News

The Minister of Industry, Dr. Hajj Hassan Hussein, launched last week, a project entitled “Supporting the production capacity of hosting communities in Lebanon” which is implemented by UNIDO in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and with a USD 600,000 grant from the Japanese government.
UNIDO expects that this project will yield 300 new employment opportunities and will allow an unidentified number of small and medium industries in the Bekaa to respond to the purchasing needs of aid agencies in addition to exchanging technical skills between Syrian dis0placed and host communities with emphasis on including youth and women.  The sectors targeted include furniture, textile, and aluminum work. UNIDO’s regional representative, Cristiano Pasini, noted that host communities in poor rural areas are unable to adapt with minimum livelihood requirements and, as such, UNIDO will support the production capacities of industrialists in this area and will allow them to reach various markets.  The Minister spoke about the impact of the Syrian crisis especially on the industrial sector and noted that the project will help this sector through rehabilitating and equipping some small and medium industries in the Bekaa.
Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Diyar, Al-Akhbar, Al-Safir 30 June 2014

A laboratory for olive oil testing was inaugurated in Kfarshima last week within the framework of the “Lebanon oil” project which is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the ICU institute and with financial support from the Italian government.  The event took place was under the auspices of the Minister of Agriculture, Akram Chehayeb, who stressed the importance of this laboratory which is capable of carrying out all kinds of tests according to international standards and criteria.  Chehayeb called for further collaboration to support the olive oil sector so that it becomes a high quality and highly competitive product. For his part, the Italian Ambassador, Giuseppe Morabito, noted that this laboratory is the result of a long term commitment by the Italian Cooperation in support of the agricultural sector in Lebanon through the implementation of several projects in the field of comprehensive local development, improvement olive oil quality, and the carrying out a number of scientific and maritime researches.

Source: Al-Nahar 30 June 2014

Ms. Tanya Musallem, assistant general director and director of finance and business development at the BLC bank, was recently appointed vice-president of the Global banking Alliance for Women GBA in recognition for her commitment to developing a number of programmes which assist women to grow their businesses and benefit from banking services designed specifically for them such as the Women Empowerment (WE-Initiative).
Musallem joined BLC bank in 2008 and represents it in the board of the Global banking Alliance for Women since September 2013.  She possesses 18 years of experience of working with banking and financial institutions and has graduated from AUB and ESSEC in France. To be noted that the Global banking Alliance for Women includes a number of the most established and largest financial and banking institution on the international markets and operates individual and collective initiatives aiming at facilitating women’s involvement in businesses, money markets and banking.

Source: Al-Akhbar 30 June 2014

INSAN released last week the findings of its study conducted with employers and migrant domestic workers regarding their views of the Kafala (sponsorship) system which regulates the employment of migrant women domestic workers in Lebanon and their views of possible alternatives which could better secure the rights of both parties.  The event took place during a press conference held by INSAN under the auspices of the Minister of Labour, Sejaan Azzi.
Azzi insisted that the need to abide by the Lebanese labor laws which, according to him, guarantees the full rights and dignity of migrant workers.  He added that he did not mind “overplaying” the problem of the rights of migrant workers but it is unacceptable to make the country look as if it does not respect their rights especially that Lebanon contributed to drafting the Charter of Human Rights (!!?) and Lebanon has the first labor law in the region.  He insisted that migrant workers are “comfortable” in Lebanon and that is why they come here (!!!!?).  He added that Lebanon has a labor law, a Ministry of Labor, general security and police and anybody who feels unjustly treated can go to any of them.  He reiterated his proposal to abolish employment offices, if sending countries agree. In that case migrant workers should take full responsibility of their accommodation, food, clothing and medical care.  He added that migrant workers should abide by the law as long as their Lebanese employers pay them a wage which they have accepted.  He added that is there is any abuse by some employers, the responsibility does not lie on the Lebanese side only but also on the side of the migrant workers as wheels and deals do not only start at the airport in Beirut but in the sending countries as well.

Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Diyar 30 June 2014

The Lebanese Physically Handicapped Union organized yesterday a round table with owners of food industries in Lebanon.  The event was entitled “diversity in the workplace” and was organized within the framework of the LPHU social and economic inclusion project.  The workshop was held at the Syndicate’s centre in Sin el Fil and under the auspices of the President of the Syndicate of Food Industrialists, Munir Bsat, with the participation of 13 food manufacturers, and aimed at raising awareness regarding the capacities of people with disabilities as workers, appropriate workplace design and employment adaptations.
Source: Al-Safir 27 June 2014

An Nahar newspaper published a report on wheat farming in Akkar where the farmers are now busy harvesting.  After that, their predicaments will begin in relation to the dates of delivering their harvest to the state (expected in forthcoming July) and low wheat prices which is the main challenge of the sector.
The report indicates that, 45 years ago, wheat planting was the most important culture in the Akkar valley and throughout the Akkar Mohafaza where wheat occupied 70% of planted areas.  Today, wheat planting hardly occupies 20% of that same area while Lebanon is forced to buy wheat to cover local demand.
According to the report, farmers in Akkar are demanding an increase in the price of wheat so as to take into consideration the increasing cost of seeds, medicines, irrigation and agricultural labor.  According to farmer Issam Makhoul, the unit cost of wheat should be increased from LBP 595 to LBP 750 per kilogram so as to recover the production cost.  He added that Akkar will produce this year around 1200 tons of wheat of different varieties only, against an average of 7000 tons during normal harvesting years.
Source: Al-Nahar 26 June 2014

L’Orient le Jour noted in its issue of last Saturday that the total agricultural exports in Lebanon recorded 638369 tons in 2013 of a USD 215.70 million value.  The result recorded in 2013 was 17% higher than that of the previous year. According to the summary report released by BLOM Bank, the agricultural sector witnessed a marked improvement while potentials for better performance have yet to be fulfilled.  Indeed, and despite Lebanon’s clear advantages namely its climate, soil composition and availability of water, the sector is still facing numerous challenges and particularly the recent spillovers of the continuing Syrian crisis.
But despite this, the report adds that the agricultural sector has been able to maintain its economic position during the period extending between 2004 and 2011 and its contribution to the economy amounted to 4.1% of the GDP in 2011, while other sectors’ contribution were higher, such as: commerce (16% of GDP), professional and financial services (7%) each. Furthermore, agricultural activity grew by 8.5% during the period extending between 2004 and 2011, while the GDP grew by 9.1% during the same period. The added value of the agricultural sector grew to USD 1.52 billion in 2011 from USD 792.70 million in 2004. According to the sources of the report, and despite the impact of the Syrian crisis on land transport, Lebanon nevertheless succeeded in taking advantage from that crisis by replacing other countries exporting agricultural products to the Syrian market.
On another level, Lebanon imported in 2013 some 1.9 million tons of agricultural products, valued at USD 922.79 million. Internal consumption reached USD 1.62 billion in the same year, thus Lebanon imported 4 times higher than it exported, resulting in a slight improvement in the continuing imbalance in food security (23.4% exports coverage of imports in 2013, against 19.7% in 2012).
The first destination of Lebanese agricultural exports remains the neighboring Arab countries, with Syria coming first and accounting for 18% of total export, followed by Jordan and KSA.  As for the type of exported products, potato accounted for 17% of the total exported goods, followed by flour (9%), re-exporting coffee (8%) and banana (8%).

Source: L’Orient le Jour 21 June 2014

Within the framework of the project entitled Strengthening the role of parties and unions to enhance women’s political participation which is coordinated by the Rassemblement Democratique de la Femme Libanaise (RDFL), women members of various Lebanese political parties participate alongside other women participants from Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Palestine in an advanced regional training workshop organized over 5 days in Casablanca and which was entitled “Strengthening the role of parties to enhance women political participation”.
Parallel to the training, a special session was organized to present the findings of national studies conducted in the 5 countries on the realities of women’s political participation.  The coordinator of the project, lawyer Manar Zeaiter, noted that it is now high time to strengthen the participation of women in political parties and trade unions so that they become part of decision making through challenging stereotypes about women and fostering partnership between women and men as well as creating regional networks to support women and challenge violations of their rights.

Source: Al-Akhbar, Al-Nahar 27 June 2014
For further information about the project, please refer the previous news published on the WEEPortal on 13/6/2014, An EU-funded new empowerment project to strengthen Arab women's political participation and challenge exclusion from decision making
 

My Nationality is a Right for me and my Family Campaign organized a symbolic sit-in yesterday at the Ryad Solh Plaza with the participation of some 300 Lebanese women married to non-nationals and their families who came from all parts of Lebanon to protest the last minuite action of former President Michel Suleyman who granted Lebanese nationality to some 700 nationals right before his end of his mandate.  Women considered that this irresponsible action was dictated by confessional considerations.  Slogans cited during the sit in included: “Our rights are not to be purchased or sold”.  Other slogans asked for the nationality without clientelism and favoritism.
During the protest, the coordinator of the Campaign, Lina Abou Habib, highlighted that after a quick review of the names which received this gift, it was obvious that confessional and other narrow considerations were given primacy and that the President ignored the various excuses that the state was putting forward for not reforming the nationality law particularly the issue of right to return for Palestinian people.  The statement of the Campaign wondered which consideration took primacy over the politicians’ eternal arguments against reforming the nationality law.  The Campaign also wondered the reason for this hasty and secretive move.  The Campaign also confirmed that this sit in will be followed by many others and that the Campaign’s aspiration is for a new President who respects women and citizenship rights.
Miriam Ghazal, one of the Campaign activists lambasted politicians and questions their motives and spoke of the hardship and humiliation of Lebanese women married to non nationals.  She also challenged politicians who want to reinstate Lebanese nationality to thirds and fourth degree generations of immigrants who have little connections to Lebanon and are least likely to return.  She confirmed that women’s right to nationality is neither for purchase or sale. Lawyer Iqbal Dughan reminded politicians that women are not alien to their countries and that the constitution safeguards equality.

Source: Al-Akhbar, Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Nahar, Al-Diyar, L’Orient Le Jour, The Daily Star 26 Jun 2014

The British and Lebanese Ministries of Foreign affairs issued a statement in both Arabic and English which said the following: “Speaking from the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, both ministers agreed to tackle human rights violations as part of their governments’ responses to the Syrian refugee crisis, and reaffirmed that rape and sexual violence destroy whole communities and ruin the lives of women and men, boys and girls. The ministers agreed that it was time to act to deliver practical change on the ground”.
This statement came as the outcome of a meeting between Lebanese and British Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Gebran Bassil and William Haig, which was held within the framework of the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict and which was held in London (include official name and link).  Bassil insisted on Lebanon’s commitment to maintain its pioneering role in the Levant as a warrior against sexual violence during conflict as well as peaceful times.  He also noted that Lebanon has defied terrorism and is a major human rights defender.

Source: Al-Nahar 26 June 2014

For more information on the Global summit or the joint statement, please refer to the following link: Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict