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The Daily Star newspaper, published last Monday an interview conducted with entrepreneur Zeina Yazbeck Awwad, as part of its weekly articles on pioneer Lebanese women.  Awwad talked about the lifelong dilemma of striking a work-life balance that women have faced ever since entering the workforce.  According to Awwad, all attempts to strike “the ideal balance” are impossible to achieve and that a woman who tells you otherwise is not being truthful".  Awwad further added that all talk about quality time and super women is nonsense.”
Awwad is originally an optometrist, and she introduced the renowned French eyewear chain Alain Afflelou to the Lebanese market back in 1999 when she was already married and had her first child. She admits though that she had to renounce top posts she occupied during her long career every time she felt her kids needed her. Awwad was the general manager at Obegi Better Home.  She also occupied the role of director in Asia and the Middle East of Medica, a cosmetic and aesthetic pharmaceutical firm, until she recently opened her own beauty parlor and nail care center, Emak Urban Spa, right before she earned a degree in management from Beirut’s Ecole Superieure des Affaires.
Awwad believes that in a patriarchal society like in Lebanon, where the law does not protect women, being financially independent is an obligation rather than a choice.  She concludes that she has no recipe for success for other women, adding that what worked for her might not work for others.
Source: The Daily Star 11 June 2014

Al Hayat newspaper published a report about Arab women's political participation especially following the recent series of revolts in the region.  The report notes that Arab women are still excluded from decision making although they constitute half of society.  The report also notes that there are growing concerns that women may lose gains made with the return of traditional gender roles in the region.
The report presents information on a regional project entitled “Strengthening the role of parties and unions to enhance women’s political participation”, which is implemented by a number of organisations in the Arab region namely: The Feminist Studies Centre (Palestine), Centre for Egyptian Women's Legal Assistance (Egypt), Arab Institute for Human Rights (Tunisia and Morocco), Rassemblement Democratique des Femmes Libanaises (Lebanon).  The project is funded by Oxfam Novib and the European Union and seeks to break the traditional image which associates women's political participation with particular age and profession groups.  The project targets the youth and aims at boosting women’s participation at the decision making levels and not just within the rank and file of political parties and trade unions.
The regional coordinator of the project, Manar Zeaiter from RDFL, notes that women are significantly present in Lebanese political parties and trade unions but do not take part in decision making.  She added that women in political parties do not carry a women agenda and do not act to demand for women's rights.  The project thus will focus on organising seminars and workshops for women in collaboration with political parties and trade unions on issues important for women such as family laws, women's work and other issues.  Zeaiter notes that independent women are also targeted by the project through the organisation of training workshops on political participation.  As such the project will target women who would like to participate in municipal or parliamentary elections and who have had some experience in this field so that they are able to overcome obstacles such as patriarchal mindsets.
Source: Al-Hayat 12 June 2014

The Minister of Industry, Dr. Hussein Hajj Hassan, presided last wednesday the first meeting of the steering committee of the project entitled “Development of Creative Industries Clusters”, which is implemented by UNIDO with financial support from the EU and the Italian embassy.  Participants in the meeting included representatives of the association of Lebanese industrialists, trade unions of furniture producers, textile producers, handicrafts, interior designers, Kafalat and the Beirut Creative Coalition.

The meeting started with a presentation by the regional director of UNIDO in Vienna, Gerardo Patacconi, who gave an overview of the project and clarified that it favors the dissemination of information and sharing of knowledge through specialised centres which will be available for on-going and potential projects for cultural and creative production.  The project will includes a training component hat will encourage the sharing of best practices.  Patacconi noted that special attention will be given to creating commercial links between institutions that supports coalitions south of the Mediterranean, with the European Union, with international buyers so as to increase sustainability.  UNIDO regional representative, Cristiano Pasini, explained for his part that the project seeks to strengthen productivity on Lebanon in addition to providing support to small and medium enterprises involved in cultural and creative production as well as to increase their competitiveness on the international market, create new employment opportunities, achieve growth in the region and consequently achieve sustainable development.

Minister Hajj Hassan thanked the European Union and the Italian government for funding this project and added that efforts are on-going to conclude agreements with international customers interested in Lebanese products.  He called on the representatives of the attending syndicates of industries to start with the needed preparations to join this project.

Source: Al-Diyar, Al-Safir 12 June 2014

Al Nahar newspaper of today reported in its security and judicial news section that, "Adugna Freeza, a women domestic worker, of Ethiopian nationality, was found dead inside her room at her employer’s house, in the town of Kal7at in Koura, after dying from asphyxiation with a hair tie, and that investigations are being conducted to find out the causes of her death”. The reporting of this piece of news, in this form is indeed a cause of great concern and raises serious questions about the role of the associations working to protect domestic workers, particularly in view of their responsibility to shed lights on the true circumstances of the death. Also worrying is the lack of attention by the media, notwithstanding the National News Agency which reported the event in only one sentence.
Source: Al-Nahar 12 June 2014

Safadi Foundation organized yesterday a training workshop on personal development.  The aim of the workshop was to enhance the productive role of women participating in the on-going project entitled: "the exploitation of local resources for the development of the rural economy in Akkar", which is part of the EU-funded "Afkar-3" program, aiming at improving the living conditions of women.
Some 35 women participated in the said workshop which was held at "Safadi Center for Agricultural Development" in Deir Dloum - Akkar, under the supervision of the expert in local development and director of the social development sector in the foundation, Samira Baghdadi, and the social expert and director of projects in the sector, Samar Bulos. The project manager, Ghassan Sroor, explained at the beginning of the workshop the social significance of this type of training, especially in terms of motivating women to participate in local and development projects. The participants then discussed women’s concerns, ways to overcome them, how to set goals and priorities and what are the best methods to achieve them. The workshop also discussed ways to take advantage of available community resources that would help in achieving those priorities, in addition to issues of time management.
Source: Al-Diyar 12 June 2014

The women section of the Future Movement started yesterday the implementation of a new series of English language workshops in Kayta3 in Akkar.  This new workshop is being carried out within the framework of activities designed by FM and aiming at empowering women at all levels. The section’s coordinator, Insaf As3ad, indicated that the workshop, which stretches over a period of one month and a half, targets women members of the section and will focus on acquiring the fundamentals of English language in addition to grammar and applications.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 12 June 2014

The investigation judge in Mount Lebanon, Peter Germanos, requested in a presumptive decision, that M.M. accused of murdering his wife, Ruqaya Munther, with a shot gun, be charged with murder according to article 549, clause 4 of the penal code which is subject to capital punishment.
On the other hand, the Council for the Development of Chekka organized earlier this week a seminar on violence against women during which, former Minister Mona Ofeishe intervened along with the deputy DGS of the Communist party, Mary Debs who noted that violence against women is not only domestic but also includes social, political and legal discrimination.  She added that the solution to break the circle of violence is to find a unified civil family code.  Ofeishe spoke about the causes of violence and insisted on the need for new laws and legislations.  She noted that the law to protect women from domestic violence which was endorsed last April was below the expectations of civil society and of women in general and hoped that it will be revised shortly.
Within the same vein, the International Centre for Humanities in Jbail-Byblos affiliated to the UNESCO organized earlier this week an art exhibit to reflect the realities of the life of a Jordanian survivor of childhood violence.  The event was under the auspices of the Minister of Social Affairs represented by the director of the local center of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Dolly Shami and organized by the Lebanese Council to Resist Violence Against Women (LECORVAW).  LECORVAW president, Laura Sfeir, noted that the event is a great step towards changing the lives of abused women as art is a form of expression that is also an important therapy.  Shami for her part spoke of the diverse interventions undertaken by her Ministry to combat gender based violence.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Nahar 11 June

As Safir newspaper published a report on the galloping cost of living in Lebanon and the increase in unemployment and poverty whereas income continues to stagnate.  According to the report, 40 to 50% of graduates emigrate every year and unemployment amongst the youth reaches 34%, according to economic expert, Elie Yashu3i.
Yashu3i notes that given the continued stagnation of the economy in Lebanon, consecutive cabinets and concerned ministries should have taken necessary measures and adopt economic reform policies so as not to reach the present situation.  He emphasized the importance of administrative decentralization through the election of local councils, the formation of development cabinets which would take care of key issues of concerns as well as levy taxes and sign contracts with the private sector.
The report also conveys the realities of Lebanese women who are no longer able to bear the brunt of further pressure.  Leila Khoury for instance (widow and mother of three) works three jobs and notes that she does not make enough money to cover her needs and those of her family namely utility bills, school tuitions, rent, transportation, etc… as she makes a total on LBP 1.5 million a month whereas her bills amount to twice as much.  The report notes that Leila’s story is similar to many who have limited income in a country that does not provide social benefit.  The report adds that the country average growth rate has not exceeded 1% in 2013 at a time when 1,700,000 people are now living in poverty and where the minimum wage is stuck at LBP 675,000.
Source: Al-Safir 11 June 2014

Smart centre for media and advocacy launched yesterday a series of workshops in South Lebanon as part of the second phase of its She-Leads project.  The event was held at the South Lebanon Cultural Centre which is located in Nabatieh, with the participation of 50 women from Nabatyeh, Kfeir, Saida and Harouf as well as Smart’s partners in South Lebanon.  Smart’s director, Samar al Yassir, noted that the second phase of the project targets a diverse group of women from North Lebanon, Kesrwan and Nabatyeh and aims to train them to become decision makers in their communities and to become more effective politically, socially and economically.  A number of representatives of Smart partners then spoke notably Doha Sabbagh, from “For a better Nabatieh” association, Amani Shakarun, from Development for People and Nature Association (DPNA),  and Samar Nawfal, from Women Empowerment Support Association– Kfeir, who praised the importance of the programme in supporting and empowering women in their localities.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 11 June 2014

Pioneer Women association worked with 70 women in all Lebanese governorates, building their capacities in preparation for the next municipal elections in 2016.  This work was carried out within the framework of the project entitled “women in municipalities”.  After this first phase, women who participated in the various training events were required to assess the needs of their localities and to organize a number of activities aimed at improving the situation in their locations as well as to bring in awareness, positive change and strengthen and visibilise the professional work that women can do in municipalities.  Within that framework, the Beqaa women group organized last Friday a seminar entitled “strengthening the role of women in municipalities”.  The event aimed at encouraging women to engage in municipal work and to seek decision making positions.  The seminar started with a presentation of the objectives and activities of the “Women in Municipalities” project. This was followed by several interventions of women from the audience and was concluded with recommendations on ways which would empower women to engage further in civil society and in public life.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 11 June 2014