanced states, have adopted legislations to reduce food waste and to force food establishments to act in accordance, given the gravity of the matter at the social, economic, environmental, commercial and even health levels. The squandering of food could create hazards on food security and exacerbate poverty. The ratification of said law stems from the responsibility of the State to safeguard basic human rights. For more information on the proposal, kindly visit the following link: http://nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/show-news/338288. (Al Mustaqbal, April 13, 2018)

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SQUAD for developing agro-food in Tripoli

13-4-2018

The president of the Chamber of Industry, Commerce and Agriculture for Tripoli and the North, Tawfic Dabusi, launched yesterday the second conference entitled SQUAD, Securite et Qualite des produits agroalimentaires, under the patronage of premier Saad Hariri represented by former minister, head of SEZ, Raya Hassan. The event aims to enhance the food sector through the application of specifications, observance of quality standards and provision of food safety requirements, which is sustained through partnerships and networking between scientific societies and the business community in various sectors. During the event, Hassan stressed that the government is giving special attention to the food safety and security issues, revealing that the Cedar 2 conference has been successful beyond expectations, and pointing to Tripoli’s development share as a result particularly in the field of training and rehabilitation of the agri-food industry. Similarly, Dabusi pointed out that the conference is compatible with the role of quality control laboratories at the Chamber vis-à-vis food safety and the development of food industries. Among interventions made during the congress, Professor Monzer Hamzeh, said the purpose is always community service and human health, while the dean of the School of Health at the Lebanese University, Dr. Nina Zeidan, drew attention to the daily hazards, especially the impact of contamination and pollution within the food sector. (Al Mustaqbal, April 13, 2018)

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Political activist Carole Babekian candidate for peace and dialogue

13-4-2018

In its continuous support of women nominees for the upcoming parliamentary elections, L’Orient Le Jour spotlighted on the career path of Carole Babekian, the ambassador of peace for the Universal Peace Federation candidate, running for Beirut 1st district. Babekian clarified that although she runs on the electoral list affiliated with political parties, she considers herself as an independent nominee who relates to civil society within that list. Bebekian, a political science graduate from AUB, describes herself as the woman of peace and dialogue, boasting her aptitude as a debater and facilitator of dialogue between different groups of Lebanese society, including rival political factions. Her candidacy was not coincidental, she explained, for she has been planning it for some time, she told L’Orient Le Jour. She is a political activist and a volunteer in both Ashrafieh and Borj Hammoud, besides her support for MP Nadim Gemayel, through what is known as Ashrafieh 2020 association which she heads. Babekian concluded by saying that in the event of winning, she will focus on national dialogue, fighting corruption and the provision of free education for all the children of Lebanon. (L'Orient Le Jour, April 12, 2018)

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Yet another prostitution ring uncovered in Maameltein

13-4-2018

In its continued efforts to combat human trafficking, the General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces announced in a statement yesterday, that following surveillance action, a patrol from the Anti-Human trafficking and Morals Protection Bureau at the Judiciary Police Unit uncovered a new prostitution ring in the basement of a Maameltein hotel north of the capital, Beirut. The ring includes four girls (Syrian nationals) and the pimp T.Q (63-year-old man, Lebanese), in addition to the arrest of four other former suspects active in facilitating sex work, including 3 Syrians and one Lebanese. The ISF statement confirmed that the hotel has been sealed with red wax and the suspects referred to competent judiciary. (Al Mustaqbal, April 13, 2018)

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MoUs to develop cooperative agriculture in Baalbaq/Hermel

12-4-2018

The director of the Social and Economic Development Fund, Haitham Omar, along with representatives of some 42 agricultural coops signed yesterday memorandums of understanding aimed at the development of agricultural production in the areas of Baalbaq-Hermel with funds from the EU. On the occasion held at the premises of the Chamber of Industry, Commerce and Agriculture in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, the director of Cooperatives at the Fund, Mohamad Arabi, outlined the evolution of the project intended to alleviate the economic and social pressure of Syrian displacement, reduce the cost of production in the agricultural sector, the first economic resource in the area, and improve the social conditions of farmers and host communities. Similarly, Gloria Abu Zeid, the director general of Cooperatives at the agriculture ministry, described cooperation with the EU as a key catalyst for Lebanon’s agriculture and for enhancing the living conditions of low-income people in the area. In addition, such cooperation provides jobs, promotes collective work and contributes to women empowerment, Abu Zeid maintained. EU representative in his turn stressed the significance of cooperation between the Union and its partners in supporting cooperatives for they have the potential to play a pivotal role in assisting local communities, generating employment, enhancing the role of women, developing the value chain and economic development, especially with the continuous pressure of the Syrian refugee crisis on host communities. (Al Mustaqbal, April 12, 2018)

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Supporting small-enterprises in the North

12-4-2018

The European Institute for Cooperation and Development (IECD) and the Principality of Monaco signed yesterday a Cooperation Agreement in which they contribute up to 250,000 Euros in support of small Lebanese enterprises in North Lebanon. On the occasion held at the Serail of Tripoli, Rasha Ismail, IECD north officer, said the project aims to train and support entrepreneurs who run ventures of not more than 10 employees in Tripoli, Akkar, Dinniyeh, Koora, Zgharta and other northern areas, for a period of three years. She clarified that by the end of the project in 2020, the number of program beneficiaries is projected to reach 90 through the development of skills of entrepreneurs, assisting them to improve their living conditions and the creation of new jobs. For his part, North governor, Ramzy Nahra, underlined the importance of the project amidst the economic crisis and the high rate of unemployment, noting that the North and Tripoli in particular, are in need of similar undertakings. In his turn, the minister of foreign affairs for Monaco, Tonelli Gilles, revealed that some 300 small enterprises in North Lebanon will benefit from training required for their growth and integration. (Al Mustaqbal, April 12, 2018)

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Women-only fashion week in Saudi Arabia

12-4-2018

In a first-ever move, the Saudi Kingdom hosted the Arab Fashion Week at Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh on April 10. The event will take place over four days with an exclusive women attendance and the absence of cameras. The event which is usually held in Dubai, saw the participation of celebrated foreign designers, like French couturier Jean Paul Gaultier and the Italian fashion house Roberto Cavalli, in addition to the Kingdom’s designer Arwa Banawi whose line and designs are well known and loved in the region. On the event, Princess Noura Bint Faisal Al Saud, the honorary president of the Arab Fashion Council, said there has always been an interest in fashion in Saudi Arabia, stressing that her Council is trying to bring the industry to an exceptional level. She disclosed that a second edition is already scheduled for coming October, whereby Dubai will continue to host its own fashion week between May 9 and 12. To note, the event comes after a swift policy change since the appointment of crown prince Mohamad Bin Salman mid last year, including allowing women to drive and the re-opening of movie theatres. (L’Orient Le Jour, April 12, 2018)

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Mountaineer Zeinab plants Lebanese flag on Himalayas

12-4-2018

Lebanese mountaineer, Zeinab Abdel Raouf Salam, completed yesterday the first phase of her trek to the 6189m- Island Peak in the Himalayas. Resisting the harsh weather conditions and freezing temperatures, Salam conquered the summit at an altitude of 5350m carrying the Lebanese flag signed by President Michel Aoun. To recall, Salam, a volunteer at the Lebanese Red Cross-Spears, has visited President Aoun about six months ago in the presence of Red Cross president, Dr. Antoine Zoghbi, to convey to him her desire to raise her country’s flag at Island Peak. President Aoun encouraged her move, praising her patriotic and humanitarian awareness and signed the flag. (Al Mustaqbal, April 12, 2018)

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