News

The minister of state for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian, called yesterday for reconsidering the reality of women in light of a humanitarian approach. Ogassapian was speaking during a conference in the Jordanian capital, Amman, on the economic and social empowerment of women under the headline ‘Breaking Obstacles’. In his address to men, the minister said they should be bold enough to work for change as women are the requisite and catalyst for moving society to a better place. Empowering women socially and economically stimulates the growth and development of society and enhances living standards, prosperity and peace, Ogassapian stated. “The Lebanese woman, with the acknowledgement of big bankers, is the element that empowers the banking and financial sectors in Lebanon as she plays a vital role in the success of the services and business sectors,” Ogassapian maintained, (noting a 47% input by women in this industry, the largest in the region). Yet, despite the considerable contributions and sacrifices made by women, their conditions remain unsatisfactory, Ogassapian grieved. He mentioned the immense discrimination and injustice against them particularly in legislations and in employment, pointing to “domestic violence, sexual harassment, early marriages and the impact of the unfair personal status laws which persistently deny women their sacred right to motherhood”. In conclusion, Ogassapian said that women who struggled and succeeded in establishing themselves will remain a model for their peers who lag behind inhibited by obstacles, urging them to keep going always armed with “commitment, ingenuity and transparency”, as he put it. (Al Mustaqbal, March 31, 2017)

 

The latest venture by farmers’ market Souk el Tayyib, Tawleh Restaurant founder, Kamal Muzawek, was the first of its kind eatery for disadvantaged people in Lebanon, according to L’Orient Le Jour. The ‘Restaurant for the Poor’ project was inaugurated on March 16 by inviting some 60 families supported by Enfants de Lumiere and Bassma NGOs for a night of good food and great hospitality. The initiative is based on organizing a recreational day for needy families who cannot afford the luxury of eating out, as said Mozawek. The project seeks to send a message of empathy to those families, he said. The upcoming dinner, on April 20, will host 70 families and serve different meals to allow guests to savor new platters every time. Mozawek said he hoped other restaurants owners will follow suit. (L’Orient Le Jour, March 29, 2017)

 

Amazon http://www.amazon.com announced in a joint statement with Souq.com on March 28 that it has bought the Middle East’s biggest e-commerce platform. The world’s largest online marketplace, Amazon, did not disclose the size of the deal which, to recall, came one day after Dubai’s Emaar Malls made an USD 800 million bid to buy Souq.com. In a press conference, Souq founder and Syrian entrepreneur, Ronaldo Mashur, said the step is crucial in promoting the company’s presence in e-commerce. “By joining the Amazon family, we shall be able to enhance our delivery capacities, speed up our selection of customers and keep our track record in empowering vendors,” Mashur stated. For his part, Amazon senior vice president, Russ Grandinetti, said Souq.com has been serving customers in the Middle East, which creates yet a larger online shopping opportunity. “We look forward to learning from each other to provide the best possible experience for millions of customers,” Grandinetti said. To be noted, Souq is a Dubai-based Emirati company specializing in selling electronics, fashion and household items, with nearly 78% of its transactions in the region. The site also attracts more than 23 million visitors every month at a remarkable growth pace. (Al Hayat, Al Mustaqbal, L’Orient Le Jour, March 29, 2017)

 

In cooperation with the American University of Beirut (AUB), Liban Post honored yesterday six women pioneers under the theme “They are the First”. During the ceremony attended by the minister of state for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian, the ministry of telecommunications and in coordination with the national postal operator in Lebanon, issued the first edition of commemorative stamps in recognition of the honorees’ achievements. Ogassapian stressed the presence of women as an essential partner in decision making in decision making positions within all constitutional spaces similar to men, stating that obstacles preventing women from demonstrating their capacities and potentials should be destroyed. For his part, AUB President, Fadlo Khury, pointed out that the six women honorees have largely contributed to the advancement of the Lebanese society and to bringing together its constituents. “Were it not for the prominent role of women, the impact of civil war would have been more devastating,” Khury maintained. The honorees are: Mirna Bustani (being the first MP), Leila Solh Hamadeh and Wafaa Dika Hamzeh (first female ministers), Nina Trad (first lawyer), Adma Elias Abu Shdid (first female graduate of the Faculty of Medicine at AUB in 1931) and Saniya Zeitun (the first female member of the Order of Engineers and Architects in Lebanon in 1945). (Al Mustaqbal, March 30, 2017)

 

 

During a joint press conference with the Syndicate of Owners of Food Industries, the head of the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL), Nabil Itani, announced on Tuesday the company’s new program in support of the food industry sector. Itani stressed that despite an overall slackness in industrial exports, food exports have posted record high rates, representing nearly 21% of the total exports during 2016. The new program, according to Itani, aims to, first, increase the size of food industry exports and enhance their competitive capacity through access to new markets, second, increase the size of exports to traditional markets, namely the Arab states, and third, consolidate trade relations in light of effective agreements signed with foreign countries. The program also seeks to introduce innovative features besides supporting exhibitions in the industry, such as provision of essential studies for potential markets and organizing workshops to this effect, building a network of trade relations with world importers and inspiring Lebanese producers to get international quality certifications. Itani finally disclosed a decision by the government in which it approved IDAL’s proposal to sponsor three global expos that see the participation of food industries this year, and they are, Gulf Food in Dubai, Fancy Food Show in New York in June and Anuga 2017 in Germany. (Al Hayat, Al Diyar, March 29 and 30, 2017)

 

Al Hayat daily brought to light yesterday the subject of harassment in Egypt which has become a normal trend facing Egyptian girls and women who grew to deal with it as an inevitable evil. According to Al Hayt, the appalling findings of surveys on the subject (100% rates) are not surprising anymore, recording one form or another of harassment on a daily basis and sometimes recurrently in one day. In this respect, the newspaper highlighted a recent study by psychology professor at the American University of Cairo, Dr. Hani Henri, entitled, ‘sexual harassment in Egyptian streets: reconsidering feminist theory’. The survey covered diverse categories of society, including, students, accountants, shop owners, workers, managers and others. As for the justifications given by the harassers, they came as such: normal behavior, everyone harasses in his own way, harassment does not infringe on anyone, the harassed girl deserves it, it is the mistake of the woman or girl, girls are legitimate sex tools, it is the consequence of female’s presence in the labor market, a punishment by God to a religiously uncommitted girl or woman who brings it upon on herself. Henri in his study pressed the need for an all-inclusive reform and revision of the current religious rhetoric which sanctions molding gender roles and promotes gender-based violence. He pointed out that challenging harassment starts with compassion and empathy on the part of the harasser towards his potential victims as a humanitarian gesture. Eradicating harassment is an arduous and long journey, Henri noted, presenting a solution focused on the following: proper education and upbringing to better understand the opposite sex, spreading community awareness on the consequences of harassment and obliteration of all forms of discrimination which inspire and expand gender gaps. (Al Hayat, March 28, 2017)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Criminal Court of Beirut closed yesterday the hearing in the case of the killing of child Celine Rakan in 2014 under mysterious circumstances and which charged the Ethiopian migrant domestic worker, Bozai, with her death (c.f: http://bit.ly/2gG7hFh). The session, to recall, is the last before the projected pleading on May 23 after which the verdict will be announced. The closing session which lasted an hour and a half was assigned to hear testimonies which shed further ambiguity on the case. The victim’s father insisted on accusing the MWDW with the murder, in what seemed to be a contradiction to an earlier confession on aired by a TV program stating that his child died from a vaccine administered by her doctor. Meanwhile, the Ethiopian worker still denies charges, and the statement of the forensic doctor appeared to be undecisive, especially that he mentioned more than a possibility of a natural death. Thereafter, Bozai’s attorney Hassna Abdel Rida asked Judge Hajjar to designate a special hearing for a committee of doctors to listen to what they have to say. Towards the end of the session, Yassir Rakan, Celine’s father, approached one of the journalists covering the case and verbally assaulted him accusing him of receiving bribes and attacking all the media for allegedly not supporting him. On the other hand, following the appeal for cassation by the State Commissioner to the Military Court, Judge Sakr Sakr, against the ruling in the murder of Eliane Saftali, and his demanding to revoke the verdict and retry the accused Hassan Hamiyeh (c.f: http://bit.ly/2nfVwVI), the head of the military court of cassation, Judge Toni Latuf, agreed yesterday to retry the three suspects in the killing of the young woman, and decided to adjourn the meeting until April 25. (Al Mustaqbal, March 29, 2017)

 

  

 

 

The minister of agriculture, Ghazi Z3ayter, sponsored yesterday the closing day of the ‘Enhance the Livelihood and Food Security of Vulnerable Lebanese Women through Improving their Dairy Production Practices and Supporting their Dairy Processing Activities’ project at the premises of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Saida and the South. During the ceremony, the chair of the Chamber, Mohammad Saleh, underlined the importance of supporting working rural women as the domestic economy relies basically on small and medium enterprises, especially in the agro-food sector, which in turn comprises a high proportion of the women labor force. Saleh lauded the spirit of innovation and initiative of Lebanese women, particularly southern women, boasts. He reiterated the Chamber’s commitment to this effect, pointing to the success accomplished so far through a number of schemes aimed at development of rural economy, which mainly target women and building their capacities to better perform in the agriculture, artisan, trade and rural areas. Saleh estimated the rate of women workforce in said fields at 60%. For his part, Dr. Mohammad Farran, representing the agriculture minister emphasized the significance of the project in supporting Lebanese women to become partners in providing for the household and supporting their community and in protecting food security. To note, the project is funded by the Italian Embassy and implemented by the Agriculture Ministry in cooperation with FAO. (An Nahar, March 29, 2017)

 

Under the sponsorship of the UN Information Center in Beirut (UNIC), and in partnership with the International Debate Education Association (IDEA), SMART Center organized yesterday a debate on ‘women’s quota in Lebanon’. Participants included women who had previously partook in parliamentary, municipal and mukhtar elections, candidates for upcoming elections, as well as representatives of women’s associations, civil society groups and media figures. The debate coincided with the launch of so-called Debate Club Association aimed at endorsing consensus and exchanging viewpoints among people. On the occasion, UNIC director, Margot Helou, underlined the vitality of women’s participation in political decision making as it contributes to reducing the gender gap at all levels, as she said. For her part, the CEO of SMART, Randa Yassir, pointed out that the Center has been implementing a training on public debates project since 2012 with the aim to promote the notions of citizenship, democracy and community building in Lebanon and the Middle East. IDEA deputy director in the MENA region, Malek Msahel, announced the launch of a debate incubator in Lebanon that brings together debate organizations and active clubs in Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco. The purpose is to support and coordinate debate initiatives, merge debate skills as tools of expressing one’s opinion in a civilized way and bring about social change among the youth. (Al Hayat, March 28, 2017)

 

 

On the occasion of Mother’s Day, and under the umbrella of My Nationality is My Dignity Campaign, the Association of Individual Initiative for Human Rights (Massir) staged on Sunday a symbolic sit-in on Ain Mreisseh Corniche in Beirut. Protestors wanted to remind officials of the rights of Lebanese mothers to grant nationality to their children, wondering about the reasons behind intentional violation of the Constitution which guarantees them these rights. Mona Dahabe, the media coordinator of the Campaign, said injustice is still forced on women as a result of mounting restrictions in this regard. “Year after year, the troubles facing Lebanese mothers are snowballing and promises to resolve them are going up as well,”Dahabe stated. Similarly, Mustafa Shaar, coordinator of the Campaign, said mothers cannot celebrate until discrimination is lifted and violation of international conventions cramped. “When you want to impose taxes, you meet, but when it comes to observing the Constitution and allowing mothers to pass the nationality to their children, no one is to be found,” Shaar lamented. He called on women (who represent nearly 56% of voter) to cast an empty vote and to not elect those who discriminate against them in the upcoming parliamentary elections. (Al Hayat, L’Orient Le Jour, March 27 and 28, 2017)