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Tourism in Beqaa ahead of Holiday season improving and Anjar stands ahead

8-12-2015

In a report portraying the Holiday seasons in the Beqaa area, As Safir daily described the prospects for tourism as good but moderate, according to current preliminary data related to the size of preparations, hotel bookings and reservations for Christmas and New Year events. Park Hotel Shtura manager, Basma Haj Musa, told the newspaper that security threats that prevalent last year are gone, pointing to the relatively good rate of hotel occupancy and confirmations for the New Year’s Eve programs. On the other hand, Norma Marjaba, manager of Zahle’s Grant Kaderi Hotel, noted that reservations were still somewhat low; hoping that Christmas decorations will attract business after long a period of uncertainty. Concerning Anjar, As Safir reported the highest rates of hotel occupancy, according to Hana Zetelyan, owner of Layali al Chams hotel and restaurant, who welcomed the present stability. (As Safir, December 8, 2015)
 

 

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Following Ain Najem murder Azzi urges associations to stop defending ‎foreign‏ ‏domestic workers (!?)‎

7-12-2015

After the crime which the Metn town of Ain Najem witnessed last ‎Thursday, and in which a foreign domestic worker killed her employer, ‎Natali Michel Salban, Labor Minister Sajaan Azzi criticized what he ‎described over-zealous associations for defending the rights of migrant ‎women domestic workers saying that these murders and other similar ‎acts should rather dissuade these associations. Speaking to Al ‎Jumhouriya newspaper, Azzi maintained that violence against families of ‎Lebanese employers happen daily adding that “MWDW are not always ‎victims or woman employer always the bad person”. The Minister also ‎denied that MWDW are being systematically exposed to abuse. And in a ‎surprising statement that contradicted earlier ones, he went on to say: “If ‎true, (the abuse), they would not come in large numbers to work in the ‎country even when their own governments prevent them from doing so”, ‎while concluding that cases of abuse are exceptions and not the norm. ‎‎(Al Akhbar, December 5, 2015)‎
 

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Future women seminar in Beirut on protection from domestic violence

7-12-2015

Coinciding with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based ‎Violence campaign, the two committees for legal awareness and social ‎development at the Future Movement Women’s Sector organized last ‎Friday a discussion seminar on the protection of women from domestic ‎violence at their premises located in Beirut. Participants discussed the ‎issue of violence, its legal and social impacts. Developing on the subject, ‎the Sector’s assistant for Organizational Affairs, Nawal Mdalali, pointed ‎out that “the Future Movement was on the forefront in adopting the law ‎for the protection of women against domestic violence.” Likewise, ‎lecturer, Ziad Khaled, defined the verbal and physical violence against ‎women and outlined its psychological and social impacts on the entire ‎family, particularly on the children, pointing to the “discriminatory ‎stereotype traditions that promote and encourage this spiteful attitude ‎against women.” In conclusion, Khaled maintained that “economic ‎empowerment is a key factor for achieving women’s freedom and ‎independence.” He went on to say that eradicating gender differences ‎starts from developing appropriate legislations, pointing to the recently ‎adopted law against domestic violence which he described as the ‎beginning of change as it sets legal checks for penalizing the abuser and ‎for protecting the battered woman and her direct family. (Al Mustaqbal, ‎December 5, 2015)‎
 

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Mooneh, craftwork bazaar at the Red Cross in Batroon

7-12-2015

On the occasion of the Christmas and New Year Holidays, the Chief of ‎the Lebanese Red Cross, Susan Ouais, represented by head of the First ‎Aid and Emergency Teams, Rosi Boulos, opened yesterday the annual ‎crafts and traditional mooneh fair in Batroon in the presence of a crowd ‎of public figures. The bazaar which runs until Sunday evening, December ‎‎13, showcases a collection of artisan and artifacts, paintings as well as ‎homemade sweets and mooneh items. Opening hours are from 10am to ‎‎2pm and from 4pm to 8pm.( Al Diyar, December 7, 2015)‎
 

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Bank Audi, United Sports and North Laboratories awarded for promoting gender equality

4-12-2015

In collaboration with the Beirut Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture and Industry, the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) organized yesterday at the Chamber’s premises a ceremony for the distribution of the ‘gender equality’ award to business enterprises which support women’s participation in the economy. During the event was held in the presence of Labor Minister Sajaan Azzi and the Chamber President, Mohamad Shucair, and many members of the business community, Azzi noted that there is nearly one million and 800 thousand workers in the country, of who 64% are men and 36% of women only, a proportion that should increase, as he noted. Shucair, on the other hand, reiterated that a “healthy economy cannot survive without the effective participation of women in economy and decision making,” stressing that it is the responsibility of everyone to bring justice for women and guarantee their fundamental rights. This, he cited, can be achieved through appropriate legislation, proper funding, providing incentives, training and rehabilitation. During the ceremony awards were distributed to the following enterprises: Bank Audi, United Sports of Lebanon and the North Laboratories. It is to be recalled, that based on a MoU signed earlier, the Chamber and NCLW have agreed to grant annual awards to gender sensitive economic establishments for their performance in the following four fields: corporate strategy, human resources, employment system and incentives to employees. (Al Mustaqbal, As Safir, Al Diyar, An Nahar, December 4, 2015
 

 

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Launch of an Italy-supported environment project in Shuf reserve

4-12-2015

The Minister of Environment, Mohamad Mashnuk, and the Italian Ambassador to Lebanon, Massimo Maroti, launched last Wednesday a new project entitled: ‘Better Management of Wildlife in the Sanctuary and Development Regions for the Shuf Biosphere Reserve’. Mashnuk revealed that in Lebanon there are currently 15 natural reserves and 3 bio-reserves, in addition to several other natural attractions, stressing that the protection of natural reserves is now a national responsibility. “The Environment Ministry is currently working on increasing up to 30 the number of sanctuaries, and is collaborating to this effect with relevant committees and working teams to achieve a better management that guarantees protection of the reserves and at the same time benefits the neighbouring local communities,” Mashnuk said. Maroti, for his part, called for the development of a closer link between eco-tourism and the economy and as mean towards the promotion of knowledge and for the protection of the cultural heritage. The above project which received a funding of EURO 500 thousand from the Italian Embassy and the Italian Development Cooperation Office, aims at achieving a number of goals namely: Develop a work plan for monitoring wildlife in the designated areas, explore the feasibility of reintroducing the wild mountain goat (ibex) to the reserve, provide advanced and state of the art equipment; build the capacities of staff and partners; set up an engineering unit to organize and supervise construction works in the development area; support local municipalities; introduce eco-friendly agricultural practices that safeguard wildlife and water resources, and finally enhance the capacities of farmers, and agricultural cooperatives at all levels. (Al Mustaqbal, December 3, 2015)
 

 

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25 Syrian displaced women in the Beqaa trained on ways to counter VAW

4-12-2015

Coinciding with the campaign entitled: 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, the German Freidrich Naumann Foundation, Sawa for Development and Aid and the Arab Institute for Human Rights, completed yesterday a series of training workshops targeting Syrian women refugees located in the he Beqaa camps of Jib Janin, Bar Elias, Gazeh and Majdal Anjar. The ceremony took place at Hudood club in Majdel Anjar and Jussoor School in Jib Janin. The Arab Institute director, Jumana Mer3hi who facilitated the training sessions explained that the 4-month event was aimed at building the capacities of some 25 Syrian women refugees. This, she stated, will enable them to develop their knowledge and skills on women’s rights and on ways of fighting discrimination, as well as in communicating with and listening to victims of violence. Likewise, Sawa head, Nawal Mdalali, pointed out that the focus on women and children is mainly because both categories represent the most vulnerable segments of society that are subjected to violence, adding that the scale of gender-based violence rises usually during wars. For her part, Friedrich Naumann’s representative in Lebanon in charge of the project, Yara Asmar, explained that the purpose of the training is to build the capacity of displaced women to address difficulties which they encounter in the host country. (Al Mustaqbal, December 4, 2015)

 

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Batroun tobacco farmers hopeful of new prices

4-12-2015

The tobacco growers of Batrun in the North said they were grateful the prices of the new harvest season were acceptable as set by the Regie appointed price expert Ahmad Hamseh, LBP12 thousand for one kilogram, a price which has not been attained since 7 or 8 years, according to As Safir newspaper this morning. Farmers pointed out that the expected profits calculated on the basis of the new price are anticipated at 50%, as per George Antun, who stressed that the current rates will entourage tobacco growers to continue planting what has become a profitable crop.” He thanked Hamzeh for the submitting a fair assessment of the quality of production,” as he put it, adding: “It is true that farmers in the South have received a price range of LBP13 and 14 thousand per kg and that is because tobacco in that area is reputed for its excellent quality; while the price for crop grown in Baalbek, Bekaa, does not exceed LBP11 thousand,” Antun told As Safir. It should be noted, that tobacco cultivation in Batrun has preserved it traditional characteristics, as in other regions of Lebanon. The most beautiful thing about it, the newspaper concluded, is the fact that it fosters cooperation and conviviality among the Batrun families. (As Safir, December 4, 2015)
 

 

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Eco-tourism project completed in Khinshara with US funding

3-12-2015

The USAID-funded Building Alliance for Local Advancement, Development and Investment (BALADI) program celebrated last Monday the completion of the ‘Droubna’ project for eco-tourism in the Matn village of Khinshara and the surrounding area which is aimed at enhancing the cultural, environmental and religious tourism. The project which was implemented by CARITAS Lebanon included the construction of four tracks on a 6 km stretch of land crossing the village alleys, hills, valleys, monasteries, churches and water mills. The completion of the project will allow villagers and visitors to tour the neighborhood and appreciate through trekking the picturesque features of region throughout the four seasons. (Al Diyar, December 2, 2015)
 

 

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Live testimonials on the impact of displacement on Syrian women

3-12-2015

As part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, and in partnership with UNFPA in Lebanon, the Lebanese Women Democratic Gathering (LWDG) held yesterday a meeting to discuss the impact of displacement on Syrian women refugees and their Lebanese peers. The event comes within the framework of LWDG project entitled: ‘Involvement of Local Communities and Leaders in Preventing Violence Against Women’. During the meeting, LWDG information officer, Hayat Mirshad, maintained that Syrian women have paid the highest price for the war on their land before being confronted with the hardship of displacement. Mirshad added: “The scale of suffering could be summed up in the following facts: rape, sexual harassment, physical and moral violence, psychological trauma, domestic violence, forced and early marriage, resorting to prostitution as a mean of family subsistence, rising crimes of honor against women who were subjected to rape during the war in Syria, lack of the minimum economic and social fundamentals and exposure to abuse and exploitation in return for certain services.” Mirshad went on to say that as the reality of the refugee crisis has given way to all forms of violence against women, local communities, their leaders, civil and international organizations are called on to find useful lines of attack that are supportive of women and that can protect them from violence while easing tension with their Lebanese counterparts. Furthermore, a documentary film entitled, “Them: Live Testimonies for Syrian Women on the Impact of Displacement”, and presenting a number of real life cases, was screened at the end of the meeting. (Al Mustaqbal, December 3, 2015)
 

 

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