News

Al Mustaqbal newspaper published a preview article on Amneh al Duhini, (Omm el Abed) who occupies a sidewalk in Raouche with her vending cart on which she sells corn cobs and fava beans and which have become quite prized by her customers
The report highlighted Omm el Abed's lifestyle as her day begins by preparing her work tools including cleaning and cooking the products.  Omm el Abed husband's then moves the vending machine to Raouche using his van at 4 pm accompanied by his wife and four daughters.  Omm el Abed and her family work every day of the week and when she returns very late to her house in Ain el Remmaneh where she moves to caring for her family.
Omm el Abed is determined in confronting life's economic and social hardship working daily on her vending cart from 4 to 12 midnight and earning a few thousand dollars a day which she uses to support her husband and family.
Although operating a vending cart is more of a male trade, Omm al Abed insist on providing a decent living to her family, stating that the public is now well familiar with her and to her husband and supportive of her work.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 14 August 2013

As Safir newspaper published a report on a pilot agriculture development project which was launched recently by the Union of Jabal Amel Municipalities and which has resulted in the setting up of model fields to plant thyme and vegetables, the boosting of apiculture and poultry production, in addition to the manufacturing of various kinds of dairy production, as part of a general plan to support and encourage agriculture and animal farming, particularly alternative agriculture.
According to the news paper report, the first phase of the project included the setting up of 52 thyme fields spread in most of the villages of Jabal Amel.  Each field spreads over a surface area of one and a half dunum and is equipped with a drop irrigation network.  In the second phase of the project, some 2000 seedlings will be planted in each field.  The project also comprises the setting up of six model vegetable fields in Houla, Markaba, Assowaneh, Tallousa, kantara and 3dayyseh, with a 1 dunum surface area each.  These fields will be planted and nurtured under the guidance of agricultural extension workers who will be conducting field visits to farmers in order to provide assistance and guidance on how to best use chemical fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation techniques
The head of the Union, Ali Al-Zein, explained to al Safir that preliminary information indicate that there is a strong will amongst farmers to rely on alternative agriculture in view of the wider marketing possibilities, the relatively good prices, and the possibility of having more than one harvest per year.  Zein noted that this new trend carries many positive implications such as creating new work opportunities for farmers, allowing farmers to move away from the more expensive and labor intensive traditional crops such as tobacco and olives since alternative crops.  Zein also noted that the project will be looking to support animal husbandry and apiculture as training workshops were organised for the latter and have targeted all farmers. These trainings have included dairy production so as to maximize the benefit from dairy production.  The project also aims at reactivating a dairy factory, recently set up in the village of Houla in collaboration with the South Lebanon Council.  This factory will soon become operational.  Finally, Zein noted that the Union has planted more than 54000 fruit trees including 25000 olive trees and 5000 apple and kiwi trees, set up two agricultural cooperatives, in addition to an agricultural extension centre located in Markaba which is equipped with the needed machinery, an olive press, a soap making facility and a honey packaging facility.  The centre is currently offering its services to farmers at subsidized costs.
Source: Al-Safir 13 August 2013

Safir newspaper published a report about a MWDW from Bukina Faso who came to Lebanon to work as a domestic worker.  The MWDW in question is now held at the migrant workers’ center of detention in 3adlieh and is awaiting her repatriation because of her illegal situation due to the negligence of her employment office according to the law enforcement report.
The newspaper noted that the employment office located in the “posh” Verdun area brought the MWDW recently and then moved her to be employed by another household without arranging her papers and legal status..  She stayed in this situation for three months presumably during a trial period.  The new employer then returned her to the employment office that placed her again in a new household.  Despite its promises, the employment office did not arrange her official papers. She was thereafter arrested by the police based on information sent by a unknown source presumed to be the employment office itself and this according to the Safir newspaper. Following that, the employment office refused to assume any responsibility, despite the fact that it cashes USD 4,000 each time it places the young woman with a new employer.
Source: Al-Safir 12 August 2013

The Lebanese charity association for rehabilitation celebrated Eid al Fitr with the women detainees at the women prison in Qebbah - Tripoli.  The president of the association, Fatimah Badra visited the women prisoners and offered them Eid cookies and presents.  The visit was part of the association’s efforts to encourage women prisoners to engage in daily activities and to learn new skills in order to increase their moral and financial motivations and help them reintegrate society after serving their sentences.  Badra called for the reactivation of the sewing workshop available within the prison, through the provision of textile supplies and other sewing materials so as to teach women detainees, new skills that will enable them to secure a livelihood after they are released from prison.
Source: Al-Diyar 11 August 2013

The first round of Lebanon’s Award for Distinguished Women for 2012  was organised last week under the auspices of the Minister of Economy and Trade, Charbel Nahhas.  The event was held during a ceremony organised at the UNESCO Palace in Beirut in collaboration with the Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Lebanon.  The awards were distributed to the successful candidate after a review of reports about the 15 finalists.  The awardees included: the first business woman for 2013, engineer Rula Moussa and CEO of Netways and executive director of LARD Lebanese Association for Rural Development in addition to Balkees Ghalayini for the professionality category, Nadya Shaib for the leadership category, Omaya Mousharafieh for job accomplishments, Nada Alaa Al-Din for innovation, Najwa Chelala Khoury for strategic and financial planning and Souad Abou Chahine for social contributions.
Source: Al-Diyar 8 August 2013

The International Labor Organisation (ILO) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) published a 60-page survival guide for migrant women domestic workers in Lebanon.  The aim of this publication is to fill an information gap affecting more than 200,000 migrant women domestic workers.  The guide is divided in four parts and includes information regarding the paperwork needed before travelling to Lebanon (visas, medical certificates, work permits, etc…), details of the contract and the sections that ought to be included in the document (e.g. free time allowed, dates of salary payments, etc…).  The guide also includes tips and practical information in case of conflicts related to work (such as for instance the expiration of work permit, problems with the employer, etc…) and an introduction to local customs and Lebanese traditions such as cooking and religious practices.  Furthermore, the guide comprises a simple thesaurus (English to and from Lebanese Arabic dialect) and practical information regarding money transfers. Finally, the guide is available only in 2 languages English and Arabic, in addition to an audio format for illiterate users.

Source: L’Orient Le Jour 7 August 2013

To download the full guide please click here

For other material, please visit the following link: http://www.mdwguide.com/Default.aspx

L’Orient Le Jour published a report today about a number of professions common amongst women but which, despite their humble nature, seem to provide a regular and solid income.  The article uses three examples the first of which is that of an old woman who specializes in cooking.  She caters for many clients and earns circa USD 800 a month.  She has no social security and no coverage of any sorts, however, she maintains that her income allows her to cover all her basic needs whilst cooking for her is an intuitive pleasure.  The report also shows the case of a free lancing migrant domestic worker whose earnings reach USD 1000 per month out of which she has to pay for rent and transport and she also sends money to her son in Sri Lanka.  She is unable to make any savings but wishes to continue to be able to secure her livelihood in this way as long as her health allows her to.  Another testimonial comes from a beautician who was formerly trained as a child care worker.  She left her first profession which was poorly paid, then she worked as a beautician in a beauty parlor, but working hours were long and earnings modest.  At the moment, she works on her own and visits her clients at home.  She earns some USD 3,000 a month.  However, and although she still has to pay for the products she uses as well as for transportation costs and cannot benefit from social security coverage or access a bank loan, she is still happy to be able to work on her own and cover her bills.
Source: L’Orient Le Jour 7 August 2013

Pursuant to the news posted on Women Economic Empowerment Portal last week regarding the prison sentence against a mother charged of “not allowing her daughter to see her father”, the Al Akhbar newspaper noted today that Judge Nazek Al-Khatib issued a new verdict revoking that of her colleague and, as such, prohibiting the imprisonment of the mother in question.  This ruling comes after wide-spread and strong public reactions in the North and in Tripoli amongst judges, lawyers, women and civil organisations, who contested the first ruling on the basis that imprisonment is only applicable in case the custody of a minor is denied and not in cases of visitation.
Source: Al-Akhbar 7 August 2013

Al Akhbar newspaper published a report today about a court order issued by Nader Mansour the Penal judge who ruled in favour of the plaintiff, W.S. from Sri Lanka.  The Judge ordered that her former employer, W.K., serves a two months prison sentence as well as pay a penalty of LBP 500,000 in addition to paying her former employee her due salary of 3750 USD.  The plaintiff, who sued her employer with the support of Kafa: Enough Violence and Exploitation, was also granted an amount of 1 billion and 500 thousand LBP for compensation.
Kafa had taken this case to court against the employer who had withheld her employee’s salary for three years.  Kafa’s lawyer, Mohana Isaac, noted that Kafa tried to negotiate with W.k. to reach a settlement but the latter refused to bulge thus prompting Kafa to take the case to court.  Lawyer Isaac notes that this verdict is unprecedented as it was addressed through the criminal courts whereas issues related to salaries are normally addressed through the civil courts.  The presiding judget however considered that the case is indeed a criminal offense according to 671 of the criminal code.
The verdict was pronounced in absentia as the defendant had changed both her phone number and her place of residence since the issue was taken to court by the end of 2010.
Source: Al-Akhbar 7 August 2013
 

Women and civil society organisations in Tripoli issued a statement denouncing a six months prison sentence issued by a local judge and ordering a mother to be jailed because her 13 year old daughter refused to meet her father although the mother was perfectly willing to accompany her daughter to the encounter.
The above mentioned organisations asked that the mother not be penalised because of the reaction of her daughter and to withhold the prison sentence until after the judicial summer leave. They stressed that the current law does not penalise such cases, insisting that the International Human Rights, and Child Rights Conventions, both ratified by Lebanon, be upheld.
The organisations signatory to the statement are the following: The Lebanese Council To Resist Violence Against Women – lecorvaw, The youth Parliament, Shabab el Balad, Together Association, Al Wifak El-Sakifia Association, The Public Committee of the North Unit, Araa2 wa Afkaar – Tripoli group, Afak Social and Welfare Association, Mouwatana for Monitoring and Development, Abdullah Hazem Darwich Welfare Association: Ihda2, Child Welfare Association, Working Women League in Lebanon – North branch, Humanities and Sciences Association, Ward, Feminist Work Association, Progressive women's association, Lebanese Women Democratic Gathering.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 5 August 2013