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82% of migrant women workers (MWW) in Lebanon are bound into forced labor whereas 62% of them work between 16 to 20 hours a day and 53% work for more than 17 hours a day.  54% have their salaries confiscated for one or more months and 90% are not allowed to travel on their won.  In addition some 91% are not allowed to have a week-end break and 50% are locked at home.  According to the same source, 10% of MWW are subjected to sexual violence through intimate touching reaching to rape.  The study undertaken by Kafa association also revealed that intermediaries and employment offices in the home countries often abuse the vulnerable situation of workers from Nepal and Bangladesh giving them false information about the nature of the work they are brought into.

The above findings were the result of a study implemented by Kafa and the Legal Agenda, entitled “Trafficking migrant domestic workers from Nepal and Bangladesh into Lebanon” and intended to document some of the violations against migrant women domestic workers in an effort to compare them with the known indicators of trafficking and forced labor.  These results were shared during a press conference, entitled “Promoting Migrant Domestic Workers' Rights by Addressing the Migration Continuum between Origin Country and Lebanon”, and organised yesterday by Kafa in collaboration with Anti-Slavery International, and the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT). The event revealed the clear discrepancy between the actual situation of migrant women workers and the aspirations of civil society organisations on the one hand, and the policies of the Ministry of Labor and the procedures it follows on the other.  As Safir newspaper, which covered the press conference, noted that the results of the study shows a definite match with indicators used to assess trafficking and forced labor.  For his part the Minister of Labor, Selim Jreissaty, painted a rosy picture of the achievements of his Ministry thus far, at a time when civil society organisations are openly demanding that MWW be integrated in the Lebanese labor law.  The Minister insisted that a special new law for migrant worker was prepared for discussion within the cabinet that places MWW outside the remit of the labor law.  He also dismissed any possibility that the National Employment Agency be entrusted with the recruitment of MWW, while describing the latter agency as a dead corpse.
In another vein, As Safir published a report about the situation of foreign women married to Palestinian refugees and the difficulties they are facing in acquiring residency permits and authorizations to enter some camps such as Ain el Helweh.  The report quoted a young Palestinian man married to an Algerian woman who noted that although there have been several demand memos submitted to the Lebanese government with regards to the civil rights of Palestinian refugees residing in Lebanon, however, none of these memos addressed the issue of Palestinians married to Arab and foreign women despite their high number which is estimated at 5000 people.  The report ends by pointing out to clause 12th of the Constitution, and which accordingly three years renewable residency permits are issued to those wishing to live in Lebanon provided a cost of 300,000 annually and 1,500,000 for those who wish to work.
Source: Al-Safir, Al-Nahar, Al-Safir 15 January 2014

The Rassemblement Democratique des Femmes Libanaises (RDFL) issued yesterday a press release stressing the importance of positively responding to the demands of Lebanese women and honoring their rights to political participation especially since the principle of equality is enshrined in the Constitution and is part of Lebanon’s commitment to eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence against women and to operationalise women’s political participation and ensure equal chances of access to decision making positions.
RDFL reiterated their repeated call directed to political circles urging them to work towards banning all forms of discrimination against women and ensuring that women will be part of the next Cabinet formation so that women can actively take part in deciding the political course of the country.  RDFL added that excluding women from the Cabinet undermines their citizenship and therefore their demands. The statement also noted that this call is coming at a time when feminist action is progressing noticeably at local, regional and international levels, and that women have over the past few years struggled against oppression and for the realization of democracy, justice, freedom, dignity and human rights and have always been an integral part of national struggle.
Source: Al-Diyar, Al-Akhbar, Al-Safir 15 January 2014

As Safir newspaper published yesterday an article by Moussa Freiji, an expert in agricultural economy on the present economic policies in Lebanon.  The author criticized the current economic paradigms that have been upheld by consecutive governments.  One of such faulty principles is the assumption that opening and deregulating markets will encourage investment thus the need for Lebanon to join WTO so as to affect its current export levels. Furthermore, Lebanese politicians have repeatedly stressed that by joining the Arab common market, Lebanon is likely to have market access to more than 350 million people in the Arab region.  Freiji also criticized the common held belief that migration is a blessing since it results the increase of remittances which in turn contribute to offsetting the trade deficit as well as the widely held myth that Lebanon is essentially a service and tourist country where the costs of production are high and thus production is not viable and can easily be sacrificed.
Freiji highlights the dire realities that have resulted from following such policies noting the current regression in tourism as well as in a number of industries, such as clothes, shoes, medicines and handicrafts.  He also was critical of the role of IDAL which was supposed to give a boost to external marketing but which became a mere office to monitor and control subsidized agricultural exports.  Most agricultural production have also been negatively affected and now only survive those agricultural sectors enjoying some level of custom protection and those receiving direct financial subsidies from the state such as wheat and sugar beet production.  Meanwhile and also according to the author, 75% of university and technical schools graduates have permanently migrated to Arab and other countries because of the dearth of employment opportunities in Lebanon.
Freiji adds that the solution resides in adopting a broad policy based on job creation through investment in productive projects whilst imposing efficient customs protection, providing investment opportunities for migrant Lebanese to encourage them to return, protecting domestic products, encouraging exports and specific policies that aim at protecting local consumption, national production and intellectual property.  The author also noted that none of the ministerial statements issued since 1990 included any clear and realistic reference as to how the dire economic situation can be addressed save by using some vague and vacuous words.  However, various governments have defended protection policies that have favored non-productive sectors thus further fuelling unemployment and migration.
Source: Al-Safir 14 January 2014

Al Akhbar newspaper published a report on the legal procedures for registering a civil marriage in Lebanon.  According to the newspaper, the Ministry of Interior is dragging its feet in registering contracted civil marriage in an effort to keep the phenomenon “unusual”while ten civil marriages have indeed been contracted in Lebanon during last year.
Al Akhbar recounts the story of Suleiman Gasbatian who contracted a civil marriage last month in the Shouf area after deleting the reference to his confession from his civil register.  A reminder that this move allows the concerned citizen to contract a civil marriage in Lebanon as per the decree of French Higher Commissioner 60 L.R. of the year 1936. Although this particular civil marriage contract was exchanged more than six months ago and the file submitted to the concerned authorities, namely the General Directorate of Personal Status, it has yet to be registered by the Ministry of Interior.  According to legal researcher, Talal al Husseini, the civil register officer is required by law to undertake this procedure in no more than 24 hours after receiving the file and request for registration.
The Minister of Interior, Marwan Charbel, noted for his part that the files need to be “studied” and that there are no intentions to stonewall.  He added that “there are more than 600,000 pending files in his ministry (!!?), and that there are other priorities”.  In commenting on Charbel’s statement, the newspaper notes that the Ministry has no remit except to register these marriages.  Lawyer Nizar Saghieh said that the Ministry is placing all these hurdles and is resorting to delay to ensure that civil marriage is no regular and straightforward occurrence in Lebanon.  He added that the justification used that the files are “being studied” is nothing but an effort to gain time in this process.  However, Saghieh notes that what is of serious concern is the fact that the state has given itself the authority to investigate people’s beliefs and intentions and especially so in the case of those who have deleted their confessions from their civil.  Saghieh adds that this is in clear violation of individual freedoms and freedom of belief.
Source: Al-Akhbar 14 January 2014

The Tunisian Constituting Assembly endorsed last Thursday a new chapter in the Tunisian Constitution which recognizes gender equality and brings in gender parity in representation in elected councils.  Indeed, Chapter 45 of the new text voted by 116 out of 188 stipulates the following “The state is committed to the protection of acquired rights for women and works to support and develop her. The state shall endeavour to achieve the principle of parity between men and women in elected councils. The state shall take measures to ensure the elimination of violence against women”. The Constituting Assembly had also adopted a historical amendment namely clause 20 voted by 159 of 169 parliamentarians namely that: “All male and female citizens have the same rights and duties. They are equal before the law without discrimination”
Lebanese Speaker of the House, Mr. Nabih Berri, congratulated the President of the Constituent Assembly of Tunisia, Mustapha Ben Jafar, for the major achievement of consecrating gender equality in the text of the Constitution.  He also hoped that Arab constitutional bodies will emulate Tunisia in ensuring gender equality and in abolishing discriminatory laws.  Berri further hoped that Lebanon will be the first to follow suit.
Source: Al-Nahar 14 January 2014

During the past few days, newspapers in Lebanon reported intensively on Fatima an Nashar, a new victim of family violence, perpetrated this time by her husband, her brother in law and her mother in law as a result of which she was admitted to the Islamic Hospital after Minister Faysal Karami decided to pay her medical bill, and that many hospitals refused to admit her as she does not carry her ID card.  Abdallah al Nashar, the victim’s father shared the details of the attack on his daughter who is pregnant and also a mother of three children the eldest being four years of age.  The father noted that his son in law is a soldier in the Lebanese army and has been frequently assaulting his daughter forcing her to flee her house and to go back to her parents.  Fatmeh had only returned to her husband 3 days before  the latter violently attacked her and threatened her and her family with his machine gun.  Fatmeh was subsequently discharged from the hospital and returned to her father’s house yesterday whilst the internal security forces arrested her husband and his brother but were contented with simply questioning her mother in law.
To be noted that the women committee of Dar el Fatwa in Tripoli and the North organised a sit in to express solidarity with Fatmeh.  The president of the said committee, Ms. Maha al Fawal noted that their action was carried out to express their refusal of the culture of violence and aggression in society at large and within family relations.  She called on the judiciary not to be lenient and take on serious measures to contain aggressors and so as to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.  To be noted that the same women body had earlier objected to the law proposal to protect women from domestic violence and this according to Al Akhbar newspaper.
Meanwhile, and on a related vein, the family of victim Roula Yaakoub, mother of four, who passed away more than six months ago after being savagely beaten by her husband, expressed grave concerns, with the discrepancies in the forensic reports issued in Tripoli, and fears of apparent intention to dilute the matter and allow for their daughter’s killer to leave prison.  Indeed, the post mortem forensic reports had established that death was due to a neck break directly caused by the beating.  However, new “forensic reports” are now claiming that the death is due to congenital malformation and is unrelated to the abuse perpetrated by the husband.    To be reminded, two months after the death of their daughter, the family of the victims succeeded in securing an authorization for an inhumation and an autopsy as well as for advanced radiology tests to establish the cause of death.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Safir, Al-Nahar, Al-Akhbar, Al-Mustaqbal, http://www.assafir.com/article.aspx?EditionId=2671&ChannelId=64718&ArticleId=850#.UtT0AZEp4wQ">Al-Safir 11, 13 and 14 January 2014

An Nahar newspaper published an interview with Nada AbdulSater the president of the Lebanese Transparency Association – La Fassad (LTA) who referred to the results of an opinion poll carried out by the association on the views of a sample of companies with regards to corruption in the public sector and where it is located.  The study showed that interviewees considered that civil servants, MPs and political parties are on the top of the corruption list followed by the media and security forces.  The interviewees considered that civil society (!!)and the army are less corrupt than others.
AbdelSater shared their hotline number 01386886 which allows citizens who have witnessed or experienced a situation of corruption to report it.  LTA has also launched a number if branches for the national centre to protect victims and witnesses of corruption.  She added that LTA is working on new initiatives namely training 240 reporters on investigative journalism in addition to strengthening the participation of youth in municipal work through training on transparency and the preparation of municipal budgets.
To be noted that LTA is the Lebanese branch of Transparency International and issues a number of yearly indicators on corruption in addition to regular studies on the level of corruption in the private and in public sector as well as in the military.
Source: Al-Nahar 10 January 2014

As Safir newspaper published a report on the situation of agricultural exports in 2013.  The report noted that these exports are still on the increase in a way that is largely unprecedented.  Indeed, the figures released by the Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture in Zahleh indicated that more than 10000 exports certificates were issued by 30/10/2013 which represented an increase of 2000 certificates compared to the same period in 2012.  
Hence, the volume of agricultural exports from the Beqaa in 2013 increased by 54% compared to 2012, according to the Chamber’s statistics. The report also recorded a 30% increase in the export of potato.  This increase was confirmed by the president of the syndicate of potato growers in the Bekaa, George Sakr, who spoke of a year that was profitable for potato farmers despite the rise in cost of land transport.  According to the Minister of Agriculture, the increase in agricultural export is primarily due to the positive effects of the Syrian crisis which opened new markets for Lebanese farmers as a result of the decrease in competition, namely in both Iraq and Jordan..  The second reason of this good performance is the increased diversity of agricultural products and the opening of new possibilities for export by land, air and by sea, (the latter now accounting for more than 40% of exports). We also emphasised the efforts expanded by his ministry in improving quality as well as following a policy of rational use of pesticides, insisting on lab tests and the return of IDAL and the programme to support exports.
Source: Al-Safir 10 January 2014

The president of Lebanese League for Women in Business (LLWB), Ms. Leila Karameh, visited yesterday, along with a women delegation, the Al S2aeh bookshop and Father Ibrahim Srooj.  The visit was to convey to the bookshop caretaker of the commitment and disposition of the association to extend all possible resources to support the bookshop and the role it plays.  The visitors also condemned actions that undermine tourism, economy and culture. Karameh noted that burning books and manuscripts tantamount to abolishing national roots.  Father Srooj indicated for his part that repairs have already started with the efforts of civil society organisations and with the contributions of individual donors and the business community.
Source: Al-Nahar 10 January 2014

A large number of women and civil society organisations held a sit-in at the museum yesterday calling for “Lebanese families and youth to unite” and reject violence and civil strife.  The protesters launched an appeal on behalf of all mothers in Lebanon calling on politicians to overcome their differences.  Protesters held banners denouncing the abysmal situation in the country and reaffirming their commitment to tolerance and conviviality.
The former president of the Lebanese Women Council, Ms. Linda Matar, called on young women and men as well as on all members of civil society to challenge all those who are feeding into confessional and civil strife.  She noted that together we can impose a democratic system and we can impose a new cabinet who would be concerned in addressing livelihood issues as well as ensuring safety and security.  She also noted that together we can bring about a modern, fair and non-confessional electoral system.
The current president of the Lebanese Women Council, Jamal Hermez, called on the Lebanese to be responsible for their own destiny since politicians have failed given their own hidden allegiances and interests.  She added that the unity of the Lebanese is the only way to overcome the current situation.  The coordinator of Patriotic Allegiance Movement, Princess Hayat Irslan said that those present are the voice of truth, moderation and objectivity which are the basis of real citizenship and who know what is the road to salvation namely through a responsible cabinet and a new electoral law which will bring in a new political class beyond the boundaries of geographical and historical injustice.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Diyar 9 January 2014