News

The Cultural Development Association of Batroon organized yesterday a seminar entitled ‘Women Are Half of Society’ with the participation of the minister of the displaced, Alice Shabtini, former minister Demianos Kattar and a crowd of notable figures. Shabtini underlined the need to change the mentality controlling some systems and the discriminatory legislations against women. She said such laws promote unfair treatment of women as weak, incapable social components when the fact is just the opposite. She maintained that women in such communities are subjected to all forms of violence, humiliation and physical intimidation due to what she described as "fanatic, backward and authoritarian mentalities.” While she warned that it is high time for women to reclaim their full rights, Shabtini underlined their essential role in peace making, stressing the need to lift injustice through developing strict laws against conservative practices. For his part, Kattar considered that “the struggle for the rights of women is a big heading across the globe.” He said Lebanon suffers from chronic weaknesses and stagnation of reforms in the legal and personal law systems, as well as from a deep-rooted family/clan structure which prevents women from participating in decision making.” Kattar concluded by calling for the adoption of the quota representation system as a first step, noting that “it is a right and not a favor.”

Al Mustaqbal, May 17, 2016

 

 

Last week witnessed new developments in women participation in the upcoming municipal elections throughout Lebanon, ranging between staunch opposition to women candidates, the announcement of new lists which included women candidates as in the case of the opposition list in Saida, and finally the boldness and attitude of defiance of a number female candidates who choose to run solo against the very powerful coalition lists of political parties and families.  In the first instance, last week saw the announcement of a religious ‘fatwa’ rejecting the participation of women as candidates that was issued by Druze religious clerics of Khalwat al Bayada In this respect, Al Bayada senior chief cleric Sheik Ghaleb Kais told Al Akhbar newspaper that the religious institution informed all concerned political parties that it will boycott any list carrying the names of women. The newspaper pointed out to contradictory views among those parties (Lebanese Democratic Party, Syrian Social National Party, the Progressive Socialist Party), which while expressing full support to the political rights of women, in fact have decoded to bow to the will of the Druze spiritual leaders. It should be noted that some 54 candidates are running for the municipal elections, including four women, namely, Faten Sabeq, Samiha Abu Dehn, Samiha Sharoof and Ghada Kahki. Meanwhile, women associations in Hasbaya insisted that women nominees are decided to continue in their nomination despite the refusal of political parties to include them in their own lists of candidates. In the North, however, the situation looks somewhat different. The candidate list of the current head of Mashtah Hassan municipality, Hamzah Ahmad, which includes representatives of all families, also comprises four women, notably, Dr. Ruba Haddad, Alya Assad and Manal Ajaj. Likewise, in Nabatiyeh, Fatma Badreddine, who owns a driver teaching office since more than 25 years, decided to run for the mayor post in the Saray district of the town. In the same vein, former Minister Charbel Na7hhas announced his support to Claude Merji Bshara, as a candidate to run in Byblos under the banner of Citizens group of which he is a member. Claude Bshara is running under a political platform that cautions against turning Byblos into a second Solidere. (Al Diyar, Assafir, Al Akhbar, May 14, 15, 2016)

 

In collaboration with the Khiam Women Association, the UNIFIL’s Eastern Sector organized last Saturday the first photography workshop for women at the Social Cultural Club of Khiam. Some 22 women from the southern town took part in the training workshop which focused on the principles of photography. They subsequently participated in a contest to choose the best three photographs. At the end of the contest, the winners received certificates of appreciation distributed during a ceremony which was attended by commander of UNIFIL’s eastern sector, who urged participants to “follow up their dream and continue to be artists in their hearts.” For her part, the president of the Khiam association, Sabah Abu Abbas, underlined the objectives of the association aiming at motivating local women and creating new job opportunities. 

Al Diyar, May 15, 2016

 

ESCWA released a new report entitled: Strategic Review of Food and Nutrition Security in Lebanon, in which it warns that Lebanese and displaced populations residing in Lebanon, face the problem of the absence of food security.  The report notes that Lebanon should speed up the process of drafting a national food security strategy to face this issue, adding that 49% of the Lebanese are worried about their ability to secure sufficient food whereas 13% said that they have not had health food over the past year.  According to the main results of the report, Lebanon imports 80% of its alimentary needs which makes it vulnerable to prices fluctuation and increases the level of debt.  The report further noted that despite the availability of fertile land and cheap labour, the contribution of agriculture to the GDP has fallen to 4% only.  

(Al Akhbar 13 May 2016)

 

The Nursing Syndicate celebrated International Nursing Day and organised yesterday an event at its headquarters in Sin el Fil which was attended by official figures, leaders from local syndicates, hospital directors, nurses and media representatives.  During the event, the President of the Syndicate, Dr. Nuhad Yazbek Dumit, noted in her keynote address that nursing is different from other professions as nurses sacrifice their body, soul, and heart to provide nursing care and this cannot be given a price.  She further noted that it is the duty of nurses to raise awareness on the concept of nursing care as going into nursing is very difficult as it relies on sacrifice.  In conclusion, Doumit announced that a new Apps will be launched to strengthen communication amongst nurses.  To be reminded that the Syndicate had initiated the preparations for the International Nursing Day last month in the form of a national campaign entitled "encounters with nurses in all cazas of Lebanon: participate, check and learn".  The said campaigns will go on until the end of July 2016. (Al Mustaqbal 13 May 2016)

 

On the 25th of January 2015, the decision of the judge in North Lebanon to release the husband of victim Rola Yaakoob, also allegedly her killer raised much controversy especially that the decision was made only one day after the parliament endorsed the new law to protect family members from violence.  Yesterday, the judge in North Lebanon issued its verdict and accused the husband of killing his wife and issued an arrest warrant accordingly.  To be noted that by the end of January 2014, Rola Yaakoob's family has lodged an appeal to the accusatory judicial body in North Lebanon.  The appeal was only accepted in July 2014 whereby a decision to undertake a full investigation was taken including hearing the witnesses.  Al-Akhbar newspaper noted that the decision of the accusatory judicial body is to be considered as an achievement which is likely to improve the performance of the judicial system in cases related to domestic violence.  Credit undoubtedly goes to the mother of the victim, Laila Khoury, who never gave up and pursued her struggle to request justice for her daughter. (Al Akhbar 13 May 2016)

 

The Arab Women Forum for Entrepreneurs opened yesterday under the ‘Empowering a new generation of Arab Women Entrepreneurs’ with some 300 participants coming from Lebanon and Arab and foreign states. The event which was organized jointly by Al Hasnaa Magazine and Al Iktisad Wal Aamal Group discussed methods of empowerment of women through innovation and entrepreneurship. On the occasion, the President of BLC Bank, Maurice Sahnawi, drew attention to the obstacles facing women entrepreneurs in countries that do not observe gender equality, an essential component for the development of any society and for the prosperity and advancement of its domestic economy. Similarly, the Lebanese Culture Minister, Roni Arayji, underlined the importance of the forum as a  source for sustainable motivation for women entrepreneurs in the Arab World. He praised the role of Lebanese women who, he said, proved their efficiency in the private sector and the various professions, and especially in the public sector. The only setback, Arayji maintained, is however in “women’s political participation, at the of municipal and parliamentary levels, and this, he noted, is a result of the patriarchal society or lack of desire on part of women.” The manager at Deloitte Middle East, Rana Salhab, focused in her intervention on the discriminatory laws against women that impede their progress and evolution. While admitting the low rate of women’s participation in the entrepreneurship sector, barely 26%, Salhab applauded their noteworthy contribution to the private sector, noting a relative parity in the recruitment of women in relation to their men counterparts. Salhab urged the entrepreneurship support campaigns to focus more on the target of attaining decision making positions in corporate boards, where apparently women's presence is shy, as she put it. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, As Safir, May 12, 2016)

 

 

The Ministry of Economy and Trade (MoET) disclosed yesterday that it has suspended trading in 19 kinds of dairy products and five of cheeses for failing to comply with health standards. The announcement published on the ministry’s website did not contain a list of the involved establishments which was leaked through the media. However, L’Orient Le Jour newspaper talked to the ministry’s advisor, Jassem Ajaka, who confirmed the leak contents were true. The banned brands, Ajaka pointed out, were infested with bacteria in addition to an unacceptable amount of preservatives or prohibited ingredients. For her part, the Daily Star published the complete list of the violating companies: Labneh brands: 1-Al Habash Institution-Saida, 2-Dairy Fresh-Saida, 3-Jabal Amel-Zaita-Saida, 4-Al Yaman-Saida, 5-Al Akhdar-Adousieh-Saida, 6-Milkana-Dhour al Sarafand- Saida, 7-Marj Al Khiyam- Marjeyoun, 8-Tilal Al Marj-Chwaya-Hasbaya, 9-Sharaf al Baladi-Hasbaya, 10-Khayrat Atroun-Bint Jbeil, 11-Ajban Dweihi-Zgharta-the North, 12-Al Bayeh-Zgharta-the North, 13-Al Shaml-Zgharta-the North, 14-Dairy Day-Kfarshima-Baabda, 15-Hawa Dairy-Safra-Kesrouan, 16-Al Laqlouq-Jbeil, 17-Al Chawaf-Baalbek-Hermel, 18-company in Nabatiyeh whose name was not clear on the list,19- a company missing from the list.  The cheese brands included: 1-Habsh Factory- Saida, 2-Al Majzoub Factory-Saida, 3-Al Akhdar Factory-Adousiyeh-Saida, 4-Ajban Wa Alban Al Rafi’i-Tripoli, and 5- Alban Wa Ajban Ajaj-Al Abdeh. (L’Orient Le Jour, the Daily Star, May 12, 2016)

 

In collaboration with the International Labor Organization (ILO), Al Safadi Foundation held a ceremony yesterday at its Agricultural Center in Deir Dloum, Akkar where it distributed certificates to participants who completed training workshops on best agricultural practices in potato and green leafy vegetables growing and ways to enhance marketing. The beneficiaries included some 60 farmers members in the following coops, the Cooperative Association for Agricultural Development in Sahl Al Romoul, the Agricultural Coop for Potato Farmers, Halba Agricultural Coop for Agricultural Development and the Agricultural Coop for Rural Development in Majdala. The event comes as part of the ILO funded initiative implemented by the Safadi Foundation in the area, in cooperation with the Lebanon Agriculture Research Institute (LARI), entitled ‘Support Basic Value Chain Development Interventions Related to Good Agricultural Practices for Potato and Leafy Green Vegetables-2016’. (As Safir, Al Diyar, May 12, 2016)