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Contrary to what some women advocate groups hoped for, a comparison conducted by CRTD,A on the results of the 2010 and 2016 municipal elections in terms of women’s representation, has shown no significant change to this effect. This conclusion comes despite numerous initiatives launched by civil and women organizations as well as repeated calls by various political circles to support the participation of women in public affairs. 

Figures compiled by CRTD.A, indicated that women’s share out of the total number of seats in 2016 stood at nearly 5.39% compared to 4.69% in 2010, which represents a mediocre rise of 0.7%. Also, women’s share of total candidates for the 2016 elections recorded 11.7% same as the figure for 2010. As such, and based on a close observation of positions and developments accompanying the election process which we published on our news portal, we would like to put forward some conclusions in our attempt to explain these low results

-         Civil initiatives and campaigns have thrived in the field of awareness-raising and capacity building, but were not really successful in increasing the level of participation of women in public life 

-         The low credibility the political forces enjoy, and who, despite their claimed support for women’s participation, have largely shied away from nominating women on their electoral lists

-         The relatively high proportion of winning women candidates compared to men, which clearly underscored women’s high capacities and this notwithstanding the level of actual support that they received

-         Some key public figures continue to reject women representation quota on the ground that it supposedly degrades the capacities of women. These positions largely overlook the fact that women are still constrained by male patriarchal mentalities and practices that undermine women’s public aspirations

-         Last but not least, there is a clear absence of any strong political will to improve women’s political representation, in the midst of political and confessional bickering, and with the total disregard of the interests of citizens.

 

 

The recordings of a video camera candidly installed by Kafa Enough Violence organization two days ago inside one of the supermarkets that promotes a new soap, which supposedly cleans up domestic workers, instigated several reactions by civil and public circles, some of which was critical of the initiative (https://www.facebook.com/kafa.lb/videos/10154312805239337/)”. 

To recall, Kafa action was based on the outcomes of a joint study with the American University of Beirut published last February and which indicated that nearly 27% of Lebanese people consider migrant women domestic workers (MWDWs) as ‘unclean’. As usual, the Labor Ministry immediately denounced in a statement the move by Kafa, alleging that some civil groups “tend to fabricate news that are harmful to the country’s reputation and intentionally manipulate the subject of MWDWs”. “The last of these tricks, the ministry added, was the alleged promotion of the black soap made especially for domestic workers and which is completely demeaning and humiliating”. What is to be noted is that the ministry deliberately disregarded the substance of Kafa awareness campaign by focusing entirely on the nature of the soap per se rather than on the racist message conveyed by merchants to consumers. It went further and queried the Lebanese Industrialists Association (LIA) which also emphasised that this particular soap is available in many countries of the world and is widely used by many people! The LIA joined the ministry in condemning attempts to discredit Lebanese products while cautioning, at the same time, concerned supermarkets against the negative impact of marketing the product in a racist manner because of its detrimental effects on Lebanon’s international reputation. 

As Safir, Al Diyar, An Nahar, June 18 and 20, 2016

 

The Agriculture Minister Akram Shehayeb stressed last Friday that Lebanese farmers remain his priority, making clear that the recent decision to stop the import of vegetables and fruits from Syria is technical and not politically-motivated. Shehayeb was speaking during the opening of the ‘National Days of Olive Oil in Lebanon’ project at the National Library of Baaqleen, in the Shuf, in the presence of concerned public figures and local farmers. On the occasion, the president of the Federation of the Lebanese Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, head of the Chamber of Beirut and Mount Lebanon, Mohammad Shucair, pledged that the federation will always support similar initiatives that aim to strengthen useful aspects of agriculture, strengthen the steadfastness of farmers to their land and increase olive oil exports around the world as the special trademark of Lebanon. Shucair warned that “in order to protect this trademark, we need to fight the marketing and promotion of similar counterfeit goods that enter the country under the label of Lebanese products.” This, Shucair maintained, can only be reached through the adoption of DNA tests to detect the true source of the olive oil, and hence uncover any attempt of fraud. For his part, Shehayeb warned that his ministry shall take preemptive action, to protect local farmers against illegal smuggling adding: “We meet here today to launch the National Days of Olive Oil hopeful of making it an annual festivity in honor of the blessed tree and its growers,” Shehayeb declared, announcing that the project will be extended to Baaqleen, the South, Akkar, Mount Lebanon, Baalbaq, Hermel and Nabatiyeh. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, June 18, 2016)

 

In collaboration with the General Consulate of Lebanon, the Lebanese American University LAU organized last Friday an event under the banner ‘Food and Identity: Let’s Celebrate the Lebanese Cuisine in New York City’. The ceremony which took place at the LAU Academic Center in Manhattan, aimed at introducing Lebanese cuisine to American food connoisseurs. It included a dialogue session on the possibility of building the national identity through the preservation of food heritage. It saw the participation of famous people in the field like, Manal Qai’I, Charlie Chehadeh, Mathew Jaber Stiver and Philippe Mass3ud who toured and tasted the assortment of delicacies prepared and showcased by well-known Lebanese eateries based in the US. In the end, the Lebanese Consul, Majdi Ramadan, said that during his many visits to Lebanese Americans ,he noticed that they shared the traditional gastronomy, even the new generations, who might have already lost their mother language. Ramadan hoped that the diverse Lebanese cuisine would soon become a popular product in the States.

Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, June 18, 2016

 

 

The Vice President of the National Commission for Lebanese Women NCLW, and head of the Lebanese Welfare Association for the Handicapped, Randa Assi Berri emphasised the responsibility of all in pressuring for the endorsement of a modern electoral law that will ensure a fairer representation and partnership between all components of society. Berri was speaking yesterday during the annual Itfar dinner organized by the Lebanese Association for Women Affairs in the presence of representatives of foreign embassies, ministries and public departments. Berri pointed out that the Association and Women’s Office at Amal Movement and other political parties should unite in their demands for a modern electoral law that can ensure the revival of political life in the country. The said law should be based on the following elements: proportional representation, a single electoral constituency for all of Lebanon, women’s quota representation, and the lowering of the voting age to 18 years.

Al Diyar, June 17, 2016

 

On the World Day of Migrant Women and Men Workers, As Safir daily published a report by Information International on the actual size, distribution and growth of foreign workforce in Lebanon during the past years. The report indicated that while the overall number of jobless persons is estimated at 300 thousand people out of a total workforce of 1.3 million people, the number of foreign laborers, excluding Syrians and Palestinians, has risen from 33,268 persons in 1993 to 209,674 persons in 2015, according to official figures, (by a difference of 176,406 at 530%, which is a relatively huge percentage). The same survey recorded around 50 to 60 thousand foreigners living and working illegally in the country, thus raising the total projected number to 270 thousand persons. 

The largest number of this category of workers are Bangladeshi and Ethiopian nationals, representing nearly 58% of the foreign workforce, with some 154,749 women domestic workers (MWDW) who make 75% of the overall foreign laborers, the report went on to say. And these MWDWs are distributed as follows: Ethiopia: 73,098 persons, Bangladesh: 29,993 persons, Philippine: 22,416 persons, Sri Lanka: 7,566 persons, Kenya: 8,357 persons, Nepal: 2,512 persons, India: 364 persons, Cameroon: 2,318 persons, Madagascar: 1,325 persons, Sudan: 70 persons and other nationalities: 6,698 persons. For full review of the report, please visit the following link: https://assafir.com/Article/499205

As Safir, June 17, 2016

 

With every harvest season, the problem of marketing resurges, thus refueling the distress of wheat farmers. Farmers who have started gathering this season’s produce, are now highly concerned and uncertain how to dispose of them, especially that the government has not yet appointed the committees in charge of harvest collection, defining prices of handling and rent of the storage houses, as vividly expressed by the head of the Beqaa Farmers, Ibrahim Tarshishi. For that reason, wheat farmers have issued an ultimatum that ends in June 25, threatening the authorities of days of wrath and protests if they are left stranded. To recall, that a few hours from the resignation of the Economy Minister, Alan Hakim, a meeting was scheduled, but later cancelled, at the ministry to discuss the fate of this year’s harvest. In this respect, As Safir newspaper reflected the distress of the Beqaa farmers who fear a repeated scenario of uncertainty of the past few years. This is particularly so since, it should be noted, that the storage process, entails additional production costs linked to extra labor, the rent of warehouses, transport, loading and unloading services, which could result into great financial losses, the newspaper explained. (As Safir, June 17, 2016)

 

On the World Day of Migrant Women and Men Workers which falls on June 16 of every year, As Safir daily addressed in a special feature the status of these workers and the continuous violation of their rights. Reportedly, some 250 thousand Migrant Women Domestic Workers (MWDW) of different nationalities, together with thousands of male workers, are still deprived of the basic rights that preserve their human dignity. It should be noted, that Lebanon has not signed or ratified, but only voted in favor of the ILO Convention 189 issued on June 16, 2011, which stipulates that this category of workers should enjoy a decent working environment. The sponsorship “Kafala” system is still operational despite repeated demands to revoke or replace it with a fairer and more just contractual arrangement. As Safir maintained that despite extensive efforts by civil society groups to improve the living and working conditions of MWDWs, progress still lags behind compared to what needs to be done. In this context, Caritas Lebanon-Migrant Center and the Syndicate of the Owners of the Female Housemaid Employment Agencies signed yesterday a memorandum of understanding which seeks to “observe a maximum degree of respect for the human rights and the protection of foreign workers and prevent any violation of those rights.” The MoU contains 15 articles under which Caritas pledges to hold awareness raising workshops for domestic workers and staff of employment agencies on the rights and responsibilities of both parties. It also provides for helping human trafficking victims in return for commitment by the above Syndicate to give foreign workers their rights and treat them properly. According to Al Akhbar newspaper, the MWDW Union has been totally disregarded, particularly that the parties to the MoU share the Labor Minister’s view which objects to the formation of what it terms as an “illegal” Union. In the same vein, the Insaf Center for Migrant Domestic Workers has laid its foundation stone in Dora east of Beirut under the management of Indian domestic worker, Sara, and Lebanese activist, Lina. The center is designed to provide various services, including guidance, language courses, legal consultation and social activities. In his visit to the new center, the British Ambassador to Leabon Hugo shorter, met a number of MWDWs, underlining their need for respect and rest and their right in living in a safe environment. Similarly, Kafa Enough Violence organization installed a candid camera inside one of the hyper markets to promote a brand of soap that supposedly “cleans up the domestic worker”. The camera will record the different reactions of the people towards the promotion. (As Safir, Al Diyar, June 16, 2016)

 

The Minister of Public Health, Wael Abu Faoor, announced yesterday during a joint press conference with his Agriculture counterpart, Akram Shehayeb that his ministry has detected some 45 pesticides including 9 carcinogenic types that contain a high level of toxicity which is harmful to pregnant women, and therefore could harm the fetus. He revealed that theses testing results originated from the technical committee which is currently made up of six agents for pesticide importers, and a fewer low-profile representatives of the health, agriculture and environment ministries. Abu Faoor underscored the need to reconsider the composition of the said committee, noting that pesticides dealers should not be part of it. He disclosed that an agreement was reached with minister Shehayeb to ban at once the entry to Lebanon of all pesticides registered outside Europe or the United States. “These toxins enter our bodies with the fruits and vegetables we consume, and then we wonder why the incidence rate of cancer in the country is increasing,” he explained. Abu Faoor warned that pesticides that were previously authorized but that were later proven to contain carcinogens will be removed from the markets during the course of one year (!?). For his part, Akram Shehayeb pointed out that “after the good pesticides enter Lebanon as agreed by the three concerned ministries, nobody or authority checks the farmers or suppliers for manipulating the usage and application of the said crop protection products.” To this effect, Shehayeb revealed, a joint committee has been formed to inspect the local agricultural production in order to ensure its compliance with internationally observed specifications. The same shall be applied on livestock production, poultry and meat as well, Shehayeb maintained. (As Safir, Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, June 16, 2016)

No major tangible information has emerged as to the economical effects of the recent unilateral decision by Agriculture Minister Akram Shehayeb banning the import of vegetables and fruits coming from Syria until next February, while the positions towards the protectionary measures are still somewhat divergent. Farmers in general, and particularly in the northern region of Akkar, are still suffering the weight of the unregulated inflow of foreign goods, notably potato and dairy products. In this respect, the head of the Syndicate of Vegetable Farmers in the North and Akkar, Khudr Meda, described Shehayeb’s decision as in the right direction since it will break the stagnation in local markets following the closure of most Arab and GCC export venues. In the Beqaa, Ibrahim Tarshishi, president of the Beqaa Farmers Union, praised the minister’s measure, a position which was coupled according As Safir daily newspaper with a sense of hidden satisfaction in the whole Beqaa area. Some farmers have already reported slight improvement in the prices of vegetables, mainly, tomato, cucumber and leafy veggies. But according to the same newspaper, this consent can also be temporary and linked to the continuous closure of the Syrian-Jordanian border crossing. On the other hand, the Syndicate of Agricultural Farmers in Lebanon said that the minister’s act is incomplete and does not resolve the problem of marketing, noting that local markets remain wide-open to commodities from across the globe. Similarly, the Minister of Finance Ali Hassan Khalil urged Shehayeb to reconsider his decision.

For his part, the Agriculture Minister has not backed down, and in fact, seemed more determined, during a press conference he held yesterday. Shehayeb accused the Customs Directorate of negligence and bribery, disclosing that “foreign goods can enter the illegal borders at a price of USD 200.” He stressed that new measure have to do with regulating the import export activities between Lebanon and neighboring Syria, with focus on stopping what he termed as organized smuggling. The above decision, Shehayeb explained, and the previous decision to control the import of dairy products, protect domestic production from the contemptable competition of agricultural imports, noting that this year’s production meets the needs of the domestic market with a surplus to the Gulf countries. However, he expounded that exports declined due to the land border blockage, which again urgently calls for measure to control the flow of smuggled goods.  (Al Diyar, Al Hayat, Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, As Safir, Al Akhbar, June 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 2016)