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YWCA organises its annual gala to support battered women and women’s right to Nationality

19-11-2013

The YWCA held its annual gala last week at the Pierre Abou Khater Theater and which included a performance by Soprano Ghada Ghanem and an ensemble from the Lebanese Conservatoire.  Benefits from the event will go to the YWCA shelter.  Ghanem performed songs from her Lavender Lullabies album dedicated to My Nationality is a Right for Me and My Family Campaign.
The YWCA centre for battered women is the culmination of the organization work on protecting women and their children from violence as well as helping them with vocational training and psychological counseling in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs.
To note that YWCA celebrates its 113th anniversary this year.  The organisation’s headquarters are in Ain el Mreisseh and it operates branches in Marjeyoun, Tyre, Saida, Tripoli, Byblos, Hadath, Chayyah, Ain Al-Remmaneh, Bouchrieh, and Ablah in Bekaa and provides programmes for women and children with the aim of training them and protecting their rights.
Source: Al-Nahar 13 November 2013

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Woman judge issues a second landmark ruling in favor of a migrant woman domestic worker in Lebanon

19-11-2013

Al Akhbar newspaper published a report on the court ruling issued by Dina Abdoul, the Penal judge in Keserouan sentencing the women employer of a Filipino women domestic worker to a three month prison term and a penalty of 100000 LBP according to the stipulation of clause 555 of the penal code.  The defendant was also ordered to pay compensations to the plaintiff amounting to 10 million LBP and to cover all ensuing legal costs.  The report adds that this court ruling followed a complaint lodged by the Philippine embassy to the Public Prosecution Appeals in Mount Lebanon back in 2008 based on the report of the forensic doctor Kivork Jeyan which ascertains that the plaintiff was subjected to physical violence by her employer over more than 70% of her body.
According to the news report, this is the second such ruling with the first dating to July 2013 and which ruled for a prison sentence for the defendant because of failure to pay the employee’s salaries.  However, in both case, justice was served rather belatedly (3 years after the first court order in the first case and 5 years after the first court order in the second case).  The report questions whether this delay actually affects the value of the justice served.
Source: Al-Akhbar 16 November 2013

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A LIVCD workshop in Rashayya to strengthen honey production as a health food product

19-11-2013

The programme entitled “Economic Dialogue” organised a workshop on “strengthening food production as a healthy food as well as a promising investment”.  The event was organised last week a the Rashayya castle under the auspices of USAID and the programme for developing the value chain in the Lebanese industrial sector (LIVCD) and which seeks to develop various productive sectors in Lebanon and particularly the honey production of Jabal el Sheikh.  Some 130 beekeepers, from various parts of Lebanon, took part in this workshop many of whom are members and/or heads of cooperatives and unions of cooperatives of beekeepers in addition to representatives from USAID, local municipalities and individuals who sell honey and its derivatives.  The workshop was part of a series of seminars organised by the project and aiming at strengthening rural development through highlighting the importance of small and medium enterprises, the opportunities they present for investment, as well as the importance of networking between project holders, investors, banks and donors interested in agriculture and animal farming.
The marketing and export director of the USAID/LIVCD project, Dr. Nadine Chemaly, spoke during the workshop of the project and its various objectives namely to develop the production sector especially in relation to Lebanese honey production, and strengthening the capacities of beekeepers through training workshops on beekeeping, pest control and marketing strategies.  Participating beekeepers spoke of the difficulties they currently face as well as the important role that municipalities should play in preserving beekeeping.
Source: Al-Diyar 18 November 2013

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The Rassemblement Democratique des Femmes Libanaise organizes a memorial for late Wadad Chakhtoura

19-11-2013

The Rassemblement Democratique des Femmes Libanaise (RDFL) called for a candlelight vigil in front of the National Museum two commemorate the fourth year after the passing away of its former president Wadad Chakhtoura which represented over more than 5 decades a symbol of the feminist movement and trade union activism in Lebanon and who dedicated her life for the principles of equality, freedom, justice and democracy.
Participant held a large banner with Chakhtoura’s picture inscribed with “a journey of struggles” and lit candles in remembrance of her life.  The event also included poetry readings and a key note address by the vice president of RDFL, Caroline Slaibi who spoke of the deceased and of her achievements as well as the challenges she faced.  She insisted on the long winding road of women activism in order to challenge discrimination against women in practice and in the letter of the law, whilst highlighting persistent inequalities in the nationality law, in the social security fund, in the penal code and the civil status laws.  She also condemned the mutilation of the law to protect women from violence and the continued and systematic exclusion of women from decision making.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Safir 19 November 2013

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Naher Ibrahim municipality sacks its woman member after her marriage to a non-resident

18-11-2013

The International Training & Conflict Resolution ICTR Center condemned the action of the Naher Ibrahim municipality who withdrew the membership of its elected woman member, Nadine Saliba, because of her marriage to a non-resident of Naher Ibrahim and the subsequent transfer of her civil register, a transfer which is required by law when women marry from men registered in different localities.  The Center asked the Minister of Interior, Marwan Charbel, to reconsider this case noting that clause 25 of the municipality laws stipulates that elected municipal council members be registered as voters on the list presented during the council elections.  As such, candidates should be on the local election register during the municipal elections and this is in no way a condition for completing the elected members’ mandate especially that Saliba married three years after the start of her mandate.  As a direct consequence of this act, the Naher Ibrahim Municipality was disbanded and the Chief of the Byblos Caza entrusted to act as its charge d’affaires. The director of the ICTR Center, Rowaida Mroueh stressed that the withdrawal of Saliba’s membership was an act of discrimination against all woman involved in politics and an illegal and illegitimate act.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Safir 18 November 2013

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Live Lebanon inaugurates a new tourist project in Bsharreh

18-11-2013

Live Lebanon- UNDP organized a public event last week in collaboration with the Municipality of Bsharreh and the Bank of Beirut and the Arab Countries (BBAC) to inaugurate its new tourist project located in the town.  The project goodwill ambassador, Fadi Salameh, noted in his keynote address that the project will benefit all residents in Bsharreh and will boost tourism through its support to ecotourism, religious, cultural and sports activities, whilst creating more than 10 new permanent jobs.  The UNDP resident representative, Luca Renda also noted that Live Lebanon projects are implemented through financial support provided by Lebanese immigrants who seek to contribute to local social developments in the country.  These contributions have also allowed for the refurbishment of the traditional market in the won which will in turn increase the income of local population, will improve living conditions and encourage tourism.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 18 November 2013

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Despite difficulties, tobacco growing is a key source of income for 14000 families in the South

18-11-2013

As Safir newspaper published, last week, a brief review on tobacco growing in the South and which presently benefits some 14000 out of the 16500 families which used to make a living from it during the hay days of this sector.  This sector also benefits and additional 10000 families in the North and in the Bekaa.  The report highlights difficulties faced by farmers namely illegal competition by other farmers who are not licensed and which has prompted the Regie des Tabacs et Tombacs, the official body in charge of this sector together with the Ministry of Finance, to set a production ceiling of 5,450,000 kilograms a year for South Lebanon.  Farmers also suffer from the high cost of production associated with this very demanding crop.
The report relays the wishes and suggestions of the president of the Trade Union of Agriculture and Tobacco, Hassan Faqih, who asked that the state distributes new licenses to small farmers in the South, especially to those living in the borderline areas as a mean of support.  He added that these areas are still infested with landmines and should be demined so that they could be replanted.  Faqih also asked the government to raise the average price per delivered kilogram to LBP 15000 so as to be in harmony with the overall high cost of living indicators, and to provide compensation for farmers whose harvests were burnt during the Israeli aggression of July 2006.
He also insisted on the need to include tobacco farmers in the NSSF whilst reminding that this matter was discussed and settled by the administration of the NSSF which in turn referred it back in 2000 to the Cabinet and no progress was made since then.
Source: Al-Safir 13 November 2013

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Women’s social-economic situation in Lebanon during a EMHRN workshop in Barcelona

18-11-2013

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) organised a workshop during the Euromed summit for social and economic councils which was held last week in Barcelona by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), and the European Economic and Social Committee EESC.  The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network’s workshop focused on women’s economic and social situation and included an intervention given by the president of the Lebanese Women’s Council, Ms. Jamal Ghibril, who spoke of the difficulties women face in entering the job market and the discrimination they face.
Within that same framework, the president of Lebanon’s Economic and Social Council, Mr. Roger Nasnas, noted that the project launched by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) should aim at strengthening the infrastructure while protecting the environment and developing the economic capacities of the region within the framework of comprehensive development so that no area or social group remains marginalized or excluded.  He added that such projects are an opportunity to create new jobs and to develop the capital market.  Nasnas added that the region will not develop without new efforts to strengthen small and micro enterprises, the adoption of new policies conducive to production and creativity, opening markets, developing new social contracts which guarantee standards for decent work and secure safety at work, decent income and the protection of communities from poverty and marginalization.  Nasnas also emphasized the role that economic and social councils need to play so as to meet these priorities of the.
Finally, the president of the Arab Network of NGOs for Development, Ziad Abdel Samad, highlighted during a special workshop the current opportunities and challenges facing NGOs and the need to adopt a  new development model for the state and the economy that will include mechanisms for effective CSOs participations in decision making and monitoring.
Source: Al-Safir 18 November 2013

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The women section of the Future Movement celebrated IT graduates in Akkar and concluded two workshops

18-11-2013

The women section of the Future Movement in Akkar organised an event to celebrate the graduation of women who completed the two ICT training workshops which were held in Kab3eet and Wadi Jamoos in Akkar, in collaboration with the Federation of Municipalities of Sahel and Wasat Al-Kaytah.  The event took place last week at the section’s headquarters in Akkar with the attendance of the general coordinator, Samer Haddara, the president of the Federation of Municipalities of Sahel Al-Kaytah, Ahmed el Mir and the coordinator of the women sector, Insaf al Asaad.
Al Asaad noted that the renaissance of Lebanon and Akkar will not be possible without a wide participation of women including students, wives, sisters, and girls in the development of their local communities.  She highlighted the Future Movement’s full support to women activities despite the currently difficult situation of Lebanon in general and North Lebanon and Akkar in particular.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 18 November 2013

 

The Future Movement completed last week, and in partnership with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, two workshops; the first focused on the concept of liberalism and targeted the women sector of the movement whilst the second targeted the youth sector and focused and aimed at developing leadership.  The 2 events were organised within the framework of the ongoing awareness raising and cultural activities implemented by the Future Movement in collaboration with the German organisation.
The workshop on liberalism extended over two days and included a number of interactive exercises on the concept of liberalism, challenges and practical steps to operationalise it, and an introduction to practices of “liberal life”.  The second workshop used practical activities and focused on developing leadership skills amongst the youth, whilst highlighting individual rights and responsibilities, and designing strategies for action.  
The organizational assistant at the Future Movement women section, Nawal Mdally, noted that both workshops seek to build individual capacities and to strengthen the concepts of liberalism and leadership, amongst the two targeted groups, with the ultimate aims of supporting women, challenging all forms of violence against them, and facilitating women’s active participation at all levels particularly in political life.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 18 November 2013

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According to Bayt.com 77% of the Lebanese prefer to work in the private sector

18-11-2013

Bayt.com conducted, in collaboration with YouGov for research and consultation, an opinion poll on business entrepreneurship in the Middle East region.  The results revealed that half of the Lebanese population prefers to work for the private sector, in addition to their own businesses, that 77% of the Lebanese indicated that they prefer to work in the private sector against 33% who prefer the public sector.  Furthermore, the opinion poll showed that 44% look forward to engage in personal business initiatives.  To be noted that the questionnaires were disseminated and completed online between 2 and 15 September with 8776 responses received from the UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia.
The poll also revealed that 64% of Lebanese business people chose to go into business entrepreneurship for self fulfillment and 55% in order to secure greater income.  According to the poll, 49% of those surveyed and who are now working in the private or public sector, are also looking forward to set up their own businesses, whilst 17% of those who set up their own businesses have actually failed.  Within the same vain, 73% of business entrepreneurs in Lebanon considered the unstable political situation in the country as the main challenge for starting a new business, whilst 60% considered that the main hurdle is the country’s economic instability.
Source: Le’Orient Le Jour 12 November 2013

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