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The president of the National Committee for the Follow up of Women’s Issues and member of Women in Parliament Coalition, Dr. Fahmiya Sharafeddeen, demanded the presence of a group of women in the so-called Independent Electoral Commission in order to participate in formulating the new law related to the upcoming elections, stressing the need to ensure a women representation quota by no less than 30%. Sharafeddeen was speaking to An Nahar newspaper on the main contents of the petition of requests expected to be announced by the Coalition in a press conference tomorrow. And while commending the support of Speaker Berri and Prime Minister Hariri, Sharafeddeen criticized their heedlessness in determining the rate of the anticipated quota and the double standard talk that has no practical significance. In this context, Sharafiddine disclosed that the Coalition is still waiting to set an appointment with the Head of the State, Michel Aoun, to raise the matter before him. And while she rejected a proposal submitted to Cabinet by Interior Minister Nuhad Mashnuk during President Michel Sueiman’s term which set the maximum women’s quota at 10%, Sharafeddeen said that the country suffers strong patriarchal hegemony. She pointed in this respect to the case of Lebanese women married to non-Lebanese who are still denied the right of granting nationality to their children. Sharafeddeen also mentioned the flagrant contradiction in the content of the Constitution which while acknowledging that women are fully fledged citizens, the Personal Status Law deals with them as second class citizens. In conclusion, Sharafeddeen, mentioned the newly established women’s affairs ministry, stressing the Coalition’s coordination with the new minister, and demanding building a partnership between his ministry and the Women’s Movement in Lebanon. “We want to be partners in the development of the administrative structure and strategy of the Ministry,” she concluded. (An Nahar, January 9, 2017)

 

Holders of liberal occupations and construction workers in Baalbaq, staged a sit-in last Friday in Ras Al Ain to protest the competition of foreign labor force. Participants expressed their dissatisfaction over the relinquishment of their cause by the Lebanese State and associations or unions involved with their protection. During the protest, Ras el Ain municipal board member, Antoine Aluf, drew attention to unlawful competition by Syrian workers, urging the municipality and the Lebanese State to act responsibly. Similarly, the town’s mayor Mohammad Awada appealed to concerned authorities to respond immediately, warning that the peaceful move today will be followed by other moves until injustice is lifted. Meanwhile, the new labor minister, Mohammad Kabbara, received on Thursday a delegation of the National Federation of Trade Unions of Workers and Employees led by Castro Abdallah, to discuss matters of concern to workers. Abdallah called for taking necessary measures to stop arbitrary dismissal of Lebanese workers and their replacement with non-Lebanese nationals under the penalty of shutting down the violating businesses. For his part, Kabbara disclosed that he will be developing a new action plan aiming to re-activate the role of the state-run National Employment Office in protecting domestic labor force. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, January 6 and 8, 2017)

 

The Lebanese Court elected Nayla Qumeir Obeid as one-year president for the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) to be the first Lebanese and Arab woman in the Middle East to assume this position and the third globally. To recall, the 102-year old institute was established in London as an umbrella for 133 countries and has 37 global branches and 14 thousand members representing the different sectors. Obeid, who has chaired the board of trustees for one year and is considered as an ambassador extraordinaire in her new post, plans to organize three conferences during her mandate. The first one will be held in Dubai next March for the Asia region, including India, China and Australia; the second will be held in Johannesburg next July and will be for the African continent, while the third will be held in Paris in December and is intended for Europe and North America. The three projected conferences are organized under the theme of ‘harmonizing public and civil laws and development of the principles and foundations of international arbitration." CIArb is a non-profit organization that organizes training courses for arbitrators, mediators and judges to facilitate decision in international disputes. (Al Mustaqbal, January 6, 2017)

 

The Apparatus for Activating the Role of Women in Society at the Lebanese Forces (LF), organized a conference under the heading, ‘Together for fairer laws’ with the participation of some 18 women organizations namely, The National Commission of Women, Abaad, Kafa Enough Violence and Exploitation, the Lebanese Women Democratic Gathering, the Lebanese Council of Women, Women on the Front Lines, Loubnaniyoun association, the Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections, UNDP, YWCA, the National Democratic Institute, Fe-Male, the National Committee for the Follow-Up of Women’s Issues, Justice Without Borders, Ghadan Lubnan, Smart Center for Media and Advocacy, UNFPA and the Lebanese Council to Resist Violence Against Women. On the occasion, MP Elie Kayruz, pointed out that the LF concern about women’s issues is building momentum with the support of its president, Samir Geagea, and all LF deputies. In terms of legislation, Kayruz suggested reviewing the Lebanese Penal Code which contains texts that substantiate and condone discrimination and inequality. For her part, the head of the LF Apparatus, Lawyer Maya Zighrini, underlined the roles political parties should play to help change the unjust reality for women. Along with the majority of components of the Lebanese Parliament are representative of the different political parties, Zighrini urged MPs to closely cooperate in order to adjust, develop and amend or sometimes abolish laws or articles that are discriminatory against women. Women, members or non-members of political parties, suffer in the same way and share the same goals and aspirations, Zighrini said. “And if we really want to realize these aspirations, it is not enough to invent catchy slogans or stage protests and release statements. What is needed is serious work, solidarity, perseverance and follow up at the different levels,” Zighrini maintained. When the LF Party adopts women’s causes, it can, in the end, not only propose amendments, but also participate in leading the campaigns to put them into effect, Zighrini concluded.  (Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, January 5, 2017)

 

The mayor of Nabatiyeh announced in a press conference yesterday the launch of the ‘Khairat Ardna’ fair expected to open tomorrow, Friday and continue until January 16, in the southern city’s central vegetable and fruit market. Dr. Ahmad Kahil said the exhibition will showcase rural handicrafts and artisan goods, as well as traditional food (mouneh) items, including jams, vinegars, chocolates, herbs and spices and organic agriculture products. The event, Kahil explained, is organized by the municipality of Nabatiyeh, in cooperation with the agriculture ministry and Jihad al Binaa Development Association, and in partnership with UNDP in the South. Revealing a scheme to turn it into a permanent landmark, Kahil said the exhibition hosts some 30 cooperatives, in addition to individual local producers. It includes lectures on how to pack and package agricultural goods and how to take care of fruit-bearing trees, in addition to instructions on food safety and marketing, according to Kahil. In conclusion, Kahil stressed the purpose of similar undertakings which is to galvanize local economic cycle through stimulating cooperative and agriculture activities in Nabatiyeh and the environs, bridge the producer-consumer gap and assist in the marketing of products of agricultural coops and small farmers, and finally, promote local rural and organic agricultural production. (Al Diyar, January 5, 2017)

 

Prime Minister Saad Hariri expressed regret over the underepresentation of women in political life, blaming this on the culture of political parties. Hariri, who was speaking on Tuesday to a delegation of the Women in Parliament Coalition in the presence of the newly appointed minister of state for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian, stated that he shall not partake in elections that do not support women’s representation quota. And while pointing to laws that are discriminatory against women, Hariri pledged to talk to all parties concerned to include a women’s quota in the upcoming elections. This matter was not given due consideration in the recent ministerial statement. Hariri also mentioned that House Speaker Nabih Berri is with him all the way in this respect. For her part, former minister, Wafaa Diqa Hamzeh, presented to PM Hariri a petition of the demands of the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW), while drawing attention to repeated disappointments and challenges in boosting women’s political role. Among the demands raised by NCLW were: endorsement of the electoral law as a first step; inclusion of women’s quota of no less than 30% in the projected law, and participation in committees to draft elections laws. Ogassapian, on the other hand, reiterated his support to the new women affairs’ portfolio with an allocated budget. He said that work will be carried out on three levels: 1) to abolish discriminatory texts against women from all prevailing laws; 2) developing and promoting a culture of equality through the media and education, in partnership with civil society, and lastly, 3) empowerment and building the capacities of women. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Hayat, January 4, 2016)

 

The director general of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Zahleh and the Beqaa, Youssef Geha , proposed the establishment of a fully equipped and autonomous ‘dry port’ that takes care of the involved customs, storage, recruitment, shipment and reshipment procedures. The suggested facility will be a prop to the other Lebanese ports, Geha said, naming the neighborhoods of Zahleh, Taanayel and Hawsh Zahleh as feasible potential locations. He also proposed setting up three free economic zones in Central Beqaa, Baalbaq, Hermel and West Beqaa respectively. On the subject, Al Diyar newspaper considered that these proposals reflect the developments the Bekaa region will witness in the wake of an end to the Syrian crisis, especially with talks underway of reconstruction of the war-devastated country, at an estimated cost of USD 400 billion. The rebuilding activity, the newspaper wrote, will be conceivable only through the Lebanese ports that, as they cannot accommodate the anticipated loads, will have to use the Beqaa region en route to Syria. On commending the Beqaa as a site for the ‘dry port’, Jiha said the area boasts distinctive natural resources, location and space. It constitutes 42% of the surface area of Lebanon, is just 17 minutes ride from Beirut (thru the Arab freeway), and is located in the middle of the road between Beirut and Damascus. Jihad maintained that connecting the Beqaa to Beirut is of high importance to the national economy, and advised linking it through a fast environment-friendly highway with a side rail track for transportation. In conclusion, Geha mentioned obstacles in funding as the infrastructure of a sophisticated railway is very costly, suggesting turning to the EU which can also benefit from the transport of its exports to the markets in the Arab region in a fast and cost-effective way. On the proposed economic zones, Geha recommended linking the zones through a modern road network, a railway and electric tram system, which, he said, will turn the Beqaa into a development and economic pivot that helps alleviate the capital’s belts of misery and boost youth steadfastness to their land, while creating new jobs and capable workforce. For more on the subject, visit the link below: http://bit.ly/2j3tniH. (Al Diyar, December 29, 2016)

 

In a wrap up of the conditions of agriculture in Lebanon during 2016, L’Orient Le Jour pointed out to a continuous decline in the sector since 2015, attributing the main causes of the slump to the export crisis. Made-in-Lebanon goods on the one hand, have faced competition from foreign goods swamping the GCC states as a result of the relatively expensive maritime program set by the Lebanese government to salvage the shipment of products to Arab markets, L’Orient Le Jour wrote. Another cause is the closure of the Syrian borders with Lebanon, in response to an earlier decision by former Lebanese agriculture minister banning the import of agricultural products from the neighboring country, the newspaper said. This situation has led to the dumping of the local markets with domestic products, and hence to the plummeting of prices. In this context, L’Orient Le Jour recalled various crises which hit the agriculture sector, mainly banana, apple and the fruit harvesting in Arsaal, as well as the difficulties of poultry sector, and the meagre compensations offered to affected farmers. To this effect, concerned agricultural circles stressed the need to come up with a drastic solution, such as channelling funds to serious agricultural organisations rather then paying meager compensation, and as suggested by Antoine Howayek, head of the Lebanese Farmers’ Association. (L’Orient Le Jour, December 30, 2016)

 

President Michel Aoun stressed the need to support industrial production as a way to boost the Lebanese currency, which, he maintained, cannot be sustained by increasing public debt. Aoun, who was speaking to a delegation of the Lebanese Industrialists’ Association led by Fadi Gemayel, expressed the all-out preparedness and cooperation between the industry ministry and the Association to implement the recovery plan set for the industry sector. For his part, Gemayel disclosed that the sector which embraces some 130 thousand workers, has succeeded in multiplying industrial exports in the period between 2000 and 2013 which reached as far as Europe and the US. Gemayel said troubles in the industrial sector started back in 2013 with the outbreak of the war in Syria which afflicted massive losses (nearly USD one billion on the industrial exports).  Gemayel outlined the comprehensive socio-economic vision presented by his Association to activate and revive all aspects involving the Lebanese economy. He called for setting up a socio-economic emergency response committee, expanding the concept of economic diplomacy via the Lebanese Diaspora and supporting the operating capital bound for exports. (Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, December 31, 2016)

 

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A number of Arab Gulf countries, notably, Saudi Arabia, are now working to increase the contribution of women in the local labor force, according to the director of the International Studies Program at Dirasat Center – Al Manama, Omar Obeidli, who added that advanced economies are distinguished by a high representation of women. Obeidli, quoted in an article published by Al Hayat newspaper on Friday, considered that an active economy utilizes all resources at hand, with women in the forefront, as men, Obeidli mentioned, still retain the lion’s share in the labor market. When designing strategies that promote the role of women in economy, Obeidli said, “one should keep in mind a noteworthy phenomenon that has developed in the United States during the past 20 years which is the decline in the participation of women in the labor force, and therefore should take preemptive measures to avoid being tripped into the same situation.” Obeidli cited the Japanese economic researcher, Su Kubota, in his paper ‘The cost of childcare drives women out of the U.S. workforce’, who attributed the gradual withdrawal in women participation in the labor force to the prohibitive costs of daycare services and private nannies. Back to the Arab Gulf region, Obeidli explained that one of the main hurdles to parents’ access to the labor market are considerations related to childcare. He noted that while a considerable number of families benefit from migrant women domestic workers in this regard, yet, this solution does not suit all people. Foreign ddomestic workers, he argued, are not qualified professionally for the job of caring for children while the costs of specialized daycare centers remain high. He advised Arab governments to endorse new policies based on discussions between all stakeholders, which could support affordable childcare services to women.  What is needed, Obeidli concluded, is a comprehensive interventions by governments to facilitate access and costs of childcare.  (Al Hayat, December 30, 2016)