News

The Ministry of Economy organized yesterday a workshop entitled: A future vision fro developing small and medium enterprises in Lebanon”. The event was held at the Grand Serail under the auspices of the Minister of Economy and Trade, Nicolas Nahhas.
The event is an attempt to create a coordination framework between all stakeholders in the private and public sectors, financial and donor institutions and civil society organisations.  The seminar included a review of the current situation of initiatives and projects which were implemented in support of small and medium enterprises with a view towards identifying their gaps while teasing out lessons for the future.  The second part of the workshop focused on bringing out ideas from participants with a view towards the setting up of a coordination framework which will bring together all these initiatives under the auspices of the Ministry of Economy and Trade and in coordination with the Prime Minister’s office, the relevant ministries as well as various economic bodies and the central bank.
During the open of the event, the president of Kafalat, Khater Abou Habib, pointed out to the various services provided by his organisation and which include the provision of support to loans, assistance to business incubators and provision of material support to small and medium enterprises.  The vice president of the central bank,Saad Al-Andary, also described the baskets of incentives available to the productive sector and the current trend towards opening new financial opportunities rather then providing direct funding.  He also highlighted the importance of the collaboration between the Central Bank and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in order to put in place the mechanisms needed for improving the performance of small and micro enterprises.

Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Nahar, Al-Safir, Al-Diyar 15 May 2013

The director of the Arab Open University, Dr. Fairuz Farah Sarkis, inaugurated yesterday the university’s eighth job fair at the university campus in Beirut and with the participation of some 60 regional and local companies including banks, financial institutions, trade, tourism and communication companies.
The holding of this event reflects the university’s commitment to identify employment opportunities for its graduates through exposing them to the local and regional job markets, guiding them in choosing their career paths and improving their skills especially in new advanced ICT and technology sectors.  Exhibitors, students and graduates got to meet each other to explore employment opportunities.
During her inaugural address, Sarkis alluded to the newly launched higher education programme which is implemented in collaboration with the UK Open University and according to standards that will allow students to obtain both a Lebanese and a British degree.  She also pointed out to the business entrepreneur centre, which has just kicked off its activities in collaboration with AGFUND and the Ebdaa Bank for Microfinance.

Source: Al-Nahar 15 May 2013

The Institute for Industrial Research organised last week a seminar entitled: “Agricultural Cooperatives Feed the World and the transformation of cooperatives into development potentials”.  The event was organised at the Institute’s premises at the Rafic Al-Hariri University Campus – Hadath, and in collaboration with the National Union of Cooperatives and Cooperative Credit Union. With the participation of the minister of Agriculture Dr. Hussein Hajj Hassan, the General Director of the Institute for Industrial Research, and representatives from cooperatives.

In his speech, the Minister of Agriculture Dr. Hajj Hassan revealed the extent of support bestowed to cooperatives in Lebanon.  According to the Minister, farmers received in 2012 a total financial aid amounting to 2 million dollars in addition to drugs and fertilizers of the value of 6 million dollars, 2 million dollars worth of tree seedlings, veterinary drugs and vaccines for 3 million dollars, construction of roads and water reservoirs for 15 million dollars and other miscellaneous support in the whereabouts of 2 million dollars. Additional support included 2 million dollars worth of specialized equipments, feedstock valued at 8 million dollars, support to wheat and barley growing valued at 3 million dollars, and support from IDAL totaling 3 million dollars.

Source: Al-Akhbar, Al-Nahar, Al-Diyar 11 May 2013

Al Hasnaa newspaper organised a round table last week emtitled: “Pioneer politics in Lebanon: What role for women?”.  The event was organised at the Faculty of Law, Political and Administrative Sciences at the USJ, in collaboration with the 7th day initiative of USJ, Institut Français du Liban and Women in Front, following an initiative by the author Rita Bassil.

The round table was moderated by Fadia Kiwan, the director of the Political Sciences Institute at USJ, with the participation of Nada Anid, a founding member of women in front, Al-Akhbar editor in chief Pierre Abi Saab, Mariam Al-Shami, a member of Amal movement’s advisory council, the independent candidate and member of Aley’s municipality  Saada Wahhab Halima, MP Sami Gemayel advisory Lara Saade, representing the Phalange party and the candidate Nathalie Fadlallah.

Kiwan started her intervention with a brief chronology of women’s right to political participation, a right which was consecrated sixty years but remains largely not in practice whilst discussing the causes and the context that lies behind women’s low political participation.  The participants then shared their experiences, pointing out to the various driving factors for their involvement in politics, the challenges they faced and the difficulties in reaching leadership position in a patriarchal society.

Source: http://www.almustaqbal.com/storiesv4.aspx?storyid=570710">Al-Mustaqbal 13 May 2013

Feker Hayat Foundation and the MEPI- funded women empowerment project in Minyeh organised yesterday a cultural outing to the Chouf.  The expedition started from the headquarters of the association in Minyeh – Tripoli, under the patronage of the Future MP Kazem el Kheir and headed by the president of the project and the organisation, Mr. Saleh Hamed.
The first step was at the home of MP el Khair who welcomed the delegation, indicated his commitment to any project which seeks to improve the condition of Lebanese women and thanked the association for its efforts in supporting rural women.

The delegation then headed to Baakline to visit the national Library and then to Al Irfan association where they toured the various educational, medical and social organisations headed by Al Irfan.  The group also visited a students’ exhibition and ended its tour with a film viewing showcasing the activities of Al Irfan.  The last stop in the region was at the Moussa Palace before the group continued to Saida and then back to Tripoli.

Source: Al-Mustaqbal 10 May 2013

For more information about the organisation’s earlier activities, please check: The rights of rural women addressed in a training workshop by Feker Hayat Foundation in Tripoli, 27/12/2012, The National Commission for Lebanese Women calls for women quota in the forthcoming legislative elections, 7/12/2012 and Feker Hayat Foundation and women’s empowerment in Minyeh, 5/9/2012.

The National Commission for Lebanese Women called during the meeting of its Executive Bureau yesterday for an effective participation of women in the upcoming cabinet and for the adoption of an electoral law that will gain consensus by all party and which will guarantee an acceptable level of representation of women in the next parliament.  NCLW indicated that the government, parliament and political parties all share the responsibility for the failure in agreeing an electoral law that is fair to women and that guarantees women’s right to participate in political decision making.  NCLW invited the parliament to expedite the endorsement of a new electoral law which includes a quota of no less than 30% for women.
NCLW also applauded the decision of the Minister of Interior and Municipalities in approving the registering of the first civil marriage in Lebanon and also noted the positive position of the Ministry of Justice on this matter.  The Bureau also called on all parties to contribute to securing civil peace in Lebanon and reiterated that women play a critical role in this area.
Finally, NCLW invited women to take part in the upcoming Beirut Marathon run for women and which will be held on May 26th.  NCLW adopted the following slogan for the run: “I am a Lebanese woman… I am for the quota and the nationality”.
Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Mustaqbal 10 May 2013

The Nurses Order organised yesterday an event entitled “for a more conducive work environment” to celebrate the international Nurses’ Day (May 12th).  The event was held at the UNESCO palace under the auspices of the Minister of Public Health represented by Asaad Khoury and with the participation of the representative of the Minister of Labor, Eman Khazaal, and the president of the Parliamentary Commission for health, MP Atef Majdalani as well as the participation of nurses and public figures.
The event included the launch of a campaign entitled “the rights and dignity of nurses” which aims at putting in place initiatives and mechanisms which will limit risks related to occupational hazards, the protection of nurses from violence on the work place and the creation of systems for reporting any form of violence or abuse in the practice of nursing.
The head of the nursing order, Helen Samaha Nouweyhed, gave a keynote address calling on decision makers in the health sector to adopt and abide by the fundamental principles for strengthening the nursing sector and emphasizing its role as a sector enjoying vital human, professional economic and social resources.  She also called on the health sector, and particularly hospitals, to adopt flexible working hours and ensure that working hours do not exceed 42 hours per week so as to ensure the safety of patients, while finally calling for improving salaries, supporting the legal and professional rights of nurses and ensuring close accompaniment during their education and employment. The opening was followed by a discussion seminar focusing on improving the working environment for nurses in which participated Mohammad Alameddine, Riwa al-Atrah, Ogarite Younan and Asaad Khoury.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 9 May 2013
For more news about nurses in Lebanon check the previous articles published on WEEPortal on 08/05/2013 titled 67.5% of nurses in Lebanon plan to leave their profession because of working hours and poor career prospects and on 13/12/2012 titled: 62% of nurses in Lebanon suffer from violence and verbal abuse

The civil registry officer of Hermel recorded yesterday the civil marriage contracted in Lebanon by Nidal Darwich and Kholoud Sukkariyeh and after perusing their documents including their official IDs as well as the official endorsement and reference by the Minister of Interior and Municipalities Marwan Charbel (number 2840 and dated 24 April 2013) which allows the couple to record their marriage in the Hermel civil registry.  The couple also submitted the decision of the higher consultative council of the Ministry of Justice (reference 1015 dated 3 April 2013) and their marriage contract endorsed by the public notary.  Following the recording of the marriage, the civil registry officer provided the couple with the official family record indicating that they have contracted a civil marriage in Lebanon.

This is the first civil marriage to have been recorded in Lebanon based on the approval of both the Minister of Interior and Municipalities and the higher consultative council of the Ministry of Justice.
Source: Al-Safir, Al-Akhbar 9 May 2013