News

The women committee of the Free Patriotic Movement organized yesterday in Sine el Fil a seminar on the issue of women and politics, with the participation of President of Sagesse University, Monsignor Kameel Mubarak and Doctor Laila Rahbani as speakers.
In his intervention, Monsignor Mubarak indicated that only in mentally, socially and emotionally dark societies will women’s role be neglected. He added that history points out to an active social and political role of women in all eras, before and after Christ particularly since the number of women exceeds that of men. He also stated that working in politics and public affairs in one of the most honorable positions for both men and women, while emphasizing that in order to undertake those roles both men and women will need to be well educated, selfless, honest and ethical.
For her part, Laila Rahbani indicated that despite the fact that Lebanon was the first Arab country to give the women the right to vote in 1953, women representation in politics is still modest and take place only in special cases when women inherit that position form a father, brother or husband, despite their prominent role in the fight for independence and liberation. Rahbani linked weak women political representation to 3 key factors: women’s own personality, lack of community support and sectarianism, adding that the dominant political circles also feel threatened by change.

Source: Annahar 1, November 2012

On the occasion of the international month for raising awareness on breast cancer, the Assafir newspaper published a report on the experiences of women survivors of cancer.  In her testimonial Leila shared that she discovered that she had breast cancer when she was going through regular check up tests although she did not feel any discomfort of any sort.  During her chemotherapy sessions, she lost her hair but remained strong and refused to stay at home but rather decided to go out and flaunt her conditions so as to serve as a role model for others. Suzan, another survivor, discovered that she had cancer one month before her marriage. She had a mastectomy then traveled to Germany to continue her treatment. The support of her fiancée played a major role in her healing process.

All interviewed women confirmed through their testimonials that mental health was the key for their success. They noted that women should keep their courage, talk about their disease and avoid isolating themselves. They also encouraged women not to neglect themselves and to undergo regular mammography which can lead to early detection. Many of these women are now helping various associations involved in breast cancer programmes as they try to spread awareness on the disease and its prevention.  These women are indeed Arab models of courage in the fight against cancer.

Source: Assafir, 31/10/2012

The Economic and Social Development Fund (ESFD) announced in a communiqué released yesterday the outcome of his work during the third quarter of 2012, stating that 223 projects were funded within the framework of the "Creation of Work Opportunities" programme. The total size of loans granted during that period amounted to LBP 6.5 billions while a total of 250 new work opportunities were created as a result of ESFD funding. The communiqué noted that the total number of micro and medium size credits provided since the start up of the project in 2003 and until September 2012 reached 6,882 loans amounting to a total of LBP 100.9 billion. During that same period some 4,495 new work opportunities were created.
A reminder that ESFD was created with the aim to contribute to mitigating poverty and its impact on vulnerable groups through two components, namely "Creating Work Opportunities" and "Local Development". The ESFD was established within the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership and as part of an agreement signed between the Lebanese Government represented by the Council for Development and Reconstruction and the European Union.

Source:Annahar and Assafir, 31/10/2012

The National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) organised, in collaboration with the Saint Joseph University (USJ) a training workshop on "Women's Health: Needs and Priorities".  The workshop was held earlier this week at the Medical Sciences Campus as part of the partnership agreement between the two organisations aiming at improving medical services offered to women in Lebanon.
The workshops were facilitated by experts from the University and sought to update the knowledge and skills of health care workers especially about women's life cycle and health conditions.  Some 80 health care workers representing various primary health care centres and dispensaries located in Beirut and Mount Lebanon took part in this training.
Discussions during the workshop focused on the importance of regular medical check-ips, dental health, maternal and child health, vaccination requirements as well as pre and post natal care and women's mental health.

Source: Annahar, Al Mustaqbal - 31/10/2012

The women's branch of the DFLP political organisation submitted yesterday a memorandum to the UNRWA directors of the Rashidya, el Bass an Borj el Shemali camps protesting the deterioration of health services for Palestinian refugees. The memorandum pointed out to the following demands:
- Improving health services and increasing medical coverage to at least 90%
- Increasing UNRWA's share of the cost of tertiary care and medical consultations
- Increasing the coverage of cancer and open heart cases as well as other medical procedures
- Full coverage of emergency cases
- Appointing a medical radiologist in the Tyre area
- Covering the cost of chronic medicines and increase the number of specialist physicians
- Ensuring a regular supply of medicines in the UNRWA dispensaries

Source: Al Mustaqbal, 31/10/10212

The Higher Research Council organized in collaboration with the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences at USEK, a conference entitled "Women in Arab Societies".  The Conference was attended by local and international researchers and social activists.  The event aimed at providing an overview of the social realities of women, while insisting on the specificities of their role, achievements and rights.  The Conference also sought to make a new contribution form a philosophical, micro-sociological and anthropological approach to the "feminine realities" in the Arab region; an approach that would take into consideration the political, vocational, education, religious and legal realities of women.
The conference focused on several key topics, namely the following: a) women's contribution to religious knowledge; b) Arab Muslim women between the religious texts and social realities; c) Christian women in the orient between the Holy Book and social realties; d) women and development; e) Kurdish women and the women's movement in Iraqi Kurdistan; f) the vision of the nation according to the testimonials of Arab women prisoners; g) Lebanese women active in challenging violence against women; h) the role of Syrian women in geo-political conflicts; and i) Tunisian women from subordination to revolutions.

Source: Al Mustakbal and Al Nahar, 26 October 2012