News

CSOs and human rights organizations organized last week a meeting within the framework of the project entitled “Reinforcing policies and the practices of human rights in women prisons in Lebanon”, aimed at addressing a number of issues related to human rights within women prisons notably in relation to the situation of pregnant and lactating women as well as the right to comprehensive health care.
The meeting was convened at the premises of the prisons directorate and in collaboration with the directorate for prisons within the Ministry of Justice which was represented by Judge Raja Abi Nader.  Discussions revolved around women prisoners’ right to education, work and rehabilitation as well as to benefits from legal stipulations for diminished sentences as well as to communication with their families.
Judge Abi Nader shared the official strategy adopted by the directorate for prisons and highlighted actions carried out now and in pipeline for the future.  Representatives of participating organizations proposed various forms of collaboration with the directorate so as to help the state as well as the prison authorities in meeting international human rights standards.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 3 March 2014

The scientific, social and environmental club of Ayruniyyeh – Baddawi organized last week a seminar entitled “CEDAW safeguards your rights”, which focused on women’s rights and legislations covered by CEDAW and attended by the Club’s president, Mr. Moustafa Abulaziz Saadeh , the President of Equality Association Sara2 Dannaoui, the media man Wafiq Houari, and with the participation of a number of Lebanese and Syrian displaced women and activists.

Saadeh begun by welcoming the participants and called for pooling efforts of civil society and the state so as to contribute to the advancement of the nation.  Houari then introduced the Convention and highlighted its importance and its pioneering role in spreading awareness.  He spoke of some mechanisms to address discrimination against women and went through legislation which protects women’s rights.  The seminar concluded with a question and answers session and booklets on CEDAW and on women’s rights distributed to the audience.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 3 March 2014

The commander of the East sector at the UNIFIL, Brigadier General Francisco Dakoba inaugurated last week a vocational training centre for women affiliated to the agricultural cooperative in the village of Taybeh, in cooperation with the union of municipalities of Jabal Amel.  The centre includes a pastry and bakery workshop and was made possible via a donation of USD 25,000 from UNIFIL.  In his opening address, Dakoba noted that this project reflects UNIFIL commitment to improving women’s livelihoods as well as reinforcing their community role, adding that it comes as the culmination of cooperation with the union of municipalities in Jabal Amel.  Other new projects will also be implemented this year including one sewing and embroidery training center to be located in Majdal Selem, a dairy production unit in Hula and a carob press in Kabreekha.
Source: Al-Nahar 3 March 2014

The new Minister of Industry, Dr. Hajj Hassan, spoke during a dinner convened in his honor by former Minister of Tourism, Fadi Abboud, earlier this week, outlining a number of measures which if adopted by his Ministry will result in raising exports and the share of industry in GDP from 11% to 17%.  Hajj Hassan detailed some of these measures which include making sure that the proposed  50% tax waivers on profits of domestic industries is endorsed by the current parliament, following up with the Minister of Finance the discussions on the issue of the recovery of the Value Added Tax on industrial machineries.  Other proposed measures include creating a credit line to finance exports with low interest rates, addressing the current imbalance in foreign trade, doubling exports. Hajj Hassan also mentioned the need to address those issues related to transportation with the Minister of Public Works and the heads of the seaport authority, and transportation companies, while focusing on other important issues such as lowering the high production costs, the setting up of industrial zones, guaranteeing sufficient energy supply, addressing problems related to the work force and social security, etc...  Hajj Hassan also noted that he will aim to develop the Ministry of Industry at the organisational, structural, human resource-related and material levels despite the short lifespan of his Ministry.
Finally, Hajj Hassan expressed his support to the idea of creating industrial zones run by the private sector whilst ensuring that education and research are linked to industry. He also emphasized the importance of strengthening industrial research centres so as to allow the sector to regain its creativity and help industrialists to develop their companies through finding ways to help them decrease the cost of production and to adopt new technologies.
For his part, former Minister Abbood hoped that the Lebanese industry can make a quantum leap in the near future and highlighted the importance of collaboration that seeks to increase productivity in the sector. He spoke of the various challenges and prohibitive costs that burden the industrialists in the face of stiff competition from neighboring countries where production costs are lower than in Lebanon.  Finally, Abbood also criticised the previous government decisions to abolish protection taxes in compliance with demands of the World Trade Organisation.
Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Diyar, Al-Safir 27 February 2014

As Safir newspaper published a report today about the rampant unemployment amongst Lebanese graduates.  The report pointed out to the plight of young people who try to find decent employment which are commensurate with their studies.  The report also relays the views of employers concerning the imbalances in the Lebanese market which pushes young people to take any job, emigrate or remain indefinitely unemployed.
The report shares a number of stories of young people who have graduated from different specializations and who are trying to find jobs within these specializations and end up forcibly taking jobs as waiters or salespersons to secure their livelihoods.  Other young people resort to emigration to any country which will provide them with a job and a decent living.  On the other hand, employers find themselves in front of a golden opportunity with the influx of displaced people who take on jobs with low salaries.  A restaurant owner in Beirut, Tony Matar, says that whereas students start working in restaurants or cafes to earn a living while studying, they find themselves continuing to work there for many years for lack of other better opportunities.  George Saab, a show shop owner in Beirut notes that many young people with university degrees ask to have any job so that they are able to live even if these jobs are below their expectations.
According to the President of the General Confederation of Lebanese Workers (CGTL), Ghassan Ghosn, there is a glaring absence of coordination amongst relevant Ministries and universities. This situation is highly detrimental to the youth as only 1 of 5 young graduates is able to find a job.  He adds that most young people choose to study business, law and literature which are now in surplus as the job market of today needs more technical experts in applied mechanics, electricity and others.  Ghosn went on to day that after the civil war, the Lebanese economy was transformed which depends on “royalties” from real estate and financial markets and other similar sectors which do not sufficiently create jobs.  Meanwhile, productive sectors which could potentially create thousands of jobs were neglected.  Consequently, Ghosn highlighted the importance for the current and subsequent governments to adopt policies that would ensure reaching the equilibrium between supply (education) and demand (job market).
Finally, Ghosn noted the absence of a serious humanitarian policy to address the problems of displaced people from Syria, thus leaving Lebanese workers in the face of serious foreign competition as displaced workers often have the kind of technical specializations that are in demand in Lebanon and are likely to accept lower wages.
Source: Al-Safir 28 February 2014

Rassemblement Democratique des Femmes Libanaises (RDFL) issued a statement yesterday highlighting the very low representation of women in this cabinet despite the persistent demands for a fair representation as well as the adoption of the women quota.  The statement acknowledges the nomination of Minister Alice Chabtini following the intervention and recommendation of the President of the Republic.  RDFL demanded in its statement that the current new Cabinet includes rightful women's issues in its Ministerial statement and work towards bringing justice to women suffering from a historical marginalisation of their rights, and exert pressures for adopting the draft law for the protection of women against domestic violence that still awaits the awakening of the consciences of the parliamentarians, whilst domestic violence cases is on the rise in Lebanon.  The statement further outlines the key demands namely women's right to nationality, reform of the penal code, labor law and national social security provisions, an end to the exclusion of women from active participation in the political and public life, the adoption of a civil law for personal status, and the lifting of reservations on CEDAW.  Furthermore, RDFL highlights the need to address the plight of Syrian women refugees and asked the government to take due responsibility and put in place protection measures to challenge violence and exploitation.
The women organisation concluded by hoping that this new phase will be an entry point for the state to honor its international commitment and to abolish all forms of discrimination and violence against women, as well as ensure that all women in Lebanon are free from injustice and exclusion.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Nahar 28 February 2014

Fekr wa 7ayat Association concluded yesterday its ICT and English training for women which was organised in B7neen-Minyeh within the framework of its project entitled "economic empowerment of Syrian and Lebanese Women 2013/2014".  The project was funded by the small grants programme of the American Embassy in Beirut, and extended over a four months period and targeted Syrian and Lebanese women who attended it free of charge, received coverage for their transportation costs while participating in various cultural and leisure activities. The project seeks to empower Lebanese and Syrian women and to help them build their skills so that they can find work and thus face their daily social and economical challenges.  These completed trainings were the first phase of the project. The subsequent phase will begin in March and will include training in handicrafts.
It is to be noted that the association organized last week, within the framework of the same project, a workshop about CEDAW.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 28 February 2014

Mohammad Karaki, the Director General of the National Social Security Fund, presented a paper entitled "Social protection policies and their role in sustainable development" at the second Arab Foreign for Development and employment which was convened in the city of Riyadh (KSA), and which was entitled "towards social protection and sustainable development".
Karaki highlighted the key dimensions of sustainable development namely economic, environmental and social dimensions. He pointed out to the importance of each in achieving social justice as well as ensuring that there are necessary policies and measures to increase the outreach of social coverage in the Arab region.  Karaki also spoke of ways to address challenges which are facing social security systems namely in relation to the rise in unemployment rates and ways to create new job opportunities.
Karaki addressed the importance of applying economic policies which will improve the investment environment and will expand the job market as well as the educational system.  He also recommended the adoption of policies for ensuring social protection especially for those working in the informal sector and concluded by insisting on the importance of securing health coverage for all citizens as well as creating work for women so as to improve the livelihoods for their families.
Source: Al-Diyar, Al-Mustaqbal 27 February 2014

Women organisations from parts of Mount Lebanon issued a statement yesterday congratulating the formation of the new Cabinet with the appointment of a woman Minister, Judge Alice Chabtini, to hold the Ministry of the Displaced.  The statement highlights the general positive climate which reigned over Lebanon and its citizens following the formation of the new Cabinet and acknowledges the efforts of President Suleiman, Premier Tammam Salam, as well as the contribution of MP Walid Joumblat in bringing together people and points of view.  The statement hoped for continued rapprochement for the benefit of the country and thanked the President for nominating Minister Shabtini, a women figure well known for her competence, vast knowledge and integrity.  The statement concluded by hoping that the next Cabinet will be fairer to women so as to achieve equal citizenship amongst all.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 27 February 2014

UN ESCWA launched in Tunis the day before yesterday its latest report entitled Arab Integration: A 21st Century Development Imperative.  The report provides a comprehensive and strategic vision on "Arab complementarity" and was put together by a collection of Arab and international consultants, intellectuals, and experts who concurred to concluded that there are little prospects for complementarily in the Arab region with the continued state of fragmentation between Arab countries.  The authors considered that Arab collective action should focus on the protection of common interests and securing national sovereignty.
The report reviews the main milestones of Arab complementarity in economics, politics, culture, and popular solidarity.  The report begins with a review of the main pillars of complementarity in the region and demonstrates through accurate and factual analysis that simple measures such as reducing transportation costs and increasing exchange of manual labour amongst Arab states can increase regional domestic product by more than USD 750 billions in a matter of just a few years and will also secure more than 6 million new jobs.  The report also reconfirms that the Arab populations still suffer from widespread poverty, unemployment and malnutrition in addition to endemic corruption and social injustice.  Indeed, one fifth of Arab populations still lives within the poverty line while one fourth of its youth and one fifth of its women remain unemployment, and that malnutrition now affects some 50 million Arab. The report also notes that some of the Arab civil societies are now ahead of their governments in terms of pan-Arab collaboration, particularly at the level of popular action and cross borders collaboration, that have surpassed in importance many of formal initiatives for cooperation  undertaken by Arab regional institutions. In many instances, regional networking was able to tackle and successfully overcame the still dispread official constraints on freedom of organisation in the region by largely using modern ICT.
The report also notes that aspirations for economic union was never achieved except through a largely unsuccessful regional trade agreement, amongst poorly productive economy, which largely served the flow of capital within the framework of specific economic activities which generate rapid and large profit margins.  As such, obstacles to the setting up of a unified common Arab market remain strong, also hindering the implementation of present agreements.
Within the same vein, the report goes through the concept of Human “Nahda” whilst noting its three main pillars namely safeguarding freedom and human dignity for all, creating a diversified productive infrastructure and encouraging a creative culture.  The report suggests a series of strategic guidelines for supporting regional collaboration towards and Arab Nahda based once more on three elements: political collaboration to support democratic good governance, strengthening economic complementarity by implementing present agreements and aiming to revive the project of Arab economic union, cultural and educational reform aiming at developing creativity among citizens so as to build vibrant knowledge societies.
In his address during the event, former Lebanese PM Najib Mikati noted that the key factors that have hindered Arab complementarity remain: the occupation of Palestine and the creation of the state of Israel, oppression that hinders development, and the spread of extremism which has recently taken religious forms and which has grown because of the absence of freedom, rampant poverty, unemployment, poor education and a lack of justice.  He added that Lebanon is in dire need of Arab complementarity and solidarity from the other Arab countries
Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Safir, Al-Hayat 27 February 2014