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Al Nahar newspaper published last Saturday a review of a book entitled: “Zahia Kaddoura, a pioneer intellectual, educational & patriotic woman”, written by Dr. Mohammad Saadeddine Al-Ariss and published by Dar Al-Nahda Al-Arabiya. The book review pointed out to key elements of Zahia’s feminist approach and academic journey in addition to her achievements in fighting for women rights.
Zahia was the first woman to be appointed to a senior post in the Lebanese university in her capacity as Dean of Literature and Human Sciences Faculty after a battle within the university administration, and her endorsement by the cabinet in 11 March 1971. She was also the first Lebanese woman to earn a PHD from an Egyptian university. Zahia studied history at the American university of Beirut then pursued her masters and thereafter PHD in Arabic and Islamic history in Cairo and returned to Beirut in 1951.
In her work and researches, Zahia Kaddoura focused on feminine intellectual production, Muslim women rights and their contribution in modern time. It is worth mentioning, that in 1959, Saudi Arabia turned down her nomination by the Lebanese government to be the post of cultural advisor at the League of Arab States. In 1951, she was also denied the post of cultural attaché at the Lebanese diplomatic delegation to Egypt during the time of Abdullah Al-Yafi’s government.  
Source: Al Nahar 17 November 2012

Al-Hayat newspaper reported that women economic empowering in gulf region has recorded clear advances, according to experts that are participating in the Third Women Leadership Forum which was launched in Dubai yesterday. According to these experts, Arab women, especially in the gulf region, control a wealth estimated at around US$ 385 billion, while the total number of women in the job market grew from 1.5 million in the early 90s to 2.2 million women presently. KSA and UAE alone account for around three quarter of the total number of working women in the gulf region with  KSA accounting for 54% and EAU, while Kuwait holds the third position with  10%, followed by Oman 6%, Qatar 4% and Bahrain 4%.

Official statistics also point out to the increase Emirati women participation in the national economy, as they now occupy 66% of jobs in the public sector, and 25% of total labor in the country. The growth in their participation in the economic sectors is remarkable recording an annual rate of 25.3 per cent. For its part, the government is very keen to develop women’s expertise and capabilities aiming at strengthening their participation in the economy. Thus several business women committees were established by the strong business woman community which is estimated to number some 12 thousand women who now control around AED 12.4 billion worth of investments. Moreover, women are now excelling in many new sectors such as the armed forces in addition to their traditional presence in hospitals and the media.

Source: Al-Hayat 20 November 2012

Al-Akhbar newspaper published a report about Shireen, a woman who was fired from her job, two weeks before her maternity leave expired. Her boss did not wait for her to resume work, as an employee at the media company in which she used to work in, called to inform her coldly that the program’s manager decided to fire her since her substitute receives a lower salary and spends more hours at work. Al-Akhbar, threw the responsibility for Shireen’s unfair dismissal on the Lebanese law keepers and particularly the parliamentarians since the current labor regulations clearly state that “It is forbidden for a woman to get fired or even get a warning during her maternity leave” while politicians are blocking the endorsement of new pro-women labor legislations in Parliament. The new amendments to decrees numbered 28 and 29 of labor law and the decree numbered 38 of the enactment decree number 112, issued on 12th June 1959 (Employees Regulations), extend the maternity leave from 7 to 10 weeks and reinforce that firing an employee during this leave is prohibited. “Al-Akhbar” concluded that these amendments are still in the drawers and may stay long unless the political parties currently boycotting the sessions of the parliament retract their political stand.
Source: Al-Akhbar 19 November 2012

PM, Najib Mikati, reasserted in a speech addressing the Agriculture Associations in Lebanon that his government is giving the production sectors, such as industry and agriculture, similar attention to that to the service sector. Mikati emphasized the role that the former tow sectors play in the life of most of the Lebanese especially those living in the rural areas and those of low-income. He also mentioned that history has taught us that neglecting the land results in the erosion of both our identity and history.
The Minister of Agriculture, Hussain Al-Hajj Hassan, for his part, pointed out to the achievements of his ministry during the past 3 years. Hundreds of new laws and amendments, he added, were issued and hundreds of specialists such as agriculture engineers, veterinarian doctors and technicians were recruited or trained. According to Al-Hajj Hassan, the capacity of his ministry was significantly increased, and the 2013 budget rose to LBP 102 billion from LBP 41 billion in 2009. He also added that public expenditures on the entire agricultural sector in Lebanon will increase to LBP 320 billion in 2013 from LBP 120 billion in 2009. This figure includes the budget of ministry, the fodder and irrigation programs, the grain and sugar beat programs which are supported by the Ministry of Economy and Trade, the IDAL program in support of agricultural exports, and finally financial support to tobacco growing which is being implemented through the Regie Company of the Ministry of Finance.
He finally stated that, during the past three years, Lebanon received several loans and donations from a number of sister countries, international Arab and non Arab institutions and NGOs, totaling some US$ 55 million in donations and US$ 28 million in loans.

Source: Assafir, Al-Diyar 17 November 2012

 

The Parliamentary Commission for Administration and Justice held a meeting yesterday, attended by a representative of the Ministry of Public Health, Mr. Antoine Romanos as well as the president of the association of midwives, Ms. Yolla Atallah, a representative of the Saint Joseph University, midwife Nayla Doughan, a representative of the Lebanese University, midwife Randa Boustani and the legal representation of the association of midwives, Charles Ghafari.  The 14th March Coalition was absent from the meeting.
The Parliamentary Commission endorsed the law regulating the midewifery profession authorizing the formation of a trade union for the midwives. The proposed law will now be referred to the general assembly.
The representative of the Saint Joseph University, Nayla Doughan, noted to the Assafir newspaper that midwives have been waiting for this law since 1996 but they are now concerned that this meeting will now be contested given the absence of one major political coalition.  She also added that midwives are not partisan to any group and all they are keen on is the endorsement of the law and do not want to be caught in between the battles amongst the 8th and 14th March coalitions.

Source: Assafir, Annahar, Al-Diyar 16 November 2012

The association for obstetrics and women’s health organized yesterday an international conference on challenges related to women’s health.  The president of the association, Dr. Faysal Kak, highlighted key issues related to women’s health namely the impact of cancer surgery on fertility and the need to adopt surgical procedures that will protect women’s reproductive capacities, prevention from cancer, pregnancies in the cases of twins, various MRI tests especially in case of premature deliveries. The conference also focused on the increase in the number of caesarian procedures in Lebanon especially since a study noted that whilst the national average is 30%, it sometimes reaches 50% in some hospitals, a trend which is feared could result in increasing maternal mortality.

Source: Annahar 16 November 2012

The Minister of Industry, Freij Sabounjian, stated that Lebanese industrialists have, over the past few years, built a solid reputation for Lebanese products and positioned them on the international market.  Sabounjian added that Lebanese industrialists have also extended efforts to develop the capacities of workers in their industries in order to boost competitiveness and quality production through developing modern laboratories. Sabounjian was speaking at the International Arab-Hungarian Forum which was held in Budapest around the theme of "Collaboration between agriculture and agro-processing".  Sabounjian noted that the history of agro-processing in Lebanon is linked Phoenician history in wine-making and olive oil production and marketing.  He also alluded to the wide outreach of Lebanese cuisine which has become a household name same as Asian and European cuisine as well as to the worldwide reputation of Lebanese wine which is now served in upmarket restaurants across the world.  Sabounjian also pointed out to Lebanon's special weather which is sunny 300 days a year and enjoys a high level of rain thus allowing a rich agriculture and a diversity of products.  He also reiterated on the skills and knowledge of Lebanese farmers who provide tasteful high quality products thus contributing to placing Lebanon on a high level especially in terms of experts.  This has also led to the creation of “LibanPack” which is the only one in the Middle East region and which provide services in packaging of agricultural products which is compatible with international standards. Finally, Sabounjian invited Arab and Hungarian investors to get to know more about Lebanese competencies and seize existing opportunities for expanding business partnerships with Lebanese counterparts.

Source: Moustakbal, Al Dyar. 14 November 2012

Safadi Foundation, Kafa and Save the Children signed a Memorandum of Understanding aiming at building staff capacity in protecting children from gender based violence.  This collaboration agreement was concluded as part of the framework of the programme entitled: “Health for All and developing advocacy skills on rights, sexual and reproductive health policies” which currently is being implemented by Kafa with funding from the European Union and in partnership with Save the Children.

Within the same vein, “Abaad” organized in collaboration with Oxfam GB and the Forum for Development, Culture and Dialogue a round table on 9 and 10 November to discuss strategies and mechanisms for ending violence against women.  The round table was entitled: Religious men and their role in challenging violence women” and was joined by several religious men from various Arab countries.

Source: Al Dyar and Assafir, 14 November 2012
 

Kafa and the anti-racism movement organized yesterday a demonstration following the death of Ethiopian migrant worker, Janice Suriano de Jose who threw herself from the 11th floor of her employers’ residence in Zalka (c.f. yesterday’s news on the WEEPortal Ethiopian domestic worker loses her life after “throwing herself” off the 11th floor).  The activists who joined the demonstration declared in their written statement that their initiative aims at reiterating that the exploitative “kafala” system is still being enforced in Lebanon and requires a firm intervention from the state to abolish it especially since this system is responsible for placing migrant women workers in situation of vulnerability to abuse and violence.  Indeed, the “kafala” system practically places women in bonded relations with their employers who confiscate their passports and their freedom and, as a result, violate their basic human rights, and prevents them from seeking help in cases of abuse and exploitation.

Source: Al Akhbar, 14 November 2012