News

Al Diyar newspaper published an article by its editor Charles Ayoub on what he calls a deep social crisis related to marriage and fertility and which may well explode within the coming three years.  The author notes that according to a study carried out by a bank involved in human development (the name of which is not revealed by the author), some 70% of women in Lebanon are now not married compared to only 30% of men.

Ayoub traces the reason of non-marriage amongst women to the rising trend of men traveling abroad (the author estimated that 250000 Lebanese men have traveled abroad for work), limited income of employees in Lebanon, absence of investment in Lebanon because of the previous wars, high price of accommodation (despite the contribution of the Central Bank and the Housing Bank) as well as the ways I which women perceive men and vice versa.

Ayoub goes further in his review so as to propose solutions at the level of the state such as setting up a fund for 10 billion Lebanese Pounds to be used for low interest rate (2%) loans repayable over 30 years which would help young unemployed couples to purchase and furnish their homes.  Ayoub used the example of the German government that decided to allocate 15 billion dollars for unemployed citizens wishing to marry and who were provided with the possibility to borrow up to half a million dollar per citizen provided they show intent to work.
Source: Al-Diyar 5 February 2013

The Fatwa issued by Mufti Kabbani against civil marriage continues its ripple effect… The Higher Shiite Council recently declared that “the institution refuses the concept of civil marriage from a religious, national, legal, and ethical perspective”.  The Council called however for the creation of a framework for a national dialogue on this subject in line with the provisions of the Constitution and the Lebanese social contract.  The Coalition of Beirut Associations declared for their part its full and unequivocal support to Kabbani’s Fatwa as well as its total refusal to even discuss this matter which it considered to be non-constitutional and in full violation of the Islam. The matter was further exacerbated by speeches during last Friday prayers in various parts of Akkar, Baalbak, Beirut and Tripoli as the Muslim clergy demanded that the matter be banned from discussion!
However, former PM Sa3ed Hariri openly criticized during a interview on TV the Mufti’s Fatwa stating that the declaration of apostasy is unacceptable and hoping that civil marriage will be codified in Lebanon but following an in depth social dialogue.
For its part the Lebanese Communist party noted that move towards discussing ad codifying civil marriage is a legitimate step forward yet insufficient as the starting point should be the adoption o f a civil family law.
Along the same vein, a recent opinion poll carried out by Information International showed that 51% of the Lebanese support optional civil marriage whilst 46% support religious marriages, 31% of Sunni citizens support civil marriage and 66% religious marriages. As for Kabbani’s Fatwa the poll showed that 42% of the Lebanese are against it, while 26% support it while the remaining 22% considered that were ambivalent towards the Fatwa. Looking within the Sunni community, the opinion poll showed that 53% of its members supported the Fatwa and 27% were against it.
The resurgence of interest in civil marriage has prompted the emergence of several forms of dynamics on social media and civic actions.  A new face book group supporting civil marriage created a facebook page entitled “We got married and we hope you will be next” whilst an anti civil marriage group has created another page called “No to Civil Marriage!”,  the latter group shares the views of the clergy on that matter.  On another level, a petition for civil marriage is currently circulating on the social media and is seeking to collect 10000 signatories to ask for endorsing the first civil marriage contracted in Lebanon, while other activists have also called for a sit in on Monday 4th of February at 4:00 PM, at Place de L'Etoile under the slogan: I am for a civil state, I am for a civil individual, I am for civil marriage”.
Source: Al-Diyar, Al-Nahar, Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Hayat, Al-Akhbar 4 February 2013

Al Maydaan organized yesterday in collaboration with Kafa Violence and Exploitation and Dar el Tofl al Lubnani, a seminar in Zgarta on violence against children.  The seminar addressed several key issues, namely: what is violence, abuse against children, different forms of violence, sexual abuse, the relation between the predator and his victims and interventions with victims.  

Source: Al-Safir 5 February 2013

The Women Affairs Committee called for an extraordinary meeting at its premises in Chiyah. The meeting was headed by the association’s president, Shahnaz Mallah and was convened on the occasion of the Arab Women’s Day celebrated on February 1st. On that occasion the association issued a concluding statement where it raises red flags with regards to the rights of women in several Arab countries and which remain hostage to traditions and harmful practices.  The association reminded its audience of the Arab Women’s Day which was consecrated by the Arab Parliamentarian Union upon the recommendation of Lebanese Speaker of the House, Nabih Berri and as an initiative that was aiming at contributing to the recognition and realization of the rights and full potentials of women.  The statement asked about the ways in which women can be liberated from the larger societal prison and called for civil society organisations to play an active role supporting Arab women in their fight against discrimination and to challenge harmful practices and traditions which are now being fostered by the rise in fundamentalism and racism.

Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Mustaqbal 4 February 2013

Al Akhbar newspaper published a report on various forms of exploitation and violence that face women at work ranging from harassment, to intimidation, demeaning comments by male colleagues such as advising women to stay home with their children rather than come to work or emphasizing that women’s assets are their looks rather than their competences or using denigrating comments such as referring to “women’s hormones”, etc….

The report cites a number of cases such as that of a 31 year old employee who, after several years of work, applied for promotion only to be told that her request is being considered but is contingent on her not having children again.  Another is a 35 year old employee who pointed out to her manger abusing women employees in two different ways, either through overworking them or through flirting with them.  The worker in question also quotes her employer’s comments on women in general such as his acid comments on marriage age, period, and relation with husband, etc…  Other women talked about their negative experiences after being promoted to lead a team of essentially men, while some others shared their negative experiences of working in legal offices where they are only given office based work.

The report quotes sociologist Azza Sharara who notes that women’s presence in the work sphere often provokes men who find this to be a threat to their masculinity and masculine gender identity.  As such, women workers are seen to have challenged their socially ascribed roles as mothers and have overcome their social inferiority, according to the same author who notes that intimidation and harassment are men’s attempts to put women “back in their place and within their biological and reproductive roles”

Source: Al-Akhbar 2 February 2013

Al-Nahar newspaper published an article about the health issues women continue to suffer from, according to the Lebanese Association for Obstetrics and Gynecology, especially in the absence of health awareness amongst women in Lebanon.  The association also noted that this situation is further exacerbated by the fact that associations and professionals are not able to reach out to women and provide them with key information on health issues.  The President of the association further noted to “Al-Nahar”, that women’s health cannot be dissociated from political, legal and social considerations as well as their ability to access preventive and tertiary services.
The president of the association also talked about key health problems facing women notably breast cancer which is recording an age of diagnosis (49 years) that is lower than Western countries.  He also talked about the increased prevalence of cervical cancer  which is a preventable disease should women be able to carry out annual pap smears.  This is challenged by the fact that early detection and access to health services are difficult.  Other causes of increasing incidence of cancer is the increased incidence of smoking amongst women notably Narguileh smoking which has increased by 27% amongst pregnant women and 70% amongst women at large.  Heart related problems amongst women also appear to be related to smoking habits in addition to family history, nutrition patters, poor medical follow up during and after menopause.  Reference was also made to the continuing trend of maternal mortality as reports indicate that 20 women die every year due to preventable birth related complications.  The association’s president indicated that it was collaborating with the Ministry of Public Health to address such issues.

Another health problems affecting women is osteoporosis as a local study indicated that a high incidence of women suffer from the diseases which points out to the need to stress the importance of healthy lifestyles and diets as well as exposure to sun rays.  Mental health problems were also discussed especially since a study noted a 26% prevalence with 50% of the women sampled noting that they think that they may have mental health problems whilst 20% suffer from post partum blues 17% from anxiety.  The association’s president concluded that violence against women is prevalent and affects reproductive health and causes an increase in sexually transmitted diseases, abortions and decreased fertility rates.

Source: Al-Nahar 2 February 2013

Lebanon continues to uphold degrading trafficking practices with migrant domestic workers.  Indeed, the current Sri Lankan Minister of Labor declared after a meeting with Lebanese minister of Labor, Selim Jreissati that “there is no ban on the travel of Sri Lankan domestic workers to Lebanon.  On the contrary, we will be seeking to improve their conditions and work experience and will be lifting their travel age from 21 to 23”.

But for his part, the General Director of the Ministry of Labor noted in an interview with the An Nahar daily that lifting the age of travel and recruitment of Sri Lankan migrant workers will “allow her to have had more experience in life and better potentials for coping with employers”.  He also added that this will allow “Lebanese employers to have better performance from domestic workers with higher qualifications”!?
Source: Al-Nahar 2 February 2013

During a high level regional meeting held in Dubai yesterday, Dr. Ali Hassan Khalil, the Minister of Public Health, noted that maternal mortality in Lebanon dropped to 23 per 1000 whilst child mortality fell to 11 per 1000, also pointing out to Lebanon’s commitment to set up the nationality mortality observatory. The meeting was convened by the WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA for the Middle East region in order to discuss maternal and infant mortality, and was attended by the Minister as well as the president of the Lebanese Obstetrics Association

The Minister further noted that Lebanon has been able to meet objectives numbered 4& 5 of the regional action plan namely decreasing mortality rates and improving maternal health, respectively.  He also pointed out to the various steps taken within the process of strengthening primary health care and especially targeting women as well as monitoring maternal and child health as well as family planning.  Finally, the Minister also emphasized objective of government to increase awareness and to pursue work in relation to finalizing the medical pregnancy protocol, adopting the pregnancy register, developing the monitoring chart for pregnant women as well as updating the newborn register.
Source: Al-Diyar February 2013