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Angry protests in Mexico against femicide

18-2-2020

Large crowds of protestors from women’s rights organizations took to the streets of Mexico City on Friday outraged by the brutal murder of 25-year old Ingrid Escamilla who was killed by her husband and the publication of graphic photos of her mutilated body in local newspapers. Hundreds of women dressed in black and heads covered chanted slogans deploring crimes against women which have become rampant in Mexico lately, like, ‘Ingrid we are all you’, ‘we demand responsible journalism’ and ‘sexism kills’. Demonstrators painted ‘Mexico, the killer of women’ on the presidential palace walls. They marched to the offices of the local newspaper, La Prensa, admonishing its publishing of the victim’s body. They burned trucks owned by the newspaper and asked the manager to meet them outside for an apology. For its part, UN Women condemned on Twitter the killing of Escamilla demanding comprehensive actions to eliminate violence against women and girls. Ingrid’s is not an isolated case, UN Women said. (An Nahar, February 15, 2020)
 

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End of the line olive press for Yohmor’s women economic advancement

18-2-2020

The Social Economic Fund yesterday inaugurated a modern olive press in the Nabatiyeh town of Yohomr in the presence of the head of the Agricultural Cooperative Association, Nasser Ellayk, and members of the coop. This comes as part of ‘Promoting local economies in Lebanon’ initiative funded by the EU. The project entails equipping the Cooperative with a 1.8-ton capacity apparatus for processing olive oil at a value of 48.270 euros to the end of completing the existing production line. This is expected to reduce the cost of production, improve oil quality, increase sales and raise income level, hence creating new jobs by nearly 20%. Also, it will contribute to mainstreaming the benefit and  partnership among the 64 Coop members, as well as among some 7750 farmers, in addition to the economic and social empowerment of women who make about 50% of the total beneficiaries. (An Nahar, February 17, 2020)
 

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Indictment of Order of Physicians in child Mashlab case

17-2-2020

The Investigative Judge of Mount Lebanon, Sandra Mohtar, indicted on Friday the former chief of the Order of Physicians, Reymond Sayegh, and the head of the committee of faculty professional investigations, Claude Semaan, for releasing a fabricated report in the case of child Sophie Mashlab. The latter, to recall, has suffered traumatic brain injury following surgery at Saint George Hospital in June 2016 which caused sensory loss. The defendants were referred to trial based on Article 446 of the Penal Code which reaches to two- year imprisonment. Noting, that it is a first in Lebanon for a ruling to be issued against the head of the Order of Physicians on charges of delivering a report based on fraud and perjury. The court verdict came a year after an appeal by the Public Prosecutor of Mount Lebanon, Judge Ghada Aoun, who asked the prosecution to make charges against Sayegh and Semaan for providing false medical reports. On the above indictment, the father of the child said it is a long road to unveil the complete truth about the case, but justice is at best taking its course. (Al Akhbar, February 14, 2020)

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Feminist activists in Iraqi uprising

17-2-2020

Hundreds of Iraqi women marched in the streets of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on Thursday to stress the role of women in the ongoing anti-government protests. This comes in the wake of a Twitter call on February 8 by Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr demanding no mixing between the sexes at protest squares and junctions. Demonstrators marched through the Saadoun Tunnel up to the Tahrir Square carrying signs which read: ‘I am the revolution which blasphemed masculinity’ and ‘Freedom, feminist revolution’. Women shouted slogans endorsing the role of women in rallies calling for the ousting of corrupt politicians and regime. Meanwhile, scores of young men formed a human shield to protect women from both sides. Pharmacist student, Zeinab Ahmed, told AFP that an undefined party has sparked a hostility campaign against us a few days ago. They are counting on bringing women back to their homes and silencing them. But we took to the streets today to prove to them that their maneuvering will be of no use. “We want to guard the role of women in revolts just like men,” she maintained. For her part, Raya Assi, said: “They want to turn us into another Iran, but the Iraqi woman was not brought up to be dictated by man. They have to accept us as we are.” )An Nahar, February 13, 2020(

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Theatre performance by Dima Matta on identity and gender

12-2-2020

In its issue of today, Al Akhbar newspaper spotlighted the monodrama written and performed by Dima Matta at Zoukak, the Studio in Beirut, and directed by Yara Bou Nassar. The script is an autobiography of a lesbian young woman living in Beirut which tries to understand gender, identity and memory. Matta recounted the breakdown, uncertainties and inconsistencies which she sustained by living in the Lebanese capital, reminiscing memories of her life there. She narrated the first time she fearlessly held the hand of another woman in New York City, the family history overshadowed by the civil war and her mental breakdown. Matta unfolded on the stage all her conflicts involving gender identity and desire, as well as the relationship with the body. Matta also focused on the daily struggle of being gay in a city like Beirut, considering it to be the primary conflict, with all the associated psychological, mental and physical corollaries a woman experiences. Al Akhbar wrote that the performance has succeeded in drifting from one story to another and favored the personal narrative. The newspaper pleaded for a more eveloped approach that can reach the audience. (Al Akhbar, February 8, 2020)

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Import of Egyptian potatoes suspended and quantities reduced in favor of local production

12-2-2020

The minister of agriculture Abbas Mortada announced Monday a decision to freeze the import of potatoes from Egypt until February 18, that is 18 days from the normal date, giving only one month to import this produce and at a reduced quantity, 25,000 tons as the limit. Lebanon, Mortada said, will continue to export vegetables and fruits, namely apples, grapes and cherries to the North African country, noting that the above decision was made in consultation with the Egyptian counterpart and taking into consideration quantities in refrigerated warehouses, market needs and associated increase in prices. For his part, the head of the Syndicate of Potato Farmers in the Beqaa, George Sakr, praised the ministry’s efforts to help in marketing local production and protecting the Beqaa and Akkar potato harvest. Such decision, Sakr maintained, is unprecedented since the signing of the Lebanese-Egyptian agreements to this effect. Recalling, that potato growers have set yesterday as the date for a strike across Lebanon to protest their inability to market their produce, demanding the minister of agriculture to immediately stop imports of Egyptian potatoes. They canceled the strike after the minister’s decision. Mortada has earlier on February 9 warned of an imminent increase of the price of one kg of local potato to LBP 4000 as a result of anticipated escalation by some farmers, disclosing that a campaign of intimidation and pressure has targeted his ministry. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, February 12, 2020)

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Lebanese Abla Sibai’ among UNESCO 2020 award winners

12-2-2020

On the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, L’Oreal UNESCO Foundation announced yesterday the names of winners of the 22nd Women in Science Awards from different regions of the world. This year’s prize went to five exceptional women scientists in the fields of biotechnology, ecology, epigenetics, epidemiology and infectiology. Each laureate will receive 100,000 euros during a ceremony to be held on March 12 at UNESCO Paris headquarters, in addition to 15 Rising Talents, young women scientists from around the globe. The laureate for Africa and Arab States is Lebanese, Abla Mehio Sibai’, professor of epidemiology, faculty of health sciences, AUB. Noting, that this is the second consecutive award for a Lebanese after Dr. Najat Saliba, also from AUB, laureate for 2019. Also, researcher from USJ, Dr. Laura Joy Boulus, Neuroscience, who won for the category of Rising Talents. The names of all the laureates appear on : https://bit.ly/2He9jIz. (An Nahar, February 12, 2020)

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Switzerland criminalises public homophobia

11-2-2020

In a referendum on February 9, Swiss electorates agreed to penalize public homophobia with 63% votes in favor, noting that the current Penal Code criminalizes discrimination based on race, ethnicity and religion. But as of now, the amended antidiscrimination law will criminalize discrimination based on sexual orientation penalizing discrimination against LGBTQs. Recalling, that a minor Christian conservative group, the Federal Democratic Union, has managed to gather enough signatures to hold a national referendum in order to repeal the draft criminalizing discrimination based on sexual orientation but has failed to do so as indicated by the outcomes of the latest vote. Opponents to the amendment allege that LGBTQs do not need special legal protection, and claim that current legislations are enough to deter defamation, verbal abuse and other forms of violence. (Al Diyar, February 11, 2020)

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Claudine Aoun from Riyadh highlights women’s political participation

11-2-2020

NCLW president, Claudine Aoun Rukuz participated in the 39th session of the Arab Women’s Committee in Riyadh (February 9 – 10) organized by the General Secretariat of the Arab League-Social Affairs Sector, under the slogan, ‘Empowering Women … Development of Society’. During the meeting, Rukuz called for the advancement of Arab countries and societies saying, “it is not realistic to talk about the development of our societies when we continue to marginalize the role of women.” And, she added, “It is no longer acceptable for the Arab world to rank poorly among world countries.” The Lebanese government has set 5 priorities in the field of women’s rights and pledged to achieve them over 4 years and they are: protection of women against violence, especially during conflicts, the empowerment and rehabilitation of women to engage in conflict resolution, increasing the rate of women’s political and economic participation, the provision of aid and ensuring that women and girls can pull through hardships resulting from natural disasters and armed conflicts, the provision of a legislative framework that safeguards the rights of women and girls and protects them from all forms of violence, discrimination or exploitation. Rukuz also mentioned the rate of participation of women in several areas, notably: pharmacy nearly (70%), liberal occupations like the judiciary, law and university education (50%), first class ambassadors (30%) and finally, 25% in the medical field. (An Nahar, February 10, 2020)

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Egyptian teacher banned for harassing 120 female students

11-2-2020

The Supreme Administrate Court in Egypt on Sunday pronounced its final verdict banning a teacher from practicing teaching after convicting him of harassing 120 female elementary students in the governorate of Iskandariyeh. Commenting, the undersecretary of the ministry of education, Youssef Deeb, explained to AFP that the incident goes back to 2013, and confirmed that the above educator has been dismissed in the same year by the school administration. The decision was further corroborated by the Administrative Court, Deeb said, adding, that the convict appealed but his request was rejected. For his part, the minister of education, Tarek Shawki, stressed that his ministry is fighting harassment but without disclosing all the measures taken to this effect for reasons of confidentiality. (An Nahar, February 10, 2020)

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