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In an attempt to promote Lebanese economic relations abroad, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Gebran Bassil, held last week a coordination meeting, attended by the Ministers of Economy Alan Hakim, and Industry Hussein alHajj Hassan, in addition to the General Directors of Industry, Economy, Public Works, Finance, and Agriculture, as well as the representative of UNDP at the Ministry of Economy, Rafiq Berro, and advisor of the Minister of Tourism, Mona Fares.
Minster Bassil explained that the meeting was held in accordance with the old decree numbering 14623, which was issued in 1970 and which regulates the work of ministries in the field of trade and foreign economic agreements. He indicated that the meeting aimed at exploring ways to assist the various Lebanese economic sectors and administrations in marketing Lebanese products abroad, so as to increase productivity and reinvigorate the Lebanese economy. Thus Basil proposed the establishment of a "Committee for Foreign Economic Relations”, which will focus on coordinating and communicating among concerned ministries and agencies, and with trade missions abroad, in order to develop the country’s economic diplomacy, and to open up new foreign markets. Finally, Bassil clarified that this will be accomplished through conducting studies, researches and policy documents. Furthermore, the new committee will make recommendations and will identify priorities, in order to assist in developing foreign economic policies for Lebanon.
Source: Al-Diyar 4 October 2014

As Safir newspaper published last Saturday an article by Sheikh Youssef Ali Al Sbeity, a follower of the late Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadellallah commenting the draft law to regulate early marriages in Lebanon, which was submitted recently by MP Ghassan Mokhaiber in collaboration with the NCLW and which was posted on the WEEPortal on 30 September 2014. Sbeity noted that the draft law does not meet the expectations of civil society activists, adding that he favors the full banning of early marriage altogether especially in the case of girls. Sbeity based his arguments on his social and religious experience and highlighted the negative impact of early marriage.  He noted that some old women who went through early marriages confided in him saying that they regretted it, since they did not consent to it. Sbeity called for a law that would set the minimum age of marriage at 18 years especially since there was nothing in religious texts which prevented this practice.  He also added that 18 years is the legal age of consent when a marriage is contracted by choice. Sbeity insisted that the approval of the child's guardian is in no way sufficient and that it is the duty of guardians to seek the best interests of the child rather than to waive her/his responsibilities.
Sbeity concluded by emphasizing that Lebanon needs a reform in various personal status laws used by religious courts especially in cases of marriage where laws must be enacted to safeguard the right of women in cases of divorce and in terms of child custody.  He underscored that “Fatwas” just based on the moral authority of the clergy were no longer adequate and there was a need to formulate new binding laws that are compatible with the Sharia.

Source: Al-Safir 4 October 2014

Following several reports on rural and eco-tourism posted on the WEEPortal, following is a new article on the subject published in Al-Mustaqbal newspaper, which presents divergent views on the impact of rural tourism, namely in Ehden where tourism in the nature has become widespread albeit sometimes not very eco-friendly.
Concerning this matter, the owner of a tourist agency in Ehden, Chafic Ghazal, noted that his company, which organises various activities such as; ATV driving, hiking and camping, is attempting, as much as possible, to adhere to environmental criteria adding that people are slowly becoming more environmentally as a result of awareness raising and guidance activities. For his part, the environmental activist, Butros Moawwad, challenged a number of unsound practices which are wrongly referred to as eco-friendly, stressing that the fundamental regulations of natural reserves are not being respected.  In support to his argument, Moawwad added that eco-tourism is not compatible with the usage of 4-wheel-drive vehicles in natural reserves. On the other side the report presented the more favorable views of local shops’ owners, among whom that of a bakery owner, Lamya Yaakoub, and of a restaurant owner, Jean Lahhoud, who both concluded that this type of tourism has a positive impact on local economy, stressing that the region's economy largely improved since the start of eco-tourism.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 7 October 2014

As Safir published today a report on the tourism sector in Lebanon, indicating a sharp drop of 64% in revenues this year compared to 2010, and that is according to Pierre Achkar, Head of the Hotel owners' syndicate. Achkar predicted that total revenues of the sector in 2014, will not exceed USD 2.5 billion, against USD 7 billion in 2010.
Achkar noted that insecurity in the country and the region has adversely affected the tourism sector, with many tourist establishments suffering from serious financial difficulties, and are no longer able to settle their electricity, water and municipality bills. He also revealed that the currently harsh situation has led to the layoff of a large number of employees in hotels and tourist establishments. Hence some 45 thousand workers and employees, from a total of 150 thousand employed in that sector (i.e. 30% of the total), have lost their work during the past four years. He also noted that the number of tourists has drastically dropped from 1.49 million in 2010 to some 987 thousand tourists in 2014, which represents a decline of 39.87%, according to data of the Ministry of Tourism. In contrast the Ministry revealed that the restaurant sector, which largely depends on local consumers, and that of travel which depends on Syrians, performed better than the hotel sector.
Source: Al-Safir 7 October 2014

The Chairman of Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL), Nabil Itani, pointed out that Lebanon has one of the highest level of expatriates’ remittances relative to the gross national product, as it ranked first in the region, pointing out that these remittance reached some 16% of the GNP. Itani also pointed out that in 2013, Lebanon ranked eighteenth globally in terms of remittances, and twelfth among the developing countries. Itani presented these figures during a speech he gave at the meeting of the International Organization for Migration (IMO) which was held last week in Rome, and in which he stressed the crucial role that Lebanese expatriates play in the Lebanese economy. He also indicated that expatriates have invested heavily in various sectors, including: real estate, services, tourism, banking, IT & communications. Itani also, noted that the public and private sectors are both aware and supportive of the expatriates’ role having established various institutional bodies to facilitate and develop business relations and to attract investments, such as the Central Bank’s fund of USD 400 million in support of entrepreneurship and incubators, as well as “Kafalat’s new fund in support of innovative projects.

Source: Al-Safir 4 October 2014

Students of Tripoli secondary public school for girls organized last week, a sit-in in the school’s courtyard, to protest the decision of inspection board which rejected the earlier decision issued by schools administration to increase the average of 22 students from 9.4 to 9.5, in order to allow them to move up a class. The administration explained that it took that decision in view of the hazardous location of the school in the area of clashes between Bab Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen, adding that frequent clashes resulted in regular and prolonged disruptions of classes during the previous academic year. For its part, the school’s parents’ commission issued a statement, in which it supported the claim of students and demanded justice. The statement also pointed out to the recent decision by the government to issue unconditional affidavits to all baccalaureate students in Lebanon without consideration of their actual performance. The girl students decided to escalate actions if their demands were not met, while threatening to resort to the full suspension of classes in their school.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 3 October 2014

Amel International Association concluded yesterday, its project entitled “Strengthening the youth capabilities in Lebanon", during a graduation ceremony held for the occasion. The ceremony was attended by some 4250 youth participants, from Beqaa and Beirut and Saida. The project, which targeted refugees from Syria and hosting communities alike, sought to empower Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian youth, through organizing training workshops to develop their professional skills, as well as providing psycho-social support. The training workshops included various specialties, namely: foreign languages, computer maintenance, information technology, nursing, secretarial skills, and others.
Source: Al-Safir 3 October 2014

The Rene Moawwad Foundation (RMF) signed the day before yesterday a Memorandum of Understanding for the implementation of the “Promoting rural tourism in the Baruk – Freydiss region” project within the framework of the “Building Alliance for Local Advancement, Development, and Investment” (BALADI) programme which is being implemented by RMF with funding from USAID.
Former Minister Nayla Moawwad noted in her inaugural speech that the project will provide 25 new job opportunities for young people and will open to local farmers the possibilities to sell their produce, adding that this will, lead to the invigoration of tourism in the region.  Moawwad also added that this type of intervention is in line with RMF’s objectives, and concluded with acknowledging the work of the Shouf Cedar Reserve in protecting the environment and in facilitating the launch of this project.

Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Diyar 2 October 2014
 

The Minister of Social Affair, Rashid Derbas, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UNICEF representative, Anna Maria Laurini, aiming at implementing MoSA national plan to protect women and children in Lebanon.  The signing took place during an official ceremony held the day before yesterday at the Serail with the participation of EU Ambassador, Angelina Eichhorst.
The plan will be implemented during an 18 month period with funding support from the European Union and will include the provision of quality services for women and children at risk especially from gender based violence. The programme will also provide psycho-social support and basic health care to some 198,000 children and youth.  It will also offer awareness and information on existing services to some 410,000 individuals of various age groups and from different communities.  The plan is also expected to target service providers and therefore will seek to building the capacities of MoSA staff both centrally and locally, thus covering some 57 MoSA centers, in addition to those of partner CSOs and local community structures.

Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Diyar 2 October 2014

Kafa Violence and Exploitation issued yesterday a statement in which it rejected the new draft law to regulate underage marriage in Lebanon and which was submitted recently by MP Ghassan Moukhaiber in coordination with the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW). Kafa called for the withdrawal of this law petition given its contradiction with the concept of human rights.  The statement noted that the draft law supports confessional authority and provides a legal justification for marrying 9 or 12 year old girls.  The statement added that it is inadmissible for any legal or religious or family authority to decide on marriage especially when it regards underage individuals, indicating that any disregard of the concept of consent will transform marriage into a rape.  The statement concluded by asking how is it possible for the NCLW or for MP Moukhaiber not to realize that consent is not real when it concerns minors.  The statement rejected the argument which states that regulating underage marriage will actually protect minor girls.

The WEEPortal published the above-mentioned draft law previously, on 30/9/2014, under the title: "A draft law to regulate minor marriages in Lebanon and to penalise offenders"
Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Akhbar 2 October 2014