News

The Labor Minister Saj3aan Azzi revealed yesterday a of 40% in the level of contract renewal for migrant domestic workers, as the majority of such contracts were either illegal or politically or approved for political reasons. Azzi's statement came after a meeting which was held with the Syndicate of the Owners of Recruitment Agencies of MWDWs in Lebanon to introduce the computerized procedure system launched by the ministry. Azzi claimed that the drop in the number of foreign workforce will eventually improve the employment prospects for Lebanese nationals. The minister stressed that data indicated that recruitment agencies have not exceeded their set individual quota which is of 300 work applications per year. He warned that as of today, permits shall not be given to any non-operational office. Azzi clarified that Lebanon used to host some 627 recruitment agencies, but this number has now dropped to 573 offices, while in fact only 250 offices are needed .

In the same vein, the Labor Ministry’s Inspection Department completed its investigation into the abusive publicity released last year by an operating woman manager of a recruitment office, in which it sells housemaids as presents for mothers on their day. The investigation confirmed that the said woman was operating illegally, hence, the office was closed and the owner referred to the Public Prosecutor. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, March 23 and 24, 2016)

 

Al Akhbar daily published a feature article yesterday highlighting the widespread phenomenon of guesthouses across Lebanon. The newspaper spoke to the manager of ‘Diyafa’ network of countryside ecological lodgings, Maysoon Korban, who explained that these small hotels accommodate less than 10 vintage  rooms, allowing guests to share the social life of their hosts and to familiarise with the traditional dishes and daily customs of the town’s inhabitants. On the same subject, the president of the Youth and Local Committees Department at the Ministry of Tourism, Petra Obeid, pointed out that rural tourism has kicked off over 20 years ago and currently presents an added value to the country. Obeid underlined the importance of this sector as a job generating industry that gives local communities the opportunity to increase and diversify their income. It also contributes to the boosting of rural economies and to the empowerment of local communities, as well as to enhancement of the social integration process, particularly for women. In this respect, Obeid maintained, it gives women the chance to take part in local social and economic life through the provision of food and guest hosting inside their homes, and even to sell locally-made products. On the other hand, Korban noted, that these guesthouses have yet to reach the level of securing a steady income that makes business owners self-sufficient. (For full article, please visit: http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/254704). (Al Akhbar, March 23, 2016)

 

 

The Lebanese Industrial Research Achievements Program (LIRA) organized yesterday a ceremony to distribute awards for outstanding innovations undertaken by university students for the year 2016 under the patronage of Industry Minister, Dr. Hussein Haj Hassan. Also participating in the ceremony were the ministry’s director general, Dany Jad3on and the representative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization UNIDO, Cristiano Pasini. Some 28 research projects of a total cost of nearly LBP200 million were selected. Of the total amount 30% was funded by the Lira program. Following the selection, LIRA general coordinator, Saeed Hamadeh, gave a brief presentation of the program and the ongoing preparations for the forthcoming exhibition for industrial and scientific research achievements scheduled to be held next October. On the occasion, the second deputy governor of the Bank of Lebanon, Dr. Saad Andari, reiterated the Central Bank continuous support to the industrial sector and related technological and research initiatives. Similarly, the general director of the National Council for Scientific Research Dr. Mu3een Hamzah stated that the event reflected the extent of progress made so far by the LIRA program the important role it plays in linking scientific research and the production sectors. For his part, Minster Haj Hassan congratulated the winning students praising their distinctive competence, while expressing hope in a quick recovery of the national economy so that it can accommodate such great youth talents.  (An Nahar, As Safir, Al Diyar, March 23, 2016)

 

On International Women’s Day and in collaboration with the French Cultural Mission in Lebanon and the Francophone University Agency, the Linguistics Department at the Lebanese University held a full Francophone day under the title, ‘The Voice of Women in a Turbulent World’. The event which comes as part of the francophone month organized by the state-run university, included interventions by Lebanese women authors who contributed to women struggles for their rights, with focus on domestic violence. In this respect, a round table was devoted to the discussion of a novel ‘Chez Nous C’etait Le Silence’ by the Lebanese-Canadian Rola Azar Douglas. The story portrays the tragic life of a young woman during the Lebanon war who is caught up between a cruel, violent and miser husband and her two children, added to them the war-related troubles. The author provides a detailed account of the relationship between the man and his wife and the physical violence and moral abuse by the husband over his wife and children. She points out to the powerlessness of battered women who are afraid to speak up about their terrible experiences because they are always hushed by what she termed as ‘obsolete’ social traditions. At the end, the main woman character has to leave her country as the only way to her salvage. Participants in the event praised the courage of Azar who succeeded in breaking up the silence and confronting social taboos. (L’Orient Le Jour, March 18, 2016)

 

For some time now, Tripoli has witnessed various training events aiming at developing the leadership and entrepreneurship capacities of youth. As such, and in partnership with the Youth Entrepreneurs Club in Tripoli and the support of City Foundation, Injaz Lebanon launched the fourth workshop entitled ‘Innovation Camp’. The one day event was full of activities which mainly centered on creativity, teamwork, leadership, critical thinking and presentation skills through inspiring students to invent solutions and generate concepts that address a genuine business challenge. Some 63 students partook in the workshop which was held at Al Azm School in the northern capital. The participating schools were: Tripoli Public High School for Girls, George Sarraf Public High School and Al Azm School. Students were divided into 8 groups and were asked by the Youth Entrepreneurs Club to devise a product or service that reflects a bright image of Tripoli and encourage people to discover its livable side. The winning project ‘Tripoli Inspiration’ presented the notion of an internet and mobile application to highlight the entrepreneurship aspect through the registration and promotion of the various emerging businesses set up inside the city. In a related vein, the Leadership Program Level II session started yesterday pursuant to the memorandum of understanding between the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Tripoli and the North and the American University of Beirut to launch continuing education programs. Participants in the above training course came from the various regions of the North. (Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, March 22, 2016)

 

In coordination with the United Nations Information Center in Beirut (UNIC), the Modern University for Business and Science (MUBS) held a ceremony last week at the UNESCO Palace in Beirut to announce the winners of the ‘youth citizen entrepreneurship for 2016’ competition.  Targeting public and private high schools, the contest aimed at stimulating  creativity and innovation in secondary classes students through broadening their imagination skills in the design of their small enterprises in a way that contributes to building their capacities and promoting their entrepreneurial initiatives. Participants presented 14 projects out of which the jury chose the best three. As such, the first place went to the ‘Golden Basket’ project from Al Hadi Institution for the Visual and Hearing Impairments and Language and Communication Disabilities. It presents a solution to the garbage crisis through the immediate sorting of waste by using sensors, lights and sound devices. The second prize went to the ‘From Garbage to Energy’ initiative from Qernayel Public High School, which converts waste to biogas through the use of high temperatures in an oxygen-free location. The third winner was the ‘Pico Pi’ project from Zahia Salman Mixed High School of Beirut. It is a kit designed to help students present their lectures on screen, or allows film lovers to watch movies using the Raspberry Pi concept that directly hooks with the battery. (An Nahar, March 21, 2016)

 

The health minister Wael Abou Faoor announced yesterday during a joint press conference with Miss Lebanon, Valerie Abu Shaqra, a batch of health benefits for Mother and Child on their Day in response to the Beauty Queen’s initiative. The latter has appealed to every mother on the Lebanese territory to pay a visit to the nearest primary health care unit to do the necessary cardiovascular tests. She pointed out that her call comes as a gift for the children on their Day, March 19th, coinciding with the mothers’ medical tests. This includes the provision of free vaccines at above centers in the period between March 21-25. In the same vein, the head of the Primary Health Care Department at the Health Ministry, Randa Hamadeh, clarified that similar centers across Lebanon, with financial support from Miss Lebanon, shall receive mothers to the same effect. (Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, March 22, 2016)

 

Kafa Enough Violence Organization held a sit-in yesterday in solidarity with mothers of victims of domestic violence to urge the judiciary to expedite the trial of killers of their daughters. It should be noted that three of the convicts have been released, including the culprit accused of killing Roula Yaqoub who was reduced to a ‘nonsuit’ lawsuit with all proceedings stopped. During the protest, protesters carried banners reminiscing the lives of women killed in cold blood by their husbands. They called attention to the indecisive attitude of the relevant authorities in prosecuting the criminals who committed up to 21 crimes from 2013 to date. Kafa also handed a letter to the director general of the Justice Ministry, Maysam Noweiri, in the presence of the parents of victims. The letter said, “We chose the occasion of Mothers' Day to remember the mothers who were slain inside their homes and in front of their own children, and mothers who were denied the joy of celebrating this occasion because of the loss of their daughters as a result of the dominant patriarchal culture that always finds a way to commute felons.” (As Safir, Al Mustaqbal, March 22, 2016)

 

On the occasion of Mothers’ Day, “My Nationality is A Right for Me and My Family” campaign organized on Sunday a sit-in in Beirut central district to demand a speedy approval of the legislation granting Lebanese women the right to pass on their nationality to their family members. Over 2000 activists who came from all across Lebanon took part in the rally in support of Nabih Berri, Parliament Speaker’s, call to speed up the endorsement of the above law. Participants hoisted posters of deputies and ministers in favor of the law with a corresponding ‘like’ under their picture and a others with ‘dislike’ accompanied by negative comments so as to criticize the discriminatory attitudes of opposing officials. In this respect, many dislikes went to the foreign minister, Gebran Bassil, and MPs Hadi Hobeysh and Ne3mattallh Abi Nasr. During the protest, campaign advocate, Karima Chebbo, stated that this new action is part of the women’s ongoing struggle to press for the passing of the above law and to uphold women’s right to full citizenship and equality. And in her special addressed to House Speaker, Chebbo appealed to him to act for the endorsement of the proposed law without any discrimination. Similarly, the president of the Family Rights Network, Lawyer Iqbal Dughan, went further to call for stopping all Mothers’ Day celebrations until the adoption of the nationality law amendment, urging women to hold accountable all members of parliament in the upcoming elections according to their position towards the law amendment. The event closed with words from Kinda and Farah, two children of Lebanese women from a non-Lebanese father. Kinda and Farah demanded their rights and that of their follow citizens while crying out: “This is my right and that of my mother; enough racism.” (Al Akhbar, Al Diyar, An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, As Safir, March 21, 2016)

 

The municipality of Khraybet al Jundi organized last week a graduation ceremony for women participants who completed training workshops in economic empowerment and societal mobilization and targeting women affected by the Syrian crisis. During the celebration, which took place at the town hall, and in the presence of concerned figures, Mayor and Future Movement Coordinator, Khaled Taha drew the attention to the clear gap which exists between women and their community. We traced the reasons for that gap to meager financial resources, the absence of clear plans and adequate rehabilitation and education programs, as well as the impact of traditions. For her part, the Director of the Social Services Center in Halba, Alia Shaaban, stated that the project involved courses in sewing, embroidery, crochet, production of accessories, and food processing. Likewise, the Director of the Regional Project for the Empowerment of Women, Faten Tibi, underlined the significance of the program as a constructive step in building the capacities of women providers in various professions and empowering them to find the right jobs. Besides, Tibi added, that the project also aims to strengthen women’s protection through the launching of awareness campaigns that will promote their right to a decent life free from discrimination or violence. (Al Mustaqbal 20 March 2016)