News

Al-Mustaqbal newspaper published a report on unemployment rates amongst the youth in Lebanon and on the ways in which young people cope with this problem.  As-Safir noted that university graduates tend to be overqualified but without any professional experience that will allow them to overcome unemployment which was estimated to run high at around 53% of youth of over 15 years of age and according to  2009 figures released by the Central Statistics Administration.  The newspaper report added that there are around 11500 women and men pursuing higher degrees at the Lebanese University during the 2011 academic year according to a study published by Beyt.com entitled “Middle East and North Africa Graduates”.  The same source indicates that 74% of graduates did not receive any support from their universities to seek employment and most had to use online information.  In the absence of any real employment opportunity, many opted to continue their higher education despite the costs incurred.

The report goes on to quote human resources expert, Ramez Tambour, who noted that aside from the public sector, there are no local employment opportunities for Lebanese graduates especially since there is no matching between market demands and supply by the education and training systems.  In fact, the local employment market is clearly unable to absorb all the fresh graduates every year.  Tambour warned that pursing degrees in Masters had devastating economic and social impacts especially since it actually results in freezing all return on investment made in young people and also fuels , according to the same person, corruption and various social ills among young people because of idle time availability.

Source: Al-Mustaqbal 4 December 2012

On the occasion of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Navi Pillay the UN high commissioner for human rights issued a statement to express her regret that violence against women and girls remains the most widespread violation of human rights stressing the fact that women’s right to learn is still undermined in many countries despite progress in several parts of the world.
Pillay estimated that education, especially girls’ education is the subject of deliberate attacks in more than 30 countries because of religious, sectarian, political or other cultural reasons. Such attacks on education unfortunately take place all over the world, including in Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Latin America. Attacks on girls’ education can be traced to parents’ fear for their safety, worry about sexual violence or simply because of traditional values or the fact that parents did not themselves have access to education and therefore are not able to value their daughters’ education.

Source: Al-Mustaqbal 3.12.2012

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly presented certificates to more than 600 graduates of the Teach Women English program, bringing the total number of women who have taken part in the program so far to more than 3,000 women. Teach Women English, is a U.S. Embassy funded project run by the Lebanese organization Hayya Bina, and implemented all over Lebanon in collaboration with several NGOs and local municipalities.

Speaking during the ceremony at the Beirut Order of Physicians, Connelly said that she hoped the language skills acquired by the graduates would act as a bridge between them and other Lebanese, keeping the country strong, stable and prosperous. The ambassador also said she hoped more women would begin to participate in public life, particularly government, lamenting the fact that there are no female ministers in the current Cabinet.

Hayya Bina’s president, Loqman Sleem, highlighted the programs goals that provided along with English courses, several cultural and educational components, and which brought students closer to each other despite the fact that they come from different regions of the country. Finally, Sleem added that the Teach Women English is a unique program tailored to the needs in Lebanon and it is not a copy of any foreign curriculum, and that it aims at creating opportunities for women to learn English especially those living in peripheral areas.

Source: The Daily Star, Al-Safir, Al-Mustaqbal 3.12.2012
 

The ILO released yesterday a report entitled “Mapping of NGO services for Migrant Women Domestic Workers in Lebanon 1908-2012”.  The report was prepared within the framework of its work on protecting migrant women in Lebanon and with funding from the European Union.
The report provides background information on the work of NGOs with migrant women workers whom the report estimates to be within 150000 and 220000.  The documents also provides information about the type of assistance provided by some 18 NGOs across Lebanon including Caritas Lebanon, Frontiers, Kafa, Amel, the Lebanese Centre for Human Rights, Insan and the Anti-Racism movement.
The report concludes with a number of recommendations targeting NGOs namely he need for continuity of efforts as well as collaboration with relevant international organisations as well as engaging with local and international dialogue as well as scaling up awareness raising in schools and universities.
For more information: http://www.mdwguide.com     ;  
Source: The Daily star, Al-Akhbar, Al-Safir 28 November 2012

Kafa Violence and Exploitation launched, in partnership with Oxfam GB and the European Union a new campaign entitled “towards different forms of masculinity”.  The Campaign seeks to strengthen work with men and boys to combat violence against women.  The director of Kafa, Zoya Rouhana, called for a “critical review of common views regarding masculinity and femininity which are in contradictions with the principles of human rights”.  Rouhana considered that such views are harmful to women and society and tend to mold men in archaic social models.
The launch included video clips featuring actor and theater director Badih Abou Chacra and calling for different views of masculinity in our societies.  This was followed by a short documentary featuring the activities of the organization in Baalbak.  Subsequently, trophies were presented to MPs Jean Jinijian, Michel Helou and Nabil Nicolas and Brigadier Ashraf Rifi, actor and director Badih Abou Chacra and soccer player Ziad Samad for their support to the campaign.
Within the same vein, the Lebanese Society for Psychiatry released a study on the occasion of the International Day for Mental Health.  The study focused on sexual aggression against women, Dr. Sami Quawwas noted in the conference organized for that occasion that 9% of women victims of sexual violence are migrant domestic workers whilst 20% of sexual aggression are perpetrated by husbands against their wives.  This is particularly dramatic since the Lebanese law does not criminalize sexual aggressions perpetrated by husbands.

Source: Al-Safir, Al-Nahar, Al-Akhbar 27 November 2012

As Safir newspaper published today a report on L’ Artisan du Liban which has now re-opened its doors in Ain Mreisseh.  The shop was set up by the Lebanese government on 1963 to serve as an outlet for Lebanese artisans.   The place was burned down during the civil war and lost subsequently three quarters of its surface area.

In her interview with As Safir, the shop’s director Ms. Aline Naufal Zallouha noted that the shop enjoys administrative and financial autonomy, although it is part of the Ministry of Social Affairs, and is the only such facility set up by the government.  It was re-opened in the year 2000 and was renovated again in 2008.  According to Naufal, the shop exhibits various crafts including gold, silver and copper wear in addition to various forms of textile, leather work, soap, food and other products.  All products are handmade by Lebanese artisans and are subjected to a review by a quality board before being exhibited for sale.  Also according to the director, the shop also seeks to contribute to traditional and cultural revival as well as assist artisans in marketing their work.
The shop’s headquarters in Ain Mreisseh, in addition to its two branches in Saida and on the airport road, provide an outlet to some 500 artisans.  The Ministry of Social Affairs used to provide subsidies to the artisans until 2005 but changed its ways of working after that date.  The shop apparently suffers from financial difficulties and is unable to secure considerable income save a small percentage from sales.  The shop will soon be launching a website in order to encourage online sales.

Source: Al-Safir 27 November 2012

The International Labor Organization released yesterday the results of a new survey, which was conducted by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, and funded by the EU, that focused on working conditions of Palestinian labor in Lebanon. The study interviewed 7,212 individuals above 15 years old, belonging to 2,600 households, between September 2011 and March 2012.
The study concluded that while Palestinian refugees in Lebanon are still managing to find jobs, are able to so despite serious obstacles, and largely under exploitative conditions. The survey indicated that Palestinian workers are paid 20 percent less than their Lebanese colleagues for the same job, and are largely employed in construction and commerce although the Lebanese government eased since August 2010 their access to work permits at least for certain jobs. Still only 2 percent of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon have acquired a work permit as many occupy professions that do not require work permits or are unaware of the procedures for regularizing their work status.
According to the same study, few Palestinians work with any written or formal contract and thus very few have access to health coverage or enjoy paid holiday and sick leave, and only a very small number receive a pension or end-of-service indemnity. Palestinian workers in Lebanon receive less than the monthly minimum wage LBP 675,000 (US$450), with half of them earning less than LBP 500,000 (US$333) per month. Finally, the study also showed that Palestinian women workers, employed in health and education, remain underpaid, despite being more qualified than their fellow Palestinian men.

Source: The Daily Star 21 November 2012