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Al Diyar newspaper of today wrote about the visit of the President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, to Saudi Arabia and questioned whether Saudi tourists and investors will return to Lebanon soon. The newspaper pointed out that Saudi Arabia held in 2010 first place in the list of countries whose nationals visited Lebanon, and who totaled some 200 thousand Saudi tourists out of grand total of one million and 500 thousand tourists. The Saudi's total touristic expenditure was close to $ 2 billion out of $5.7 billion total touristic expenditure. The newspaper continued by noting that the number of Saudi tourists fell in 2015 to 47 thousand tourists when Saudi Arabia ranked fourth in terms of the number of tourists who visit Lebanon following Iraq that holds the first place, Jordan and Egypt. In addition the touristic expenditure fell from $5.7 billion to $5.3 billion of which $500 million is from Saudi Arabia. The newspaper also emphasized the importance of Saudi tourists particularly and Gulf tourists more generally for Lebanon tourism industry, considering that their return to Lebanon in the near future is linked to several factors including:  1) Changing the psychological mindset of Saudi tourists who stayed away from Lebanon, and who now need reassurances. 2) Strengthening political, security stability, tax and legislative stability. 3) Improving the image of Lebanon which was recently tarnished by the garbage crisis. 4) Improving electricity provision and managing the intractable traffic jams. (Al Diyar January 13, 2017)

An-Nahar newspaper pointed out in its issue published today that on the 15th of the present month,  the preparation of new offices of the 'core' work team in the Ministry of State for Women's Affairs in the building assigned for Ministries of State in Al Masaref Street will be finished. As such, Minister Jean Ogassapian and his team will start drafting the firs roadmap of the mode of operation of the Ministry, according to what Ogassapian stated in an exclusive  interview for that newspaper. Ogassapian emphasized that he is working at establishing 'infrastructures' for the Ministry that adhere to international standards applied to "newly established" ministries. He 'translated that into action' through a close cooperation between the 'young' Ministry and the UN program in Lebanon, revealing that the latter adopted international standards of selection the staff of the Ministry whose number will not exceed 10 employees. On setting work priorities for the Ministry, Ogassapian pointed out that the strategies and the content of legislation prepared by the National Commission for Women's Affairs and Women's associations, emphasizing that the "preliminary draft of the action strategy is based on constant communication with women's associations and concerned institutions, as well as follow-up of the track of legislative proposals and the various recommendations that are specific to women's affairs with specialized parliamentary committees". On the other hand, Ogassapian ruled out the possibility of submitting a civil personal status law during the first six months of his mandate, Adopting such a law, he added, requires a substantial struggle, especially in a country like Lebanon where the political system combines democracy and confessional representation. When asked about his willingness to face the heads of confessional groups and politicians in proposing a law to the advantage of women, he said: “I will work towards ensuring women’s rights guaranteed by the country’s democratic system”, pointing out that he is studying special economic projects to empower women lining outside the capital. He also emphasized that he will work hard so that the quota for women is included in the new electoral law, and will push forward the demand for Lebanese women’s right to pass the nationality to their families. He concluded by pointing out that the budget of his Ministry is not set yet, and is still under study. (An-Nahar, January 13, 2017)

 

 

 

 

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced the implementation of a new project in Lebanon entitled  "expanding financial inclusion and improving livelihoods"(LIFE). The project aims at improving livelihoods, developing the microfinance sector, and expanding financial inclusion in order to strengthen economic opportunities for entrepreneurs and beneficiaries from micro finance services. The project extends for five years starting on September 2016 and until September 2021. The Agency declared that the objectives of this project will be achieved through supporting financial inclusion which will bring more clients to the microfinance sector through strengthening policies and important institutional reforms as well as building capacities of the Lebanese Association of the Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), in addition to assisting MFIs in expanding a set of products and services to reach more marginalized groups especially women with low income, youth, persons with special needs in rural areas that are exposed to conflicts, also supporting entrepreneurs and small projects in building their business capacities, and accessing formal financial services, and achieving sustainable livelihood. In the end, the Agency emphasized that the project will aim at achieving several results, the most prominent are the following: 1) Increase capital for MFIs by a minimum of 25 percent. 2) Expand coverage of MFIs in deprived areas. 3) Increase in number and value of loans provided by MFIs. 4) Provide training for five thousand owners of small businesses. 6) Increase in the income of beneficiaries by 20 percent during the project period. (Al Mustaqbal, January, 12, 2017)

 

The National Commission for Lebanese Women in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund organized yesterday a national conference on the Security Council Resolution 1325 pertaining to women, security and peace with the participation of representatives from governmental and nongovernmental organizations. This conference aimed at deepening knowledge about the resolution and examining requirements for its implementation in Lebanon, in addition to developing basic interventions that need to be adopted to take women's issues into consideration when addressing topics related to security and peace. This covers the four levels of the resolutions namely participation, prevention, protection and rescue or relief.   Also this conference came within the frame of follow-up by the National Commission on the implementation of the recommendations of the CEDAW Committee. Commission member lawyer Mirna Azar discussed the role of the national mechanism in the implementation of the resolution 1325 while the director of the Arab Center for Human Rights - Lebanon branch, Jumana Merhi, addressed the role of the civil society organizations in the implementation of the resolution. Ms. Miriam Sfeir of the Center for Women's Studies at the Lebanese American University underscored the importance of the Call of Beirut which seeks to place the priorities of women, peace and security on the Arab agenda, while Maggy Grabontizia - Director of the project of Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment project in Lebanon funded by European Union, presented some perspectives of a study on a national plan to implement resolution 1325. (Al Moustaqbal, January 12, 2017)

 

The phenomenon of violence is increasing in the Lebanese society especially violence targeting women, as the media reported in one day two separate crimes with women as victims. The General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces, Public Relation Division announced that on January 10, a person of Syrian nationality aged 37 years shot from an army pistol his sister-in-law aged 37 years, Syrian too, as a result of family disputes. The victims was hit in her head and lost her life. The Division was able to arrest the perpetrator in less than an hour of the incidence of the crime. Also, on the same day a young woman, Nancy N. aged 20 years, a student in the Faculty of Sciences in the Lebanese University in Fanar, was found dead, shot by a bullet, in the residence of her parents in the area of Dekwaneh in Al-Metn. According to circulating information, the girl was hit by a gunshot in the chest from a pistol that was found near her body, noting that the pistol belongs to her father, a former military in the army. According to L'Orient Le Jour newspaper, security forces initiated investigations to gain information on details of the incident and its causes; causes range from the girl committing suicide, murder, or a stray gunshot. On another note, a young woman, S.A., died after falling from the fifth floor of her residence in Bab Tabbaneh in Tripoli. Her body was transported to the "Islamic Hospital' in the city. (Al-Mustaqbal, Annahar, The Daily Star, L'Orient Le Jour, January 12, 2017)

 

"The national coalition to support the establishment of women’s political participation in Lebanon” demanded a quota for women of no less than 30% of parliamentary seats in any electoral law to be agreed upon, stressing that the quota is a rightful demand that neither the Coalition nor its members will relinquish, and called for the coalition to become the civil focal point for adopting the quota in the electoral law, and in other governmental decision-making levels. The position of the Coalition was announced yesterday during its first press conference held in the premises of the National Commission for Lebanese Women.  During the event, the Coalition outlined its objectives, plan of action, and positions regarding women's participation in decision-making. The press conference was attended by the Minister of State for Administrative Development, Dr. Inaya Izzidine, and the Minister of State for Women's Affairs Jean Ogassapian, as well as representatives of various civil society organizations. On similar lines, ex-Minister Wafaa Al Diqa Hamza noted that the " the coalition is a force exerting pressure on decision-makers so that women are no longer excluded or ignored from political participation processes, pointing out that " the issue now will revolve around how to integrate women's quota within any electoral law that will be agreed upon for the upcoming parliamentary elections planned for  May 2017", indicating that the Coalition is composed of networks and associations and institutions that represent more than 150 CSOs in coordination and under the umbrella of the National Commission for Lebanese Women. Hamza presented the coalition’s short-term plan of action which follows three axes: first, to implement a media action plan that will accompany the upcoming electoral process in its various phases; second, to launch an advocacy plan that includes meetings with officials and parliamentary blocs and political parties, and mobilize public opinion regarding the importance of women's participation in political action and public affairs; third, to implement technical and legal action that follows up the work of the parliamentary committee involved in the electoral law as well as participate in its work. For his part, Minister Ogassapian promised that he will notify the Coalition about all meetings that the ministry will conduct in this regard.(Annahar, Al Mustaqbal, L'Orient Le Jour, January 11, 2017)

 

The Ministry of Labor announced yesterday that the Minister of Labor Mohammad Kabbarah has instructed the inspection bureau at the Ministry to carry out a comprehensive campaign targeting foreign business owners and foreign employees who work for Lebanese or foreign businesses. The Minister demanded strict implementation of inspection procedures and called on all violators to adhere to the provisions of laws and decrees in force, under penalty of legal action that may lead to closure. On another matter, the executive council of the Union of Syndicates of Construction and Timber Industry Workers led by Mursil Mursil issued yesterday a statement requesting government’s approval of long held labor demands, while condemning the arbitrary and unchecked dismissal of local labor and its replacement with foreign workers. The statement also called for limiting the issuing of work permits in order to protect Lebanese labor from unemployment and emigration, and submitted several trade union demands the foremost of which were: the right to housing, health, education, electricity, water, work, pay, social security, as well as the right of construction laborers to social security benefits, comprehensive health coverage and pension. (Al Mustaqbal and Daily Star, January, 10, 2017)

 

Finally, and after about 7 months, the Court of Cassation, headed by Judge Joseph Samaha, rejected yesterday the appeal by the husband of the victim Rula Yaacub, who is accused of  her murder, (c.f. http://www.lkdg.org/ar/node/10747), and referred the husband to the criminal court in the North with the charge of causing death. It is noteworthy that the accusatory body in the North has issued on May 12, 2016 its decision in the case of Yaacub, which consisted of accusing her husband of causing her death, and it issued simultaneously a warrant for his arrest, annulling by that the previous decision, issued by the investigative judge in the North Ala'a Al Khatib in January,2014, which halted trial of the accused for insufficient evidence, and ordered his release, disregarding many pieces of evidence provided by witnesses. This decision received positive reactions on the part of those following the case.  The media officer of Kafa, (Enough Violence and Exploitation), Maya Ammar noted that the decision is the second made by the Court of Cassation, that does justice to the rights of women and corrects the "suspicious' track that has accompanied the case in the past, reminding of the decision of the criminal Cassation Court which repealed the verdict of the Criminal Court in Beirut (headed by Judge Hilaneh Iskandar) in the murder of Manal Assi. (Al-Akhbar, January 11, 2017)

 

Previous related news: 

Finally the husband of slain Rula Yaacub is designated as accused

Grand Jury in North confirms violence is cause of death of Rula Yaacub

Imprisonment for killer husband of Rokaya, protracted process in Rula’s file and new “honor crime” in Baalbaq

 

‘Youth Pulse’ organized yesterday a meeting for agricultural cooperatives in Batroon at the premises of Batroon Development and Cultural League, in cooperation with association 'Labora'. During the meeting, participants discussed a YP plan to organize a large agriculture fair, which aims at linking productive cooperatives with local and international consumers, in order to market local agricultural production. The representative of Youth Pulse, Father Yuhanna Mrad, listened to the demands of cooperatives, and called upon those present to actively participate in the upcoming agricultural fair.  He pointed out that the Fair will be held in 2018 and that preparations will involve several agricultural cooperatives in Lebanon. From their side, heads of the cooperatives outlined their problems, particularly the difficulties in marketing olive oil and apple productions, the need to set up an apple refrigeration unit in Tannureen, facilitate their administrative work and for receiving further aid from the Ministry of Agriculture. 

(Al Diyar, January 10, 2017)