News

On the occasion of the International Justice Day, Justice without Frontiers organized in collaboration with the Lebanese Bar Association in Beirut as well as other NGOs a seminar entitled Sexual and Gender based crimes in conflict. Participants discussed primarily the absence of the concept of justice.  The representative of the president of the Beirut Bar Association, Pierre Hanna, noted that gender based sexual crimes in times of conflict are one of the key human rights issues.  He called for restraining such practices and for providing protection to survivors and for the creation of an office for victims of sexual crimes and for providing them with moral and financial compensation as well as treating physical and mental damages.  He added that the creation of the suggested office will also ensure the upholding of the Rome Convention for the International Criminal Court with regards to sexual crimes during conflict.  Hanna considered that the fact that Lebanon is not party to the Rome Convention and subsequently to the ICC constitutes a gap which allows the country to be a safe haven for perpetrators of sexual crimes.
The event also included a session during which Lt. Colonel Elie Asmar of the ISF spoke of sexual crimes.  He clarified that articles 503 to 506 of the penal code penalize the crime of rape.  However, clause 503 is an obstacle to criminalizing marital rape as it penalizes “anybody who forces a non spouse into non consensual sex”.  He also noted that the Lebanese penal code shies away from using the term “sexual crimes” and uses instead “crimes that violate public morals”.
The seminar concluded with lawyer Brigitte Chalabian who emphasized that sexual crimes in Lebanon are still considered to be a taboo which is borne by the victim and not by the perpetrator.  She added that sexual crimes will not become actual court cases unless a judicial system is found to protect victims and witnesses.

Source: Al-Akhbar, Al-Nahar, 22 July 2014

The association of merchants and industrialists of Qabershmoon launched yesterday the first edition of the local shopping summer festival under the auspices of the Minister of Economy and Trade (MoET), Alain Hakim, represented by his advisor, Jassem Ajaka and with the presence of the Minister of Agriculture Akram Chehayeb and other public figures from the region.
Ajaka spoke on behalf of the Minister of Economy and Trade and considered this festival, as all other similar, as principally contributing to promote Lebanon and its tourism.  He stressed the support of his Ministry towards such initiatives which are an important cornerstone of the Lebanese economy and which complement the Ministry’s current plan which aims at stimulating the economy and protecting consumers.  Ajaka insisted on the need to support merchants and underlined the continuous work of the Ministry to protect the commercial sector from competition from foreign workers adding that the trade sector constitute 28% of GDP.  Ajaka concluded by stressing the commitment of all parties in the Cabinet to invest efforts and resources to support the economy, tourism as well as commerce especially during the summer season in addition to promoting a environment conducive for the tourism sector which represents 10% of the GDP.
Source: Al-Diyar 23 July 2014

Khan al Sabun, the traditional soap factory, suffered from recent rumors saying that its products are carcinogenic.  As such, the president of Khan al Sabun, Bader Hassun, called for a press conference the day before yesterday at the press syndicate with the participation of MP Elie Maruni, the president of the industrialists association, Fadi Gemayel, the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the North, Tufic Dabbussi, and the responsible of 7Halal company, Mahmud Lababidi as well as other interested individuals. Hassun ascertained that the production of Khan al Sabun enjoys high standards and quality and is entrusted with the ISO and 7Halal seals.  Lababidi endorsed Hassun’s statement and indicated that the Khan el Sabun products are free from animal fat and of any pork derivatives and as such, has gained the 7Halal seal.
MP Maruni spoke of the importance of the industrial and tourism sectors in Lebanon.  He added that Lebanon enjoys industrial handicrafts, namely soap making, which is contributing to raising the visibility of tourism in Lebanon.  Maruni added that the industrial and tourism sectors in Lebanon are now under attack.  He called on all to work in solidarity and with concerted efforts because the industry needs national unity without any confessional or racial consideration.

Source: Al-Diyar 22 July 2014

The Minister of Labor, Sejaan Azzi, issued a memorandum yesterday calling on all holders of migrant workers employment offices to submit a family register to the Ministry within a one month period.  This move was taken within the framework of re-organising employment offices and ensuring that they are run by their original owners so as to prevent exploitation of the migrant worker and to ensure that they work according to international standards and conventions.  To be noted that, over the past two months,  the Ministry has closed down eight employment offices located in different parts of Lebanon and referred another two to General Security because they sacked Lebanese employees and replaced them illegally with  foreign employees. In a related vein, the Minister of Labor met yesterday with a delegation including representatives of Amel association, ION, and Caritas Lebanon to discuss the situation of migrant women domestic workers and the travel ban exercised by some countries.  The delegation also expressed their hopes that the national steering committee will resume its work soon.
Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Safir 23 July 2014

The Minister of Agriculture, Akram Chehayeb, and the director of Minoprio, Anna Zottola, signed a memorandum of understanding to prepare a twinning programme for agricultural vocational training to take place between the Education and Extension directorate at the Ministry and Minoprio foundation.  The signing ceremony was held yesterday at the agricultural technical school in Baaqline. In his speech, Chehayeb insisted on the importance of developing agricultural education and supporting technical schools with human and material resources.  He noted that this step is within the framework of the Ministry’s strategy and present plan for 2014-2020.  He added that this MoU will enable Lebanon to benefit from the Minoprio foundation educational progress and expertise in vocational and technical training in agriculture especially since the Italian institution works according to European standards and that the twinning programme will bring in educational and scientific experts to Lebanon so as to upgrade local curricula and manage existing schools according to European standards as well as bring in new specialties.
The event was also an opportunity to complete training workshops offered by Minoprio foundation to the faculty of official agricultural schools in Lebanon, which were held between 15 and 19 July by AVSI and which were entitled “Contemporary education fundamentals and agriculture techniques”.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 22 July 2014

In an interview with Al Markazzyah, the president of the Industrialists Association, Fady Gemayel, highlighted the fact that Lebanon is struggling to deal with the negative repercussions of the events in the region.  Gemayel asked for a new and comprehensive economic initiative in order to push the Lebanese economy forward especially as the size of its GDP does not exceed USD 45 billion. Gemayel considered this figure to be shameful compared with available capacities and when considering the opportunities in the neighboring countries.
Gemayel also noted that the realities of the industrial sector are intimately linked with the economic situation.  He emphasized the importance of adopting comprehensive approaches because, partial solutions are no longer useful whilst taking into consideration the significant Lebanese capacities that are available especially in terms of human, youth, industrial and economic resources, and in view of the huge financial resources that are deposited in Lebanese banks and which are estimated at some USD 167 billion. Gemayel called for safeguarding the Lebanese economy and for working in unity to bring about an economic situation that builds on available capacities while guided by a comprehensive socio-economic approach that aims at stimulating the economy while changing current mindsets.  He added that the changes in the region indicate that current events are not of a short term nature and solutions are not likely to be fast.  Hence, and according to Gemayel, if not action is taken, the situation is likely to deteriorate further.
 
Source: Al-Diyar 21 July 2014

The Amel International Organisation organized in collaboration with Aequitas-Cyprus, and with the support of the Anna Lindh Foundation a workshop entitled: “supporting women migrant workers in Lebanon in the absence of legal protection”. The event was held last week at the UNESCO palace in Beirut and started by a keynote address by Amel’s president, Kamel Mehanna, who spoke about the realities of migrant workers.  Mehanna noted that the last years witnessed a rise in the numbers of domestic workers with an estimate total number of 200,000 the overwhelming majority of whom are women.  Mehanna also pointed out to the incidents of abuse and exploitation of migrant workers as well as the local international and local concern with the regular death of MWDW at a rate of one per week.  To be noted that out of 97 MWDW death between 2007 and 2008, only 14 were due to health reasons and that is according to the Human Watch report for 2008.  According to another study conducted by Kafa and which was released in 2010, some 31% of employers detain their domestic workers at home and 88% of employers confiscate their employees travel documents.  In addition, tens of death are registered as “falling off” or as suicide as per the monitoring of local newspapers which covered the period between August 2010 and August 2011.  Mehanna also spoke about the absence of legal protection as MWDW are excluded from the provisions of the labor law whereas Lebanon has still not signed the international convention for the protection of migrant workers.  He added that the latest reforms, namely the endorsement of the standard employment contract, did not secure protection from abuse and exploitation.
For her part, the head of the control department at the Ministry of Labor, Marlene Atallah, noted that although MWDW constitute an important proportion of the labor force in Lebanon, challenges remain great notably given the limited administrative capacities of the Ministry.  Atallah added that the Ministry is doing its best to take the necessary administrative measures regarding this category of workers.
Source: AL-Nahar, Al-Safir, Al-Mustaqbal 21 July 2014

Exports of potatoes has declined considerably this year especially through the land route as hardly 5 trucks cross the Syrian borders daily compared to an earlier record of 20 daily trucks filled with tons of potatoes. Simultaneously, the production of potatoes in the Beqaa region increased by 25% compared to last year and that is according to a report published by As Safir in its issue of last Friday.
According to the president of the union of potato farmers in Bekaa, Georges Sakr, the price of one kilogram of potatoes does not exceed LBP 400 with production hitting this year 350,000 tons (compared to 200,000 tons last year).  Sakr notes that initially import of potato seeds of should not have exceeded 20,000 tons but have exceeded 40,000 tons this year which significantly raised the potato growing areas to 120,000 dunums compared to 100,000 dunums normally, thus largely exceeding internal and external demands. Furthermore, Sakr noted that the decline in the price of potatoes is in line with similar declines recorded in the other countries of the region which also witnessed a significant surge in production. However, Lebanese farmers had to bear the brunt of higher production costs this season making this year potato harvest the most expensive agricultural season in the region. Indeed, the cost of irrigation of one dunnum went up from USD 100 to USD 300 due to the rise of the cost of fuel oil and because of low rainfalls and ground water supply.
Source: Al-Diyar 21 July 2014

The National Committee for the Duma festivals in Batrun kicked off this year’s summer festival last week under the auspices of the Minister of Tourism, Michel Pharaon, represented by Philippe Bustros and with the participation of the Duma Municipal Head, members of the municipal councils and local figures. The festival will take place over three weeks and will including a traditional lunch in the Duma market place, musical evenings, short films produced by USEK students, etc… The festival will close on August 9th with a traditional village dinner.  The festival also includes visits to traditional houses and ecological and touristic landmarks as well as an exhibition by Dar Chaiban for Culture and Art and by Maha al-3ani and a symposium by Maha Khaled and a number of painters.  The festival also includes exhibitions of Lebanese Mouneh and traditional handcrafts.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 21 July 2014

Al Akhbar newspaper published on Friday a report on the draft decentralization proposal which has been released for reviews recently and which is presumably based on the stipulation of the Taef agreement which calls for the creation of smaller administrative units per caza where elected councils will be established and headed by Qaimaqam in an effort to preserve “local specificity” and diversity in the Lebanese social mosaic. Al Akhbar argues that the Taef agreement stipulated a number of reforms notably decentralization however, it also insisted on adopting a balanced cultural, social and economic development at the regional and local levels as a cornerstone of unity and stability of the state.  Yet, successive governments since the Taef agreement all focused on particular and biased sectoral and geographical economic policies and have neglected the setting up of adequate local infrastructure and services outside of the centre Beirut, and few other key poles.
The draft proposal suggests the creation of regional council entrusted by the central state with the responsibility of local development.  However, the report notes that based on real life experiences, this will surely exacerbates tensions and will strengthen confessional ghettos as well as reinforce the strongholds of current political and economic powers over “the constituencies” falling within their jurisdiction.  This of course is music to the ears of profiteers namely investors, real estate traders and banks.  The President of LCPS, Sami Atallah, and member of the special decentralization committee formed by former MP Negib Mikati and former president Michel Suleiman, noted that it is important to move towards implementing decentralization however he criticized the draft law especially since past experiences in dealing with the private sector were not promising. In addition, he added that the draft law preceded the endorsement of the still pending private-public partnership law and granted the “the private partner” some important legal waivers.  On the other hand, former Minister and head of the decentralization committee, Ziad Barud, noted that it will be indeed dangerous to strip municipalities from their resources and prerogatives while shifting these to another power. Nevertheless we reassured that there will be no interference with the present powers of the municipalities within their geographical domains, and that regional councils will have no authority over them. He added by saying that achieving decentralized development requires first and foremost the reform of the central state.
Within the same vein,. Expert Ibrahim Mehanna suggested that municipalities issue special bonds to finance projects same as the case of municipalities in the USA where the real estate assets owned by the municipalities act as a guarantee for their debts. However, researcher and former minister Charbel Na7has noted that copying the US experience in Lebanon will bring in disastrous results especially in view of the fact that the “place of residence” and “place of work” are not the same as the civil register.  Na7has added that within the present socio-economic system, municipalities are de facto cooperatives of real estate holders thus explaining the “creative” exercises in appropriating and apportioning municipality and public properties.
 
Source: Al-Akhbar 18 July 2014