News

Beyond association started a series of training workshops targeting Lebanese and Syrian women to empower and protect them from all forms of domestic violence.  The workshops will be held at the organisation’s centres in Nabatyeh and Ansar in South Lebanon, and are implemented in collaboration with Heartland Association, with funding from UNICEF, and include training in hairdressing, beautician, English language and awareness raising on dealing with violence.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 29 November 2013

On the occasion of the International Day to Combat Violence Against Women, The Lebanese Council to Resist Violence against Woman (LECORVAW) launched earlier this week, its contribution to the 16-day World Campaign entitled “From Peace at Home to Peace in the World”.  The Campaign addresses equality amongst women and men, gender based violence, discrimination and early marriage and includes activities to be implemented essentially in Beirut and Tripoli beginning with the holding of a seminar at the Balamand University.  Activities include films viewing as well as interactive theater performances and shows for more than 300 children.  The cycle also includes activities targeting LECORVAW’s own work team on gender based violence in addition to round tables and seminars with women’s groups, clergy and various other associations.
In a related vein, the Lebanese Centre for Civic Education concluded yesterday its project entitled “Let us Work Together to Build Bridges” with an interactive play on violence against women held at the Chyah municipality.  The play highlighted the case of a husband who is against women’s right to work, and underscored the problems arising from patriarchal education which make men stubborn without reasonable cause.
Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Nahar 28 November 2013

Tobacco growers in Shakra (Bint Jbeil) called on tobacco growers to protest and challenge injustice and to reclaim their rights.  Tobacco growers also called for the setting of mechanisms for advocacy which would ensure the redistribution of licenses on the basis of merit, the recognition of tenure, and incorporation in the national social security scheme.  Tobacco growers also asked for a raise in the level of prices of Tobacco delivery, so as to absorb the rising high cost of living by bringing up the price per kilogram to LBP 15,000 as minimum.  Other demands included the reactivation of the Regie Libanaise des Tabacs et Tombacs offices, paying compensation for damages caused by the 2006 Israeli war, purchasing all the harvest by the Regie, abolishing favoritism and parochial practices within the Regie and putting limits to the existing black market.  Tobacco growers threatened that failing to meet their demands will lead to a mass revolt.
In their open letter entitled “from the South to the Nation”, they indicated that more than 11,000 Southern families are involved in the tobacco industry and are suffering from endemic hardship.  They noted that farmers receive a yearly income of USD 3000 from the harvest of 4 dunnums yielding 400 kilos of tobacco per year, an income which is not sufficient to sustain the livelihood of an average family of 5 individuals.  The letter recalls the hard-won battle for setting up a trade union for tobacco growers in Nabatyeh and which cost was in human lives back in 1972 and criticize the weak role of their trade union, in addressing the presently dire situation.  The letter concludes that their trade union has surely been co-opted by the Regie and has, since then, given up on its obligations and commitments.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 28 November 2013

In its report published yesterday, Human Rights Watch highlighted the different forms of sexual abuse, harassment and exploitation subjected to Syrian displaced women by employers, landlords as well as by humanitarian aid workers even in faith based organizations and more generally by members of the local community.
The report was based on individual interviews with 12 Syrian displaced women conducted between the months of August and September 2013.  All interviewees are registered with the UNHCR but none has reported the abuse due essentially to their lack of confidence that the proper authorities will take any action to protect them and because of fear from retaliation by the abusers especially for those who do not have any official paper.
The report urges the Lebanese authorities and the United Nations to improve mechanisms for reporting sexual and all forms of abuses, and to ensure that perpetrators are duly punished.  The report notes that the Ministry of Social Affairs has actually addressed only one case of sexual exploitation and a number of cases of sexual harassment allegedly by one humanitarian aid worker in a faith-based organisation.  The Ministry referred that case to the local Mufti and that person was subsequently sacked from his job.  However, the alleged criminal was not referred to the judicial system and no official investigation was carried out.
The report concludes by highlighting the importance that government and UNHCR structures inform Syrian displaced women of their right to file complaints, and on how to do so.  According to the report, the Ministries of Social Affairs and of Interior should put in place referral mechanisms amongst service providers and law enforcers.
Source: Al-Safir, Al-Akhbar, Al-Nahar, Al-Mustaqbal 28 November 2013

A women group representing the Protection of Lebanese Women Gathering visited Allama Sayyed Ali Fadlallah yesterday to discuss the issue of children’s custody age for the Shiite community and to inform him of the future steps to push forward its cause.  Sheikh Fadlallah called for a thorough social and theological study of the various Sharia interpretations with regards to children’s custody age as well as through the various existing family courts.  He added that there are many such studies which take into consideration the best interest of the child.  He also noted that women are entitled to include their conditions with regards to child custody in their marriage contract.

Source: Al-Safir, Al-Nahar, National News Agency 27 November 2013

Tawwasol just started training workshops in costume jewelry making in Ain el Helweh targeting orphan young women who dropped out from schooling and in order to assist them in earning an income.  According to the project coordinator, Alaa Abou Daher, this initiative also seeks to create work opportunities to orphans’ mothers who, after assessing their capabilities, will be recruited to assist in running these workshops.  Other training in hairdressing and beautician are also being prepared.  A number of Palestinian young women from Lebanon and from Syria and of different ages are partaking in this workshop with the hope of learning a future trade which will assist them in securing some financial autonomy and will allow them to help their families.

Tawassol will be providing the raw material such as beads and rhinestones as well as the trainers and facilitating marketing of products though local exhibitions.

Source: Al-Safir 27 November 2013

BBAC won the award for the “rural development” category of the third edition of the Social and Economic Awards offered to the bank for its contribution to the “Live Lebanon” initiative which is implemented by the Bank with financial support of the UNDP and within the framework of the CDR programme entitled Local Social Development for a Better Lebanon. It is to be noted the initiative has implemented, during 2013, some 15 development projects located in remote rural areas of Lebanon.
The award was granted during a ceremony organised by First Protocol in collaboration with the Central Bank, Association of Banks in Lebanon, the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, the Franchise association, the Federation of Lebanese business people, as well as a number of private sector companies.
Source: Al-Diyar 27 November 2013

The Internal Security Forces organised the day before yesterday, and on the occasion of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women an event entitled "the role of internal security in addressing domestic violence", which was held at the ISF HQ in Ashrafyeh, and included the launch of the 16 days campaign to combat violence against women, organised by ISF in collaboration with Kafa.
The event is part of a campaign, running under the slogan "we have a mission" and calling on women to use their 112 hotline to seek help if they are subjected to violence.  This campaign was launched the day before yesterday, on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day, and will continue until December 10th.  The campaign is part of a wider program entitled "strengthening the role of the ISF in combating violence against women" being implemented by Kafa with funding from UNFPA and the Italian Government and seeking to mainstream protection from gender based violence within the national plan of the ISF.
On a related vein, the United Nation media centre organised along with “Say No to Violence” association a number of activities in the village of Sfarayh in South Lebanon targeting 59 children and 20 educators from SOS Children Village. The activities aimed at raising children's awareness on combating violence against women, and are parts of the UN's concern in protecting children from violence and exploitation and raising awareness on violence at a young age.
Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Nahar, Al-Akhbar, Al-Safir, Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Diyar 26 November 2013

Ten Arab women, who are distinguished in sciences, received the women in science award for the Arab region and which was granted by L’Oreal Company in collaboration with UNESCO.  Each award amounts to USD 15,000 and is donated in recognition of the role of these women in furthering science in the Arab region.  The awards were distributed during an event held at the Sheikh Zayed University on November 6th 2013m, to the below distinguished women:

• Fatima Al-Jasmi – UAE - Canadian College of Medical Genetics in Biochemical Genetics
• Naeema Al-Darmaki – UAE - Assistant Professor in Chemical Engineering at the UAE University
• Fatima Mraiche – Qatar - Pharmacology - Assistant Professor:
• Amira Senbel – Egypt - Associate Professor, Ph.D. in Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, and Deputy - Director of Quality Assurance Center, Alexandria University, Egypt:
• Sherien El-Agroudy – Egypt - Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering:
• Sanaa Sharafeddine – Lebanon - Associate Professor of Computer Science at the Lebanese American University LAU
• Ines Yacoubi – Tunisia - PhD in Biology Engineering, Assistant Professor at laboratory of Plant Protection and Improvement, Centre of Biotechnologie of Sfax-Tunisia
• Sherin AlFalah – Palestine - PhD in natural science; theoretical chemistry
• Saja Al Zoubi – Syria - Ph.D. in Agronomy "Evaluation Development Projects"; Researcher in Syrian General Commission for Scientific agricultural research (GCSAR); Head of Socio-Economic Studies research department; and Socio-Economic expert at ACF & ACSAD
• Nihad Al-Masri – Jordan - Assistant Professor at University of Jordan / Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences /Department of Physiotherapy

For more information please check the For Women In Science website.

Source: Al-Nahar 26 November 2013

Within the framework of the second phase of the project aiming at strengthening the rights of migrant domestic workers, a project which is implemented by the ILO and funded by the EU and targets migrant women domestic workers from Francophone Africa, a meeting was held yesterday at the premises of the National Federation of Trade Unions of Workers and Employees in Lebanon in order to develop a comprehensive work plan of action.  The work plan which is being prepared by a special committee seeks to introduce MWDW to their rights and responsibilities and to ways to defend their rights.  The preparatory meeting was attended by representatives of the ILO and civil society organisations and the National Federation of Trade Unions of Workers and Employees in Lebanon in addition to trade union leaders from Asia. At the end of the meeting, the prep committee agreed on a number of recommendations namely the design of a detailed timetable of activities in preparation for the launching of the second phase of the project.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 26 November 2013