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Eight western diplomats urge Lebanon to boost rights of women, MWDW, LGBTs

10-12-2020

On International Human Rights Day, ambassadors of Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark. Canada, Switzerland and the UK urged the Lebanese government to take serious steps in promoting women’s rights, ban and prevent torture, safeguard the rights of LGBTIQ and protect refugees and the displaced. On the women’s rights front, the diplomats' appeal stated that Lebanon has made insignificant efforts since the recent Universal Periodic Review (UPR), calling on the government to acknowledge the following recommendations, notably, the amendment of the sectarian based personal status code and the nationality law allowing Lebanese women married to non-Lebanese to pass nationality to their children, as well as the adoption of a law that prohibits the marriage of anyone under the age of 18 without any exception. Lebanon’s approval of above recommendations, the diplomats maintained, allows it to embark towards eliminating some of the most significant forms of discrimination and abuse against women and children. Regarding rights of LGBT, the ambassadors voiced concern over Lebanon’s decision to not sign a recent pledge to respect the freedom of expression in the media because it contains a plain text which observes the rights of LGBTs. On refugees and displaced persons, the ambassadors urged Lebanon to implement the international and local legal procedures related to deportation, and to ensure full respect for the principle of non-refoulement, in addition to make sincere efforts to abolish the kafala system which regulates the situation of migrant women domestic workers (MWDW).  (An Nahar, December 10, 2020)
 

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Two Lebanese women winners of UNESCO science awards

9-12-2020

Two Lebanese women laureates, Dr. Farah Nassar and Crystel Hajjar, in addition to four researchers from Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Iraq, won the L’Oreal-UNESCO for Women in Science 2020 edition during a ceremony held online in view of the coronavirus pandemic. The winners, to note, were chosen for their outstanding contribution to valuable research work. And they are: Crystel Hajjar (Lebanon), for her antimicrobial research to develop therapeutics to improve survival after a bone marrow transplant; Dr. Farah Nassar (also from Lebanon) for her work on “the effect of water pipe (hookah) and cigarette smoke on colorectal cancer”; Dr. Dima Suleiman (Syria) for her research on the impact of war-derived metallic pollution on biodiversity; Hanin Dweib (from Palestine) for her project on “dietary interventions targeting early cardiovascular dysfunction in prediabetes”; Farah Ma’mouri (Iraq) for her research on the use of medicinal plants in the prevention and treatment of kidney stones, and finally, Dr. Lina Dahabiyeh (from Jordan) for her work on the “Plasma drop to improve the diagnosis of pre-eclampsia”. During the event, the secretary general of the National Council for Scientific Research, head of the jury, Mouin Hamzeh, lauded the exceptional talents and ambitions of this year’s laureates who challenged Covid-19 and the current circumstances. (An Nahar, December 3, 2020)

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Training on challenging stereotypes

9-12-2020

In partnership with the UNESCO Beirut Office, Dawaer Foundation launched the “Breaking Gender Stereotypes” project aimed to train 21 young men and women from various media specialties to produce 10 mobile illustrated stories that combat stereotypes. At the end of the workshop, ballet dancer Hassan Ghandour and Nour Safadi won first place; Serene Nabolsi and Noor Hurani ranked second for their story on the life a disabled person, whereas the third place went to Maria Mansour and Bushra Daa’ss for their story on a female prison guard (shawish) in a refugee camp. To recall, winners were selected by a jury of practitioners in media, photography and direction including: Dalal Mouawad, Diana Mkallad, Mazen Hashem, George Awwad, Ruba Abu Ammo and Maha Zaraket. (Al Akhbar, December 9, 2020)

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Kafa: Violence against women on the rise because of COV-19 pandemic

7-12-2020

Al Diyar published a special feature on the coronavirus pandemic and violence against women, based on a survey which showed a surge in the rate of reporting gender-based violence incidence with the start of the lockdowns. The newspaper cited an ISF report for July and August which showed a rise by 122% in this regard. It also referred to another survey by Kafa Enough Violence and Exploitation which noted, that during the month of October 2020 alone, the organization received around 1024 calls, including 100 calls reporting abuse by the husband, 24 calls by a family member, 14 calls by the divorced spouse and 9 calls from outside the family. The geographical distribution of users of the Kafa Support Center pointed out that 38% of cases were documented in the Mount Lebanon governorate, 20% in Beirut, 19% in Beqaa, 17% in North Lebanon and 6% in the South. (Al Diyar, December 5, 2020)

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Tunisia: MP criticized for insulting women during parliament session

7-12-2020

The deputy from the Dignity Coalition close to An Nahda party, Mohamad Afas, launched a fierce attack on personal status law in Tunisia during a hearing on the ministry of women’s budget. He said this law makes women a cheap, open commodity, labeling feminist organizations as women traffickers. This stand prompted a number of lawmakers to withdraw from the session in protest over their colleague’s speech. They denounced him for exceeding all limits and violating the constitution which recognizes the Tunisia as a civil state. Commenting on Afas statement, the head of the Free Constitutional Party, Abir Moussa, described his intervention as a scandal, calling for the dismissal of the women’s minister who did not object to such insults. Similarly, the “Aswat Nisaa” association viewed Afas speech as verbal and moral violence against women, demanding an apology, above all, from all Tunisian women, and requesting that he respects the constitution and Law 58 on combating violence against women. In turn, the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women condemned Afas statements, dubbing him as an extremist who disguises under the cover of the civil state which guarantees freedoms in order to promote his fundamentalist ideologies. The association went on to say that the Brotherhood-afilliated lawmaker has kept on hurling accusations of treachery against all organizations advocates of women’s rights and freedoms, pigeonholing them as marketers of decadence and immorality. (Al Diyar, December 6, 2020)

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Farmers market back to Badaro as of December 9

3-12-2020

The Farmer’s market will return to the Badaro neighborhood of Beirut on December 9, following a 2-week closure due to the coronavirus pandemic and will be open to market goers every Sunday thereon at 9 am at Saint-Sauveur School, Museum Street. The market showcases goods by local producers, individuals and rural cooperatives, basically organic and chemical-free products, in addition to the traditional mooneh items. Besides, the weekly event includes children-targeted workshops and activities aimed at raising awareness among kids on environmental issues, like for example teaching them how to recycle or up-cycle trash and junk. This market, to remind, is organized by the Badaro Urban Farmers association, which is a gathering of enthusiastic individual concerned with promoting green businesses. (For more details on the event, kindly refer to the link below: https://goo.gl/etBPJr). (Al Akhbar, December 3, 2020)

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E-conference on genocide and gender

3-12-2020

In partnership with the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the AUB (IFI) will hold on Wednesday December 9, an online conference titled, “Genocide in the Middle East viewed through a gender lens”. The conference will address the root causes and the impact of the genocidal violence against women, with focus on ways to strengthen institutional mechanisms and empower societies to prevent similar crimes. The event, which will be broadcasted live at 5 pm on Zoom and Facebook platforms (https://bit.ly/3of0imf), aims to search for avenues to fight impunity, achieve justice and ensure rehabilitation and restitution. (Al Akhbar, December 2, 2020)

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Olive producers call for protection and settlement of entitlements

1-12-2020

On the occasion of the World Olive Day which falls on November 26, the gathering of representative bodies of the oil sector in Lebanon, submitted to officials a series of demands to save the industry. Most prominent of these demands were the following: Legal prosecution of the owners of cement factories in Kura for destroying olive orchards, farmers livelihoods; end to subsidies for the export of olive oil which are being given exclusively to IDAL affiliated traders, and their redirection directly to olive growers; adoption of a more efficient mechanism for curbing imports of olives and olive oil through stricter border control; exclusion of olive oil and olives from all Arab and European free trade agreements, and finally, the introduction of tougher protection measures of the olive crops against harmful bacteria. The Gathering statement also demanded the resumption of payments to farmers who delivered their harvests to the Lebanese Army in 2013, and who still have not been paid despite repeated cabinet decisions. Furthermore, the statement called for the saking of all public department officials who are responsible for the presnt crisis affecting the sector, as well as for an end to all foreign interference in the olive sector. (Al Diyar, November 28, 2020)

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US senator demands the review of relations with KSA after the charging of a Saudi feminist with terrorism

1-12-2020

US Senator Chris Murphy last week called on Joe Biden’s administration to reconsider US-Saudi relations following a Saudi decision to refer female human rights campaigner, Lujain Hathloul to the terrorism court in the Kingdom. “Advocating for women’s right in Saudi Arabia, is now considered terrorism,” Murphy tweeted, adding, “The USA cannot be a credible human rights voice if they keep looking in the other direction.” Murphy’s message came after Alia, Lujain’s sister, disclosed in a tweet on Wednesday, saying, “After three years of detention and a year from the start of Lujain’s trial, the judge at the Criminal Court judge in Riyadh decided to transfer Lujain’s case, for lack of jurisdiction, to a terrorism tribunal.” Recalling, that Lujain, 31, is a Saudi activist who came to prominence in 2014 when she pushed for her right to travel and drive without consent of her guardians. She was arrested in 2018 along with 10 women rights activists (https://bit.ly/2G1gaIi) on charges of conspiring with foreign parties. Hathloul was detained upon returning from an international conference on discrimination against women, in Geneva. According to Juan Cole, a US professor of Middle Eastern and South Asian History at the University of Michigan, and a commentator on Middle East affairs, the detention of Hathloul and lately, the transfer of her case to the terrorism court, place in serious doubt the much acclaimed legal reforms introduced in Saudi Arabia since 2017 with the aim of easing restrictions on women. (Al Diyar, https://www.opednews.com, November 27, 2020)

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International Day for the Elimination of VAW

30-11-2020

On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women which falls on November 25, and with the start of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, UNIFIL attended a ceremony organized by NCLW at the Mission’s Naqoura Headquarters. Major General Stefano Del Col, Head of Mission and Force Commander, pointed out that the Covid-19 pandemic has had adverse social and economic impact on societies and has further deepened gender-based inequalities. He disclosed during the event that his Mission is jointly working to this end with MOSA's social development centers and groups active in the field of sexual and gender-based violence in the area of operations of the UNIFIL in South Lebanon. Meanwhile, the National Federation of Employees and Workers Unions in Lebanon (FENASOL) and Warde Butros for Women’s Action greeted all women workers of Lebanon and the world who are consistently exposed to exploitation and abuse as a result of the worst economic downturn of capitalism, combined with the coronavirus-enforced lockdown measures and their dramatic impact on the working classes. They called on male and female workers and employees, directly and through professional unions, feminist and women’s organizations, as well as social associations, to come together to draft an action plan at all levels in order to force the Lebanese government to sign the C190- Violence and Harassment Convention, drafted in 2019 by the General Conference of the International Labor Organization (ILO), and to work towards implementing its articles through enacting necessary decrees and decisions. (Al Diyar, November 28, 2020)

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