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Minister Safadi: Women's economic empowerment now public policy

2-10-2019

In collaboration with UNDP and Senteurs d’orient, the minister of state for economic empowerment of women and youth, Violette Safadi launched yesterday the ‘Training & Mentoring Services to Strengthen Women Entrepreneurship’ project. The latter aims to encourage women to engage in business ventures through providing women entrepreneurs with the know-how and skills needed to boost their enterprises. The economic empowerment of women has become an integral part of state policy after it was decreed and introduced to the UN SDGs, Safadi said during the launch ceremony. When women become productive, they bring about harmony not only at home but also in society at large, the minister maintained. The minister further underlined the importance of the project which seeks to impart the story of success of one accomplished woman to others through provision of funds and support, pointing to a World Bank study on women’s participation in economic productivity in the Arab world. The said study showed that the women's participation rate of 29% in the labor market increases the GDP by 9%. The economic empowerment of women gives them the ability to engage effectively in decision-making, hence allowing them to contribute to a positive change at the level of laws and social norms, Safadi concluded.(NNA, October 1, 2019)

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Awareness of early breast cancer detection

2-10-2019

The National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) launched yesterday an awareness campaign on the importance of early detection of breast cancer, under the theme, ‘Don’t leave it to luck’. This coincides with the annual National Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign kicked off by the ministry of public health to encourage women to take free breast screening mammography at government-run hospitals and at reduced prices at a number of private hospitals and medical centers participating in the campaign. NCLW urged all Lebanese women to take the yearly radiology tests and all required periodic medical examinations in order to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of the cancer in its early stages, thus increasing the chances of full recovery. NCLW also advised women to adopt and follow a healthy lifestyle and balanced diet in order to reduce the incidence of diseases, notably breast cancer, inspiring them to exercise regularly. (NNA, October 2, 2019)
 

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New proposals to address unfair laws against women

2-10-2019

The Lebanese Council to Combat Violence against Women organized yesterday a round table on ‘Unfair laws against women and girls”. This comes as part of ‘The Empowerment and Protection of Women and Girls’ project implemented by LECORVAW in collaboration with UNICEF. The topics discussed varied between religious, social, psychological and legal aspects. Recommendations released at the end of the event called for the following: the integration of human rights materials in the educational curricula; work to change the stereotypical images of women starting from home education in order to prevent replicating the patriarchal culture laden with violence against women; the need to enact new legislations; organizing pre-marital awareness and guidance workshops and courses; the legal empowerment of women to the end of protection and gender equality through amendment or repeal of current laws; execution of relevant penalties by lawmen and police; asking assistance from spiritual circles to spread religious awareness on how to deal with the other, and finally, the need to join forces between the civil society, religious authorities and all partners in Lebanon through open dialogue. (NNA, October 1, 2019)

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Abu Kamal border reopening an opportunity for Lebanese exports

1-10-2019

After the opening of the Nassib Crossing on the Syrian-Jordanian borders on October 15, 2018 (https://bit.ly/2mrzYee), Iraq and Syria reopened yesterday, September 30, the Abu Kamal Crossing between the two countries to ease traffic of goods and people, after 5 years of interruption by ISIS and due to US pressure (https://bit.ly/2B9qYif). The crossing was officially opened after the completion of necessary arrangements, Sputnic reported, citing Maj. Gen, Naji Nemir, head of the Department of Immigration and Passports in Syria as saying. Nemir clarified that all security measures have been taken to ensure the flow of traffic at the crossing. For his part, Kazem Uqabi, the director of the Iraqi Border Crossings facility, underlined the vitality of Abu Kamal in trade exchange and in the economic revival of the area, mentioning the projected opening in 15 days of another crossing, Ar’Ar, connecting his country with Saudi Arabia. Speaking of the significance of the event, the Lebanese minister of agriculture, Hassan Lakiss, said in a statement that the crossing is the breathing space for Lebanese agricultural exports via Syria to Iraq and to other Arab countries after years of crisis and closure. He pressed the need for cooperation between Beirut and Damascus given the urgency of the crossing to Lebanon. For his part, the president of the Bekaa Farmers Gathering, Ibrahim Tarshishi, welcomed the reopening of the facility, which he said will give Lebanon access to its traditional markets, and called for the resumption of official negotiations with neighboring Syria. “Nothing can be achieved or done without our Syrian brothers,” Tarshishi concluded. Also commenting on the development, was the minister of state for international trade, Hassan Murad, who called on the Lebanese government to start official talks with the concerned Syrian authorities to facilitate the flow of made-in-Lebanon goods to Iraqi and from there to Arab markets. This, he said, is expected to ease the country’s economic crisis. An Nahar daily quoted informed sources as saying that the reopening of Abu Kamal primarily serves and is in the interest of Lebanon, anticipating a huge export activity from Lebanon like in the old times. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, October 1, 2019)

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Women entrepreneurship: Ghada Haidar challenges lack of capital

1-10-2019

In its issue of today, Al Akhbar newspaper spotlighted the career path of Ghada Haidar, who decided to shift from the knotty trade of household linens to the more popular sales of women’s clothing and apparel when she found that the probabilities of success or failure in both are nearly the same. Ghada, like many Lebanese, faced setbacks and was impeded by the lack of capital needed to start any trade, Al Akhbar wrote. But unlike others, she did not resort to personal loans, but instead relied on the strong and trustworthy relations she built with local merchants throughout her career. She managed to get products from dealers on consignment and reimburse later. Al Akhbar highlighted Ghada’s unceasing drive for accomplishment. The young ambitious woman refused to give up hope. But despite that the linen business was not to her expectations, she did not fight desperately to beat challenges and get successful in this field. She was well aware that exhausting herself physically and financially is pointless, hence she braced herself for ending the business and trying something new. For more information, kindly visit https://bit.ly/2njuanB. (Al Akhbar, October 1, 2019)

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New glass bottle plant to create 620 jobs

1-10-2019

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Fransabank Group yesterday signed a USD 24 million financing agreement to support the construction of a glass bottle manufacturing plant in Lebanon. The project is expected to provide some 620 jobs in rural areas across the country and support economic diversity as well as boost industry. To note, the funding by EIB comes within the framework of the Economic Resilience Initiative- ERI. On the occasion, Fransabank vice chairperson, Adel Kassar pointed out that backing Lebanese undertakings, especially this one, through improving access to long-term facilitated financing, is part of our strategy to contribute to the development of the private sector and increase employment prospects. Similarly, EIB vice president, Dario Scannapieco said the project will promote the production of glass bottles, which is a major part of the domestic agriculture industries, adding, this will alleviate dependence on imports and prop local production. (Al Akhbar, Al Diyar, October 1, 2019)

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Religious pressures cancel Beirut Pride 2019

30-9-2019

Following the announcement of the Beirut Pride 2019 evening initially planned for September 28th, and as a result of the former Mufti’s objection to the activities of the LGBTQI community in Lebanon, the Beirut Pride association confirmed in a statement last Tuesday the decision to cancel its activities as a result of harassment it has been subjected to by Christian and Moslem institutions. On the other hand, the founder of Beirut Pride, Hadi Demian, confirmed the pressure they were under to cancel the event for “morality” reasons. He further added that tensions between LGBTQI activists and the clergy have increased during the past few years but the struggle for rights will continue. Demian concluded by calling for a meeting which will be live streamed and which will answer all critiques and attacks that are being addressed to him personally. He further reiterated that he remains available to help any LGBT person who will contact him. For his part, the executive director of the Arab Foundation for Equality, Georges Azzi, noted that the pressure to cancel Beirut Pride was expected as this is consistent with the clamp down on liberties that the state is practicing. Azzi noted that this is resulting in moving several conferences to be held outside Lebanon, notably in Turkey. (L’orient le Jour, September 27th, 2019)

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Jumana Haddad freedom center raises awareness of youth

30-9-2019

Writer and political activist, Jumana Haddad, set up the Jumana Haddad Centre for Freedoms, itself a part of the Jumana Haddad Freedoms Monitor. The latter is a secular and independent organization created recently with the aim of educating and raising the awareness of youth as well as mobilizing youth to adopt the values of secularism, equality, accepting differences, as well as individual freedoms. In a statement issued today, the organization highlights that Lebanon is a parliamentary democracy as well as a founding member of the United Nations and is a signatory to various conventions including the International Human Rights Charter. However, and according to the same statement, the powers in Lebanon are practicing various forms of discrimination as well as violations of human rights notably the rights of women and minorities such as LGBTQI. The statement further adds that narrow religious and political interests contribute to undermining civil and public rights including the current constraints on the fundamental right to free expression especially when this is in contradiction with political and religious interests and when they address corruption. (An Nahar, September 27th, 2019)

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Lebanese ISIS women awaiting government to bring them back

30-9-2019

After exposing the human rights violations against Yazidi women abductees at Al Hol refugee camp in Syria (https://bit.ly/2nMaKaP), Al Diyar today reported that the total number of Lebanese women, wives of ISIS fighters imprisoned at the camp, is around 50 women. Each one of them is a mother of 3 to 5 children of different nationalities as they are married to more than one man when their husbands die in battle. The Lebanese Daesh women are mainly from Tripoli and the environs, with a few from Donniyeh and Akkar, Al Diyar wrote. Citing informed sources, the newspaper said 10 women returned recently with their children through human traffickers, pointing out that the cost of trafficking ranged between USD 3,000 and USD 5,000 for each woman. The newspaper noted that the families of the Lebanese women abducted at Al Houl Camp have appealed to the Lebanese government to facilitate the return of their girls from the camp. And according to the same sources, the final word at the said camp is reportedly for the US Forces governing the facility, hence Lebanon is called on to make the necessary contacts to secure their safe return. (Al Diyar, September 30, 2019)

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Shedid and Beaino award winners of Femme Francophone Entrepreneur 2019

27-9-2019

Rosabelle Shedid and Rayan Beaino won yesterday, the Femme Francophone Entrepreneur Award 2019 organised by the Agence Universitaire pour la Francophonie (AUF), Berytech, L’Orient Le Jour and Le Commerce du Levant magazine, which was sponsored this year by the minister of state for the economic empowerment of women and youth, Violette Khairallah Safadi . Each winner received 10,000 euros, noting that contestants were 60 women in total, five of whom were short listed for the finals. To recall, Beaino is the founder of ‘Mushtic” a company that produces a biodegradable substitute for polystyrene, while Shedid is the founder of “C Green” a company that treats the sewage sludge, one of the most dangerous waste for the environment in Lebanon. During the final ceremony , AUF regional director, Herve Saburan, highlighted the quality of the projects presented and the ability of women to meet the needs of the local ecosystem, while the representative of USJ president, Dolla Sarkis, noted that “the image of women is still weak in Lebanon in many fields, especially in the world of business”. For her part, Minister Safadi stressed that the participation of women in the business world is a pivotal step towards equality of rights between men and women and speed up economic development. (L’Orient Le Jour, September 27, 2019)

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