News

The Daily Star published a report about a research paper issued last Tuesday by Oxfam GB in collaboration with ABAAD association, focusing on the negative coping strategies that many displaced women from Syria are employing to live in Lebanon.
The research was conducted during March and April earlier this year and involved both Syrian and Palestinian women displaced from Syria, to examine changing gender roles in displaced communities. The research paper entitled “Shifting Sands” was based on qualitative data collected through 11 focus group discussions involving more than 150 people as well as individual interviews with key informants.
The report indicated that 90 percent of the interviewed women regularly skipped meals and cut down on their own food intake to prioritize children and men’s access to food, while the level of domestic violence confronting women confront was on the increase.
Women also faced various form of fear outside the home – of being kidnapped, sexually attacked, theft, etc… According to the report, a large number of parents told researchers that financial and security reasons forced them into giving their daughters to marriage. However, and while some interviewees reported instances of girls as young as 15 being married to much older men, many also noted that it was not unusual in Syria to be married at the age of 18 years.
Source: The Daily Star 4 September 2013

The Safadi Foundation launched earlier this week a number of vocational training for 65 women from the old Tripoli neighborhoods.  The workshop are organised at the foundation’s 2 social centers, “Our Youth” in Sowaika and “Woman’s Academy” in Dahr al Mgharr, within the framework of the “Life is ahead of us” project which is implemented by the Foundation with financial support from the Ministry of Social Affairs, via the national programme for local social and economic development, and in collaboration with the Cooperation Office at the Italian Ministry.  The training programme includes 5 training in drapery making with 13 women participants, designs for hijabs (18 women), chocolate making (12 women) and selling skills (12 women).  In addition, one new workshops will kick off next week notably embroidery for 11 women followed by various other training for young men planned for September, namely in phone repairs, warehousing, welding, and fitting rooftops.
To be noted that the “Life is Ahead of Us” project seeks to contribute to limiting poverty in the old Tripoli quarters and to support local social development through social, economic, educational and personal empowerment for women, youth and children.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 4 September 2013

Representatives of women, social, educational and trade groups organised a gathering at the UNESCO palace, last Tuesday, during which they called for closing ranks and forming a civil and democratic pressure groups whose priority is to demand for a speedy formation of a new cabinet, protest any military action against Syria and against any transgression of Lebanon’s air and water space for that purpose.  The gathering also called for democratic actions to be carried out in all regions of Lebanon in order to challenge civil unrest and to put a halt to the current slide towards civil war and in support of civil peace and unity.  Furthermore, the grouping announced that it is working towards the convening of a national conference which will involve all political forces and public representatives in order to set the basis for a free, civil, independent and democratic Lebanon.
Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Mustaqbal 4 September 2013

As Safir newspaper published a report on the impact of insecurity on the economic sector in general and more specifically on tourism revealing the laying off of thousands of regular and seasonal workers most of whom were school and university students.
According to the figures gathered by As Safir, Lebanon lost by last July some 572,215 tourists thus a drop of 43.15% compared to the first seven months of 2010.  The drop in revenue from tourism during the current year is likely to exceed USD 4 billion compared to a total revenue of USD 8 billion recorded last year
According to the Research and Studies Department at the Ministry of Tourism, the total number of visitors to Lebanon during the month of July 2013 dropped by 13.52% compared with the same period in 2012 (i.e. 871,720 visitors in 2013 compared to circa 993,000 in 2012). The president of the Union of Tourism Institutions and head of the Hotel Owners Association in Lebanon, Mr. Pierre Achkar and the General Secretary of the Union of Tourism Institutions and chairman of the Syndicate of Maritime Firms, Jean Beiruty, both noted that the situation of tourism in Lebanon continues to worsen, while Achkar added that as a result, the sector has had to lay off more than 70% of its seasonal worker, namely 14000 people most of whom are students.  Hotels have thus far laid off around 25% of their total staff.  As Safir further noted that 180 restaurants located in summer resorts did not open this year adding that that 60% of those employed in these establishments were students.
Source: Al-Safir 3 September 2013

The Ministry of Social Affairs issued a statement declaring that it has financed 18 small projects proposed by women municipal council members and spread all over Lebanon.  This decision was taken within the framework of Promoting women's participation in local governance and development project which it is implementing with funding from the Italian Embassy in Lebanon and the office of Italian cooperation for development.  The successful projects were chosen based on criteria set by the Ministry in collaboration with the development cooperation office while they seek to promote equality between women and men through economic empowerment of women and the strengthening of governance and participation in decision making.
These projects are now operational as the Ministry has already delivered the first round of financing during a meeting held yesterday at the Ministry with the presence of women municipal council members whose projects were chosen.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Nahar 3 September 2013
 

The gathering of women organizations in Mount Lebanon issued yesterday a statement in support of the economic institutions’ decision to close on Wednesday September 4th in order to lobby for the formation of a new Cabinet.  The statement followed a meeting which was held at the Public House of B3alshmeh and emphasized that women are keen on safeguarding the nation and its stability, its people and institutions as well as the Constitution.  Thus, women call for the formation of a Cabinet as soon as possible.  It is to be noted that the economic bodies are pursuing their consultations in preparation for the strike planned for tomorrow Wednesday September 4th as per the information shared by former Minister Adnan Kassar.  Kassar also reiterated the importance of abiding by the strike by all economic, banking, tourism and commercial institutions and in order to highlight the gravity of the situation in all sectors in Lebanon.
Source: Al-Diyar 3 September 2013

The seventh annual Injaz Lebanon youth business plan competition, organized by Injaz Association, came to an end, last Saturday, where five teams of high school students worked for 5 months to pitch their plans to a panel of jurors who judged their ability to make money, market their product, benefit society and create a viable business. The concluding ceremony was held at the American University of Beirut.
The submitted business plans ranged from eco-friendly products to help Lebanon’s environment to practical solutions to everyday problems, and the four winners were announced as follows: the top prize went to Portocello Company, which created a stand for mobile phones, and will now represent Lebanon in the regional competition. The marketing prize went to Eco-box, an iPhone holder made out of recycled material, the winner for corporate social responsibility went to Car-een who created a product to discourage drivers from littering, while from the same company, Elie Makdissy won the this year’s best CEO prize.
Source: The Daily Star 3 September 2013
 

The Ali el Nahri development association organised last week a seminar on the role of women in public life in collaboration with the Rassemblement Democratique des Femmes Libanaises.  Fariza Moussa, a board member of the development organization noted that any renaissance is incomplete without the contribution of women.  Member of RDFL, Ms. Roula Zaiter, stressed in her intervention that the dominant social culture emphasizes the domination of men over women and supports men’s authority, adding that the patriarchal system controls customs and social traditions.  Zaiter also emphasized that the political factor is key in strengthening women’s participation through their involvement in political and parliamentary life.  She called for the adoption of the women’s quota as a temporary measure which will ensure the rights of women in elections and will guarantee their access to power and to decision making. The event was concluded with the distribution of certificates for women who participated in a women’s empowerment training session.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 1 September 2013

The Economic Media Forum recommended that the role of Arab women and their participation in the media related to the economic sector be strengthened and supported.  This was noted as part of a wider recommendation framework calling for the strengthening economic media mechanisms within in the process of sustainable economic development whilst emphasizing the importance of partnership and collaboration amongst media and economic institutions.  The recommendations also insisted on the importance of holding regular meetings and encounters amongst media and economic institutions with a view towards developing an economic press that is capable of participating in economic decision making as well as providing adequate information and material to economic institutions so as to build their capacities and create new skills in the media sector.
To be noted that the conference of the Economic Media Forum was held for the first time in Beirut and was organized by the Union of Arab Banks, the International Union for Arab Bankers and the Banks Association in Lebanon.  The Conference started last Thursday and extended over a two days period with the participation of some 200 Arab and Lebanese bankers from 12 Arab countries, in addition to leading economic, media and banking figures from the region.
Source: Al-Safir 31 August 2013

The campaign to close non-registered Syrian commerce in the Bekaa took off on August 31st after the elapse of the ultimatum given to their proprietors, starting with Bar Elias in the Caza of Zahleh which has recoded the highest number of such outfits (212 out of the total 377 according to the official survey).
“Nahar” newspaper noted that the decision is being met with various degrees of acceptance by those concerned.  Some have accepted the decision, whilst others have either left their shops or closed them prior to the visit by law enforcement.  Others have taken recourse with their Lebanese landlords, who presented themselves as the owners of the businesses, with the Syrian nationals being mere employees.  For its part, “Al-Akbar” spoke of the grievances of those concerned especially noting that the grace period given was particularly making it difficult to obtain an official certificate as well as the needed work permits.  To be notes that 57 businesses located in Bar Elias were closed during the first day of the campaign which will run for another 10 days (starting from 8:00 am  until 5:00 pm every day)  
Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Safir 2 September 2013