News

As Safir newspaper published a report on “the Mount Moussa Biosphere Reserve which is located in Keserouan and was chosen in 2009 as the third natural reserve for biosphere in Lebanon as part of the biosphere reserves affiliated to UNESCO within the framework of the "Man and the Biosphere (MAB)” programme.  It is to be noted that a presidential decree was issued in February 2012, classifying Mount Moussa as a natural reserve benefiting from the protection of the Ministry of Environment.  This particular natural reserve is known for its untapped wilderness, rich forests and cultural heritage.  As part of its endeavor to preserve biodiversity and cultural heritage, the Association for the Protection of Jabal Moussa set the necessary infrastructure for eco tourism in the area and engaged the local community in contributing to its sustainable development.
Within this vain, the media and ecotourism responsible in the organization, Cristelle Abou Shabke, said in her interview with As Safir, that since Jabal Moussa was declared a natural reserve, the association has implemented a number of developmental and environmental projects in the area including a project to support local development which started in 2011.  As part of that project, the group undertook the training of 40 local women in Mouneh production with experts who guided them on standard production techniques.  The organization is also facilitating production and marketing as it buys all the production of the trainees and takes full responsibility for its commercialisation.  Abou Shabke also pointed out to a separate seedling project through which interested individuals from the area are replanting seeds from the mountains and selling seedlings to various associations.
Source: Al-Safir 10 September 2013

The Baladi Plus programme, in collaboration with the Reforestation Project in Lebanon, organised last week a training workshop entitled “project cycle management and writing project proposals”.  The workshop was co-organised by the Lebanese transparency Association with participants including representatives from Municipalities and Unions of Municipalities from different parts of Lebanon.  The aim of the workshop was to enable local municipalities to manage projects in a sound and professional way through identifying priorities and increasing their chances to draw funding for vital development projects.  The Baladi Plus project which is implemented by USFSwith funding from USAID, seeks to help municipalities in implementing local development projects and to enable them to increase their own local resources.  For its part, the Lebanon Reforestation Project seeks to provide technical and institutional support to the reforestation of a number of local trees and the sustainable prevention of forest fires through building the capacities of local communities and organisations.
Source: Al-Diyar 6 September 2013

The Beirut Creative Cluster decided to transform the commemoration of its first anniversary which is to be held on September 13th into a forum joining young job seekers and potential employers.  40 companies will take part in this event and will share 100 job offers and allow young job seekers to engage with employers in a setting that is conducive for discussion and dialogue.  The decision to organise the job fair was taken in order to give hope to the young generation particularly given the increasing difficulties and hardships that the country is witnessing over the past two months.
It is to be noted that the Lebanon Creative Group is a forum for creativity, launched by Berytech with the support of the European Union.  It presently includes 40 companies and agencies involved in design and production and seeking to network between institutions and companies with the purpose of encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Source: Al-Diyar 6 September 2013

Al Akhbar newspaper published a report about an Ethiopian migrant domestic worker who was admitted to one of the hospitals in Bint Jbeil after being brought in by her employer as she was suffering from multiple fractures in her feet.  The worker, referred to as “Nana” by her employer, was admitted to the hospital emergency unit and transferred to the operation room where her feet were placed in casts after being operated.  She remained in Bint Jbeil hospital for three days and was previously admitted to a hospital in Tyr. She then informed the police that she had been beaten by her employer who also pushed her from his balcony on the first floor.  Her statement was then recoded by the police.  When talking to the newspaper, Nana made sure not to give out the name of her employer but she gave the details of the aggression which almost killed her and also talked about the harsh working conditions and exploitation to which she is subjected in addition to the repeated physical and moral abuses.  Nana noted that on the day of the incident, she was visited by a friend and that made her employer very angry as he beat her and even tried to strangle her.  Nana also added that her employer’s wife works at the hospital where she was admitted and has tried to conceal her story from the police.  She also took USD 400 from her wage to pay her medical bills.
A security source informed Al Akhbar newspaper that although Nana gave a statement about being beaten and pushed off the balcony, her employer told the police station in Tibnin that she had “willingly” fallen off the balcony and that is after the police station in 3abbassyeh notified the district attorney of the incident.  The report in Al Akhbar noted that Nana was discharged from the hospital last Friday and returned to her employer against her will.  The report noted that the employer has not yet been held legally accountable for any of the charges.
Source: Al-Akhbar 09 September 2013

The organization “No to Violence” issued a statement condemning the harassment subjected to its militants carrying out the “Have you witnessed harassment” campaign and which the association launched last month during the Fitr holidays.  The organization noted that it will seek to sue all those who misused the name of the organization or the campaign whether in Lebanon or in the region as well as those who engaged in any form of slander whether directly or indirectly.  The organization which is registered with the Ministry of Interior, on the 19th of September 2012 with the registration number 1667, reiterated that it is totally independent, not affiliated to any political party in Lebanon, does not bear any foreign agenda, is equidistant from all the parties in Lebanon and enjoys friendships with a number of Lebanese and Arab civil society organizations.  The organization also added that its staff is composed of volunteers and does receive any suspicious funding as it seeks to safeguard its members and its principles.
Furthermore, No to violence emphasized in its statement that the core of its work is to combat violence against women in all its forms and manifestations and that it is a non-profit entity.  Finally, the statement concluded that the organization is engaged in a number of activities: to combat violence against women and all forms of violations of human as well as women rights and, and as such, it rejects all forms of intimidation and violence to which some members of its board and volunteers were subjected.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 7 September 2013

The National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) issued a statement yesterday following the meeting of its executive bureau in which it laments the degradation of the security situation in Lebanon and condemns the explosions in the Southern Suburbs and in Tripoli.  The NCLW expressed its condolences to the families of the victims and noted its concerns of the continued degradation of the economic situation especially with the start up of the scholastic year.  NCLW also called for a united position in support of state authority, public institutions and the law enforcement bodies, hoping for the resumption of national dialogue, the formation of a new Cabinet and the enactment of a new electoral law.  NCLW concluded its statement by reiterating that only national dialogue can bring institutions back to life and improve the state of the economy, revitalize commercial markets and tourism.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 6 September 2013

Kafa Violence and Exploitation issued a statement yesterday welcoming the court order by the Public Appeal Attorny and Judge, Arlette Tabet, which ruled in favor of a woman plaintiff and ordered her husband to allow her and her daughters to return home whilst committing to secure an alternative housing for his family.  The judge also ordered the husband’s friend who had bought the house to vacate it immediately.  The statement provides additional details about this incident and noted that whilst the woman was visiting her family along with her daughters, her husband informed that it is best for her not to return home.  The woman came back home with her daughters to find that the locks were changed and the house was delivered to the husband’s friend without her knowledge.  Given the situation, the woman spent her night between the police station in Bikfaya and the house of relatives.  According to Kafa, this ruling sets a precedent especially since the law petition for protecting women from domestic violence has yet to be approved by the assembly.  A reminder that the law includes a stipulation requiring husbands to secure alternative housings to their family and ensuring that they remain in their home whilst this alternative is secured.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Nahar, Al-safir 6 September 2013

The National Observatory for Women in Agriculture and Rural Areas-NOWARA launched, last Wednseday, the third edition of its award for best economic initiative carried out by rural women in Lebanon.  This year’s award is addressed to women engaged in cooperative work (presidents, members of directors of cooperatives).  The programme invited all women benefiting from programmes implemented by cooperatives or involved in the development of rural women in collaboration with public institutions and NGOs or international organization and who meet the eligibility criteria to come forward for the award.
A special committee will assess the different files and will score them according to the criteria listed below.  The committee will also verify the information provided through undertaking their own field visits of the shortlisted candidates.  The 2013 NOWARA award will be a non-cash prize of a value of USD 3000 which will be given to those nominated for the first prize in each of the selected categories and who were able to improve their economic projects.  The prizes will be offered along with a certificate during a special event which NOWARA will organize in October and November 2013.

The two theme categories for this year’s award are:

• Agro-processing
• Preparation of rural meals

Source: Al-Mustaqbal 5 September 2013
For the eligibility criteria (available in Arabic only) please check the following link.
 

The UNDP concluded yesterday the implementation of its project entitled “Recovery of NBC surrounding communities affected by the 2006 and 2007 conflicts” with the setting up of 102 greenhouses in six localities of Akkar and Minieh.  The event was celebrated at the Halba municipality with the attendance of the UNDP Country Director Luca Renda who highlighted the importance of collaboration between the project administration and the six beneficiary municipalities, while congratulating the farmers for their patience and hard work an daily contribution to the development of greenhouses and of local agriculture in the North.
The project seeks to support the agricultural sector in those bordering villages that were affected the Naher el Bared armed conflict in 2007 through the introduction of modern greenhouses in order to increase the production of vegetables by 15% thus increasing productivity and family income.
Within the same vein, the Daily Star published a report on the farmers benefiting from this project quoting Rima Obeid who started farming after her husband retired from the army and so as to be able to secure the needs of her family which includes four children.  Obeid notes that the harsh living conditions in the area forced her to go into agriculture.  She now owns three greenhouses where she plants cucumber and tomatoes that she sells at the market in Halba.  She works throughout the year except for two months in summer.  The UNDP project offered Rima Obeid her fourth greenhouse given her need for it.  The report also points out to the experience of Fatima and her husband Mohammad who indicated that the greenhouses they received helped them repay their debts, adding that their material conditions have improved since they took part in this project.
Source: Al-Safir, The Daily Star 5 September 2013

The Gender Committee of the General Directorate of Education (set up according to decree 810/m/2013) held its first meeting yesterday.  The meeting was presided by the Ministry’s Director General, Fady Yarak, and attended by the head of the gender network at the National Commission for Lebanese Women, former Minister Wafa Dika, and the moderator of the gender focal points committee Azza al Horr Mroue in addition to Yolla Abi Salloum, Hasan Haddad, and hind Rizk.
The tasks of the gender committee include the following: mainstreaming gender in the Ministry’s overall policies, organizing training workshops and seminars about gender within the Ministry and targeting staff, students, administrative and educational bodies and parents’ committees.  The work of the committee draws on the international human rights convention, the child rights convention, CEDAW and the principle of free and compulsory education.
Source: AL-Mustaqbal, Al-Nahar 5 September 2013