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The Rene Mouwad Foundation (RMF) and BALADI program launched on Monday activities for the promotion of rural tourism and sustainable forest management in the Batlun-Chuf region. The initiative, funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and which is part of ‘Building Alliance for Local Advancement, Development and Investment’ (BALADI) program, was inaugurated during a ceremony at the municipality of Batloun. RMF executive director, Michel Mouawad, called for the creation of a pressure group to activate and empower the role of local authorities through instating decentralized administration. He stressed that only municipalities and community grassroots organizations understand and can identify the needs of their people, as they were elected by their communities and are accountable by them. Mouawad outlined the project for promotion of ecotourism and good sustainable forest management practices in the Batloun-Chouf area which is implemented by his foundation at a USD 175 thousand worth of funds from USAID. The project, Mouawad noted, is carried out in cooperation and partnership with the following entities, Batlun Municipality, Chuf Cedars Association, as well as the municipalities of Botmeh, Baruk, Maasir el Chouf, Khreibeh el Chuf, the Agricultural Cooperative Associations in Batlun and Maasir el Chuf, Kreibet el Chuf Club, and the Sportive Cultural Club of Batlun. It is expected to benefit some 3 thousand persons, create jobs and to increase incomes through integrated activities to the effect of reducing the cutting of trees for firewood, conversion of trimmed trees waste into heating molds and raising awareness about sustainable forest management in Batlun and the Chouf environs. (Al-Diyar 5 April 2017)

 

 

 

World renowned feminist author and activist Nawal el Saadawi unveiled her thoughts on Sunday talking about historic change that disregarded or rather totally removed the mother’s name from IDs. Saadawi was hosted by Fe-Male Association and the Lebanese Democratic Youth Union in collaboration with Dar al Adab publishing house. The woman who represented a pivotal axis of ancient civilizations, namely the Egyptian civilization, has turned from a ‘goddess’ to a ‘satan’ and from a ‘rational thinker’ to a ‘headless person’, El Saadawi said. She suggested adding the name of the mother to ID document of a person along with his/her father’s name, as did her daughter, novelist Mouna Helmi. The author of Memoirs from the Women’s Prison reminded her audience of the law enacted back in 2008 which allows the registration of an ‘illegitimate child’ by his mother’s name, and hence allowing him to unconditionally enjoy the rights of any other child. El Saadawi raised, in the form of questions, the issues of ‘hijab’, women and ostentatious makeup and nudity. Focusing on the wearing of ‘hijab’, she said it is indicative of a political trend and is not by any means related to religion or sex. She criticized wearing make-ups and finery as a distracting factor which is nothing but a waste of time and money, and even, undermining the self-esteem of women. On nudity, El Saadawi expounded her outlook on the issue saying it emanates from discrimination between the sexes. Recounting her visit to the School of Fine Arts in Cairo and her close examination of life (nude) drawing classes, she said none of the students, males and females, have asked a male to pose nude for drawing. (Al Akhbar, April 4, 2017)

 

The Arab empowering women association, the Blessing Foundation, managed by Rima Koteish Husseini, launched on March 6, its virtual site, shoptbfonline.com,  at the ESCWA headquarters in Beirut. Aimed at marketing goods made by rural women in Lebanon, the project highlights not only the products but also the women who produced them, according to Husseini. Each craft bears a story of a militant artisan, like Sana Ahmad, Syrian, who, forced to leave her war-torn country, is now making bags and selling them to provide for her six children, Husseini stated. Daad Ismael, a Lebanese woman, has another story to tell and sell. She makes jams and bread to secure the university fees for her daughters. Husseini pointed out that her foundation seeks to give those women access to markets to promote their merchandise across the world. The portal currently boaasts some 40 success stories. The prices of offered goods vary from a couple of US dollars for confections up to USD 200 for home supplies, like glass and silver made dishes and cups, noting that women producers put the prices, and add to it the 12% charge for e-commerce and for development and update of the e-store. Husseini is presently studying partnering with Amazon as a gateway to the world. Meanwhile, the foundation continues to network with involved civil society organizations to attract more women, hoping the number will reach 170 beneficiaries by the end of 2017. (Le Commerce Du Levant, April, 2017)

 

The owner of Mum & I restaurant, Samia Massoud, won the International Culinary Institute Award, reportedly the second given to a Lebanese restaurant since the inauguration of the award in 1990 by the Paris-based academy. Massoud opened her eatery in 2012 in the National Museum neighborhood with an estimated capital of USD 200 thousand. In an interview with Le Commerce Du Levant magazine, Massoud said she did not want the venture in the beginning, as she worked in advertising at An Nahar daily newspaper. Later on, she delved into the business of imported wear which was not up to her expectations in profits. Eventually in 2015, Massoud told the magazine reporter, she chose investing in the culinary profession by preparing and selling homemade meals. But with the increasing demand on her cuisine brands, she decided to open up a restaurant at Badaro close to where she lives. According to Massoud, when she first picked the location, there was no bistro or café in the area which is known as a hub for many public institutions and ministries, the justice palace and universities. Massoud offers traditional Lebanese menus she learned from her mother, and is famous for unique dishes rarely found in regular diners, such as fried cauliflower, Kebbeh arnabiyeh or artichoke with meatballs, in addition to a set of mezzeh and continental dishes. A crew of 9 female cooks help to keep the restaurant standing, Massoud boasted, pointing that the average meal price per person is around USD 20. (Le Commerce Du Levant, April, 2017)

 

 

Rida Nadim Murad was elected to represent Lebanon at the Arab Human Rights Committee (the Charter commission ACHR) of the League of Arab States. Backed by foreign minister, Jibran Bassil, Murad won by a majority of 10 votes out of the 12 participating states. Her victory dubbed as a gift to Lebanese women reflects Bassil’s conviction in their leading role and in their capacity to present their country at various platforms. It should be noted, that Lebanon’s permanent representative at the Arab League, Antoine Azzam, who has partaken yesterday in the elections at the General Secretariat, lauded the role of the commission in formulating laws related to women and child’s rights in the Arab World. (An Nahar, April 4, 2017)

 

The minister of state for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian, reiterated on Saturday his faith in Lebanese women as essential partners in the political decision-making. It is not a women’s responsibility only, but the responsibility of all men and women who have let them down and hampered their access to senior state positions, Ogassapian stated. The Minister was speaking during the opening of the conference organized by the National Democratic Institute in collaboration with Westminster Foundation for Democracy devoted for launching the 2017 Candidate Academy Program sponsored by the British Embassy. Under the title ‘Preparing for elections: women prepare to run for elections’, the conference targeted women running as independent candidates or on their political parties’ lists. Ogassapian commended the debates held within the conference which he said open doors to exchange and operationalize ideas. In his address to participants, the minister warned that he would “not sign any electoral law, whatsoever, that does not contain women’s quota.” It is not a “matter of formality or civility, but rather a conviction,” Ogassapian maintained, asserting that women in Lebanon boast exceptional capacities in various fields, like science, technology, medicine and engineering, and have accomplished much in these sectors. This, he said, makes their presence a requisite for the enhancement of performance of both the Parliament and Government. (Al Mustabal, Al Diyar, April 2, 2017)

The General Directorate of Internal Security Forces (ISF) announced on Saturday that it has detained members of a human-trafficking ring accused of swindling hundreds of Ethiopian girls. The ISF statement said that the crackdown was carried out by Mashta Hassan police station in coordination with Jemaizeh Beirut Police Unit. The detained individuals included M.J, a Syrian national (50 years) who admitted to his involvement with the gang and to taking between USD 200 – USD 1000 from Ethiopian migrant domestic workers, the statement said. Following investigations and interrogations, all the members of the network were arrested, including A.A, the Lebanese ring leader, (40 years) who boasts a criminal record, mainly smuggling and fraud, according to the ISF statement. Two other Lebanese persons were also detained. During interrogation, the suspects confessed to the charges saying they tricked the MWDWs who have no identification papers claiming they would help them reach Turkish soil. What happened however, is that they drove the girls to an area near a Lebanese security checkpoint and contacted the authorities to turn them in, the statement went on to say. Investigation is still underway under the control of competent judiciary, and one suspect is still at large, the ISF statement concluded. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, April 2 and 3, 2017)

The ‘Knowledge is Power’ (KIP) project opened on Friday a ‘multidisciplinary conference on discrimination and sexual harassment’ at the American University of Beirut (AUB) in the presence of a US Embassy representative and a group of concerned people. The 3-day event aimed at promoting dialogue between various stakeholders about gender and sexuality issues. The issues that were addressed centered on the following: discrimination and sexual harassment in Lebanon, production and publishing of related materials within the Lebanese context and generating recommendations for public policy on sexual harassment within the Lebanese context, as well as building permanent cross-sectoral and inter-disciplinary networks on the subject. A plenary session within the conference examined anti-sexual harassment policies in Lebanon, with a focused intervention from MP Ghassan Mukheiber about the draft law he submitted earlier to the Parliament for enactment. The conference also saw a talk and discussion with world-renowned Egyptian author and women’s rights activist, Nawal Saadawi. Workshops were also conducted under different headings, like, the culture factor in leadership, know, communicate, approve: the key to sexual health. There were also debates on the following topics: access of rural women to funding: a discriminatory story, sexual harassment and a woman’s safety in urban areas, women at the workplace: challenges of leadership and employment, discrimination through art and the media, sexual harassment and violence: perceptions and comparative facts, representation and participation: marginalized groups in the Lebanese political arena, art as an alternative incentive for change in Lebanon. (Al Hayat, April 2, 2017)

 

 

 

 

The Lebanese President Michel Aoun and the First Lady Nadia Chami Aoun received on Friday the three Lebanese winners of L’Oreal-UNESCO for Women in Science Awards, Drs. Nivine Khashab, Tamara Zein and Nazek Atab. On the occasion, the managing director of L’Oreal Levant Countries Chez L’Oreal, Philippe Patsalides, underlined the role of L’Oreal in sponsoring scientific researchers and supporting the implementation of their plans. He mentioned some 23 women from the Middle East, including three Lebanese, have won this support since the start of the program 19 years back. Khashab and Atab, Patsalides noted, were among five winners for 2017, stating that Atab was also laureate for the years 2015, while Zein for 2016 respectively. For his part, Aoun congratulated the three winners who “represent the bright side of the country” as he put it, hoping they be a model for their Lebanese peers in the scientific domain. Similarly, Prime Minister Saad Hariri after meeting the three laureates reiterated his full backing to women’s electoral quota, and pledged to sustain outstanding Lebanese scientific researchers, asking the laureates to present their projects in order to get the appropriate funding. (Al Diyar, April 1, 2017)

 

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The BLC bank organized on Wednesday a conference on supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Lebanon. The purpose of the conference was to influence policy makers in the country, facilitate access of SMEs to markets, as well as build the model to support and expand the business of these companies. The conference also allowed participating startups and SMEs’ owners to communicate directly with prominent and established business people in order to benefit from their diverse experience and cooperate in the expansion and development of their enterprises through dissemination of methods for growing locally and expanding globally. The event witnessed the presence of BLC Chairperson, Nadim Kassar, General Manager of Kafalat, Khater Abu Habib and a group of startups and SMEs. Kassar on the occasion pointed out that the development of SMEs stimulates economic growth, hence, creating more jobs and additional sources of income for citizens and the State. Yola Sarjiddine, Kafalat executive director, noted that as Lebanon’s market for SMEs is relatively small, they should be buoyed up to go beyond the borders, and called for easing procedural obstacles to this effect. The conference also drew attention to the slowness in funding procedures, particularly for companies with big capital (USD 1-5 million). 

(L’Orient Le Jour, March 30, 2017)

 

 

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