News

A hearing was held yesterday for the appeal in the case of the murder of Rola Yaakoob in order to hear the testimonials of new witnesses as per the decision of the accusatory body in North Lebanon which decided on the 30th of July 2014, to investigate the matter further.  Yaakoob’s family had organized a solidarity sit in outside the justice court in Tripoli while the case was being heard.  Yaakoob’s mother stated that her only request is for the investigation to extend as much as possible and ensure that no stone is left unturned as not to protect the killer.  The family lawyer, Raymond Yaakoob, also noted that matters are taking their due course.  He considered that hearing the new witnesses means that justice will be served.  He added that the accusatory body would not have requested to pursue the investigation of it was not convinced that there were loopholes in the process. Furthermore and according to the lawyer, witnesses reiterated their testimonials about Rola being subjected to continuous violence by her husband, adding that the new witnesses who knew Rola well also provided similar testimonials.  Lawyer Yaakoob concluded that the matter now depends on the decision of the accusatory body which can either endorse the earlier decision to release Yaakoob’s husband or re-open the file and proceed with a new investigation leading to a new trial.
Source: Al-Safir, Al-Akhbar, Al-Mustaqbal 30 September 2014

The team of the “Using natural resources for the development of the local rural economy in Akkar” project has completed the set up of new oregano production units in Akkar following field visits to 16 villages in the area.  This effort was conducted within the framework of the Afkaar 3 programme implemented by the Safadi foundation in collaboration with AIDA, a Spanish NGO, with financial support from the European Union, and managed by OMSAR. The project director, Dr. Ghassan Sroor, clarified that this stage of the project was conducted by engineers and included the set up of irrigation systems, distribution of seedling, and provision of instructions on planting and caring for the oregano seedling in addition to providing the needed care and technical advice to beneficiaries.  Sroor added that women participating in this project have shown commitment to the project activities especially after they started to benefit economically through marketing some of their products to restaurant as well as drying the oregano and selling it later.
To be reminded that the “Using natural resources for the development of the local rural economy in Akkar” project will continue over a two year period.  The project will contribute to creating work opportunities for more than 80 women in different villages in Akkar.  It also seeks to strengthen the economic value of natural resources as well as facilitate the participation of women in agricultural activities which will help them find a new source of income. Also to be recalled that WEEPortal covered last week one related news entitled:  "Safadi Foundation’s thyme growing project in Akkar to empower women".

Source: Al-Mustaqbal 29 September 2014
 

Al Mustaqbal newspaper published an article about the 28-year old Miriam Suleiman, who has just been appointed acting head of the seaport authority in Saida following the retirement of her predecessor, engineer Sami Hussein, last February.  Suleiman is the first woman to be nominated for such post. According to the newspaper, Sulieman’s remit is not only to administer the Saida seaport, but also Tyre and Jiyyeh seaports which are administratively within the remit of Saida Seaport Authority.  To be noted that Suleiman was first appointed as a civil servant in 2010 within the Saida seaport authority via the civil service board.  She is now one of the two remaining staff in this administrative structure after the retirement of all its former members.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 29 September 2014

NCLW released the fourth Lebanon report on the implementation of CEDAW during an event held last Friday at the Bar Association in Beirut.  The event was under the auspices of the president of the Bar Association. Lawyer George Jreije, and recorded the participation of the Minister of Economy and Trade, Alain Hakim, MP Ghassan Moukhaiber, representatives of various ministries, the diplomatic corps, syndicates, international organizations and CSOs.
The Secretary General of the NCLW, Lawyer Fadi Karam, presented the current UN mechanisms for strengthening and monitoring women’s rights.  For her part, the president of the committee which prepared the report, Leila Azouri Jamhouri, noted the various steps which led to the compilation of the report.  She also highlighted the main legal achievements namely the new law to penalize trafficking (2011), abolishing clause 562 of the penal code (2011), adopting gender equality in tax waiver and in a number of NSSF laws (2013), adopting the law to protect women and family members from domestic violence (May 2014) and raising maternity leave in the private and public sectors to ten weeks (May 2014).
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Nahar, Al-Akhbar 29 September 2014
 

As Safir newspaper published a report about the losses incurred to the Beqaa economy and the Lebanese economy as a result of the recent closure of the Daher el Baydar international road two days ago by the families of the Lebanese soldiers kidnapped by terrorists.  As a result, the daily activity and road communication between the Beqaa and Beirut has been paralyzed.  According to one of the traders and workers in the agricultural sector, farmers and traders are enduring daily losses amounting to some one million dollars.  The same source noted that the halt in road travel has caused a complete paralysis in the agricultural sector and more than one thousand tons of agricultural products could not reach their markets in Beirut and other locations.  He added that ships sailed out of the Tripoli port last Wednesday without filling its containers as agricultural products could not reach the port.
The report noted that the implications of the road closure is being felt not only at the level of agricultural losses but have also impacted the entire economy of the Beqaa and caused a general halt in the transit movement between Lebanon and Arab countries as it affected land travel in both ways.  Other casualties included internal industrial exports between the Beqaa, Beirut and other regions as well as general sales and purchasing activities of commercial institutions, in addition to the drop in fuel stocking.

Source: Al-Safir 26 September 2014

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, announced that it has provided a loan of USD 2 million to the Lebanese Association for Development (Al Majmoua), with the aim of encouraging businesses and strengthening economic development in Lebanon.  The IFC explained in a statement issued yesterday that this loan will help Al Majmoua to develop its credit portfolio to include low income categories as well as holders of micro businesses.  The statement noted that 50% of Al Majmoua clients reside in frontline areas where financial services are inaccessible, and that women constitute 54% of its clients’ base. The IFC director for the MENA region, James Gohary, noted that this investment will encourage other investments by local banks and in support of micro businesses, in order to bridge the existing financing gap.
Source: Al-Diyar, Al-Mustaqbal 26 September 2014

The president of the Jabal Moussa reserve, Pierre Doumit, indicated, during the second annual dinner of the association which was held yesterday at the Casino du Liban, that the number of visitors to the reserve has increased from 4000 in 2013 to 5000 visitors in 2014.  He added that the association is now working to diversify the hiking trails and to add new ones soon.  Doumit added that the increase in the number of visitors requires an increase in the number of eco-lodges in order to meet the demand for meals and accommodations.  He also announced the launch of Jabal Moussa Friends Group which will include the local youth from the area.  
Source: Al-Nahar 26 September 2014

The International Finance Corporation IFC (member of the World Bank Group WBG) launched a private sector partnership initiative which seeks to create 300000 new employment opportunities for women over the next two years, and thus work with companies in bridging the gender gap in formal work.
A press conference was convened last Tuesday for that occasion during which the head of the WBG, Jim Yong Kim, indicated that the new “She Works” initiative will involve ten pioneering business enterprises which committed themselves to implement steps that would strengthen women’s employment opportunities such as providing career counseling and leadership training likely to uphold women’s leadership role.  Kim also added that investing in women’s employment is not only the right thing to do but is also important to improve businesses.  He reiterated that companies that will learn how to hone women’s skills and keep their women employees will acquire a competitive edge.  Furthermore, Kim highlighted the importance of women’s work for advancing the economy and as essential for development.  He also added that women face major challenges in the formal job market which push them towards the informal sector.

Source: L’Orient Le Jour 25 September 2014

The fourth edition of the Horsh Beirut festival kicks off tomorrow.  The event is co-organised by the As Sabil association, the Beirut municipality and the Ile de France municipality and takes place at the Horsh Beirut Park which has been closed to the public for years.  The responsible of the three-day-long festival’s activity, Ali Sabbagh, told al Akhbar newspaper that this event has nurtured its own audience since it kicked off in 2011.  Sabbagh noted that the Horsh Beirut festival is characterized by a rich cultural programme which included various musical and theatre productions in addition to poetry readings for all ages.  The programme is mostly oriental and includes street performances by Kahraba Collective and la Compagnie Oposito from France.  A special space will be reserved for bicycles throughout the duration of the festival which may be extended for an additional fourth day. Sabbagh noted that the duration of the festival was cut this year because of shortage of funding.
For more information, please review the festival’s page on Facebook: Horsh Beirut festival

Source: Al-Akhbar 25 September 2014

The Daily Star newspaper published today an article about a new project implemented by the Safadi Foundation to empower women in the North of Lebanon, namely in Akkar. The project will assist women of the region through providing them with the necessary tools and skills to grow Zaatar (thyme) on land they own and that is not in use, thus allowing them to contribute to their household income. The project is funded by the European Union and is managed by the Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform (OMSAR) as part of Afkaar-3 programme.
Elie Wehbeh, the project coordinator at the Safadi Foundation noted that the project, which started 4 months ago, is now working with 85 women who own in total some 60,000 square meters of land. He added that the project’s eventual goal is to enable these women to sell their production of Zaatar on their own, with the help of the Spanish partner organization, AIDA, which will also assist in matters of packaging and marketing.
Source: The Daily Star 25 September 2014