News

The General Directorate of general Security issued a statement last week indicating that citizens can apply for a “transfer of sponsorship of a migrant worker” through either one of the two following procedures.  The first procedure entails submitting a notarized waiver of sponsorship by the initial sponsor including a commitment from the new sponsor and bearing the signature of the migrant work approving his/her transfer to the new “sponsor”.  This should come into effect within 15 days otherwise the application becomes null and void.  The second procedure entails the completion of the “transfer of sponsorship” application at the offices of general security with the presence of the former and new “sponsor” as well as the migrant worker.  The initial sponsor will remain responsible for the migrant worker until the request is formally approved by General Security.  General Security has provided a deadline until 25/9/2013 for executing requests for sponsorship waiver for sponsorships that have been contracted before 25/7/2013.
For further information, visit the General Security website http://www.general-security.gov.lb
Source: Al-Diyar 27 July 2013

NCLW signed last week a Memorandum of Understanding with Cedar Friends for the planting of a new cedar forest.  NCLW was represented by Fady Karam whilst Cedar Friends was represented by its president Riyad Keyrouz and Bassam Geagea.  According to the MoU, the reforestation will be done on the basis of sponsorship and will; include the plating of 1000 cedar trees in lot number 6932 and over a surface area of 30000 m2.
The implementation of this MoU has already started and the planting of the trees is expected to be completed in the fall of 2015.  The Cedar Friends will be fully responsible for maintaining and fencing the new forest over a period of nine years.
Source: Al-Diyar 27 July 2013

Finally, the joint parliamentary committees passed yesterday, Monday July 22, 2013 the proposed legislative bill for protection of women from domestic violence, following long and protracted past deliberations and discussions. However, the approved new version carries somewhat a different title with the original ‘Protection of women from domestic violence’ being replaced by ‘Protection of women and all family members from domestic violence’. This new modification triggered several reactions and expressions of discontent particularly from some of the women organisations that have been militating to achieve this women’s right, especially so since this modification entails a significant alteration of the purpose off the draft law and consequently possibly could undermine the effectiveness of the law in protecting women from domestic violence.
Concurrent with the convening of the parliamentary session, women and men activists from civil society organizations held a sit-in, in response to a call from KAFA (Enough) violence and exploitation, at Riad el Solh Square, with the purpose of putting additional pressures on the legislators. After the passing of the bill, the ‘National Coalition to Legislate the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence’, commented on the introduced modifications considering it of a cosmetic nature. The Coalition also clarified that that the next step is to call on the Head of Parliament, Mr. Nabih Berri, to ensure that the draft bill is discussed during the first upcoming plenary session of Parliament. The Coalition will be working towards passing the law according to its original purpose: i.e. the protection of women.  Nadine Moawad, an activist in ‘Nasawiya’, indicated that ‘the real achievement lies in the end content of the law and not its transition within the legislative process. Furthermore, the festive mood was absent from the declaration of the President of the Civil Committee for Follow-up of Women’s Issues, Fahmieh Sharafeddeen, who, though acknowledging that the passing of the law is a step forward, said that “what is required is a law to protect women and not a family law,” She stressed that her organisation will work diligently to further modify and develop the current draft law.
Source: Al-Safir, Al-Akhbar, Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Nahar, Al-Diyar 23 July 2013

3azm wa Sa3aded (AwS) organised yesterday, in its Bab el-Ramel center of Tripoli, a graduation event for some 50 women who participated in various awareness raising sessions focusing on family and social issues. These sessions fall under the framework of various development actions undertaken by the social division of the association and aiming to empower families, both socially and vocationally, through the development of the capacities of individual and groups. The event was concluded with the distribution of certificates and prizes particularly to those women who demonstrated strong commitment and perseverance in attending the awareness raising sessions.
Source: Al-Nahar 23 July 2013

Al Akhbar newspaper published today a profile report on 39 years old Zeinab Nassrallah, who grows tobacco in an area exceeding 50 thousand square meters, produce bread, and sell it on a daily basis, also runs a small commercial shop near her home, and follows studies in one of the neighboring religious schools ‘Hawzaat’. The newspaper report describes in much detail Zeinab’s daily multiple chores, and quotes her saying that organization and good management are the two backbones of success. Despite the skepticism of some of her neighboring farmers about her capacity to grow tobacco alone on such a large area, Zeinab indicated that she began at 17 years of age by cultivating 12 dunums, reaching now 50 dunums and aiming for more. She noted that the personal and external difficulties that she has gone through (poverty, war and the premature death of her father) have strengthened her resolve to maintain her dignity and the dignity of her sisters.
Zeinab points out that what bothers her most are not work difficulties but criticisms by others. Some for example do not approve of her driving a pick-up truck to transfer laborer. Nevertheless, Zeinab remains upbeat and ambition now to learn how to fix vehicles to address emergencies. She also has plans to raise cattle and bees, and thus secure less strenuous livelihood opportunities to her sisters.
Source: Al-Akhbar 22 July 2013

Some 220 economic enterprises received financial support from the Economic and Social Development Fund (ESDF) during the second term of the year 2013. These projects which received new ESDF loans had a combined value of LBP 5.4 billions and resulted in the creation of 200 new work opportunities through the job opportunity creation component of ESDF. As a result, a total of 7,444 loans (worth LBP 11 billions) were discharged to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) since ESDF inception in the year 2003 and until June 2013, thus contributing to the creation of 5,039 new work opportunities.
It is to be recalled that the Economic and Social Development Fund was formally set up, within the framework of the European- Mediterranean Partnership, and following an agreement signed in November 2000 between the Lebanese Government represented by the Council of Development and Reconstruction and the European Commission. The Fund aims at fighting and alleviating poverty in needy communities through its work opportunity and local/community development components.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Diyar 20 July 2013

The Youth and Sports Parliamentary Committee organized yesterday a seminar on the ‘Role of Parliament in Creating Work Opportunities for Lebanese Youth’, in collaboration with UNDP. The seminar was divided into 2 meetings; the first discussed the opinions and recommendations of specialist on how to provide assistance to Lebanon in managing its development files. The meeting, which was attended by Lebanese officials and representatives of international organizations, such as; UNDP, ESCWA, UNESCO, ILO and others, discussed ways of helping in creating new job opportunities to Lebanese youth and halt the process of migration. The second meeting included youth and civil society organisations and representatives from the youth committees of various Lebanese parties. The specialist, Hachem Abu Jawdeh, kicked off the meeting with a detailed report and recommendations on the state of the Lebanese job market, and the role of universities in preparing graduates for entering the market. Furthermore, the meeting considered several actions that the Lebanese government can take to halt youth migration.
The President of the Youth and Sports Committee, MP, Simon Abi Ramya, built on the preliminary vision presented in Abu Jawdeh’s report calling for the development of a road map that will act towards creating new job opportunities for the youth. Abu Ramya pointed out that discussions reviewed the current education curriculum looking at the extent to which it is in line with the needs of the Lebanese job market, also calling for the upgrading of the role of the National Employment Office.
Detailed discussions also focused on the role of private universities and particularly that of the Lebanese public university, which must play a key role in preparing for entry into the job markets and in guiding the youth towards vocational training, thus requiring the provision of social protection to the youth population and its integration into the national social security fund.
Source: Al-Diyar 19 July 2013

The Committee of Byblos International Festival inaugurated yesterday at the UNESCO Square in the Old Market of Jbeil, its yearly summer exhibition with the participation of the Mayor of Jbeil, Ziad Al Hawwat, the President of the Festival Committee Latifa Laqqis and leading social figures from the Byblos area. The exhibition includes work of artisans, handicrafts and art products such as sculptures, photography and drawing. Furthermore, the exhibition also includes a section entitled “the Archive – documents making history” displaying valuable historic documents from the archives of Lady Ivonne Sursock Cochrane, and Minister Maurice Gemayel, and organised in cooperation with Phoenix Center for Lebanese Studies at the USEK university (Sacred Heart University-Kaslik).
Source: Al-Diyar 18 July 2013

The Minister of Industry Freij Sabonjian signed yesterday an agreement of cooperation with the syndicate of Lebanese Artisans whereby handing over to the syndicate its recently refurbished exhibition hall located at the headquarters of the Ministry in Badaro. The new hall which will be used as a permanent exhibit of work of women and men crafts people, will provide an opportunity for Lebanese and expatriate tourist to appreciate to local artistic work and handicrafts. It will also enable women and men artisans and crafts producers to market their products, and thus will contribute towards supporting the economy and tourism. The exhibition hall which received support for refurbishment from UNIDO and the Banque Du Liban will open all throughout the week from 10 am to 7 pm. Furthermore, and during the weekends, an open air exhibition will be organized on the pavement adjacent to the Ministry.
 Source: Al-Diyar 18 July 2013