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English

Local media and women’s right to confer nationality

19-8-2019

In its issue of  10 August, Al Akhbar newspaper highlighted the negative role played by some media in addressing issues related to rights, notably women’s rights to confer nationality to their family. Al Akhbar pointed out to a recent TV show entitled “fi-male” broadcasted on LBCI and which hosted Joseph Abi Fadel, a media person known for his bigotry and sexism notably vis-à-vis women’s right to confer nationality.  Abi Fadel was given ample space to express his distorted a bigoted differentiating between women married to Syrians and Palestinians and women married to other foreigners.  The TV show host dealt with the matter very lightly and joined her guests in adhering to his views noting that these are merely controversial.  Al Akhbar indicated that there were no other opinions aired in the show thus showing that the TV show was complicit in the discriminatory views aired by the guest.  Al Akhbar asked the coordinator of My Nationality is a Right for me and my Family Campaign, Karima Chebbo, about her opinion.  Chebbo noted that mainstream media is often denying the space to women and human rights defenders and are thus amplifying the voices of individuals who are against human and women rights.  As such, Chebbo sees that social media is an efficient alternative to communicate the message about rights and to mobilize the support of public opinion.  Chebbo praised the immediate impact of social media and its wide outreach and the fact that it allows interaction and engagement especially when it broadcast testimonials and human interest stories related to the denial of the rights of women to transfer nationality. (For more about the article in Arabic please visit: https://bit.ly/2z4mnMQ). (Al Akhbar, 10 August 2019)
 

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Delays in the adoption of a legal reform concerning children’s rights

19-8-2019

In its issue of today, Al Akhbar newspaper noted that the discussions of the Parliamentary Commission on Women and Children which began last March about the legal reform related to the use of force when handling child custody cases, have yet to produce any results. The article points out to the legal complexity related to law 845 and which is a hurdle to the work of the Commission. Indeed, clause 2 of the said law allows the enforcement of a verdict related to child custody by forcibly bring the child to his/her custodian including the use of forced entry. The president of the Commission, MP Inaya Ezzedine noted that cancelling any clause requires the suggestion of a replacement and this matter needs further discussion so as to reach a conclusion that is for the interest of the child regardless of the custodian party. In a related vein, Al Akhbar also published an article by Akram Yaghi, a professor at the Lebanese University specializing in personal status laws, and which states that the Higher Shiite Council has enacted a decision (number 46) on October 1st 2011 and which brings about important changes related to dowry, alimony and child custody. The author wonders about the current hesitations related to family laws and whether the responsibility lies with the higher council or with the political interventions in the work of the council. Yaghi affirmed that issues related to child custody should be determined solely according to the interest of the child. He further requested to raise the child custody age (c.f. the full article on https://bit.ly/2KRO2pO(. (Al Akhbar 19 August 2019)

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A market for local products in El Qaa’, Beqaa

19-8-2019

MP Tony Habshi inaugurated on August 17th the market for social products and that is to support local production and their marketing. The event took place at the public park in El Qaa’ and was organized by the local municipality in collaboration with the federation of municipalities of Rashaya and Suk el Jana. The event took place over a three day period and included handicrafts, agricultural products, Mouneh and other food products. During his tour of the market, Habshi noted that work is essential to development. He emphasized the role of local authorities in bringing about development and in strengthening the local economy. The president of the El Qaa’ municipality noted for his part that this activity seeks to support local farmers as well as strengthen the local economy and benefit from local production. The president of the council of women in Jabal Sheikh, Rana Najd Abou Mansur, noted that the market seeks to encourage rural women to produce and market their goods without going through middlemen. (Al Dyar, 18 August 2019)

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Lara Saade Esq., Sami Gemayel’s legal advisor

19-8-2019

In its issue of today, L’Orient le Jour highlighted the professional journey of Lara Saade, lawyer and legal advisor to MP Sami Gemayel, the president of the Phalangist Party.  Saade pursued her legal degree first at the St. Joseph University and then studied international law at Paris-Sud.  She also received a degree in in public policy from Syracuse University and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree from the university of Grenoble.  Saade told the newspaper that she initially wanted to pursue a medical degree and had enrolled in biology at the Lebanese University.  However, she later became active with the students branch of the Phalangist party and realized that she can contribute to society in a different way and thus shifted to studying law and met with MP Sami Gemayel.  Saade worked with UNDP after she graduated.  By then, Gemayel was voted in parliament for the first time.  She proceeded to send him a number of legal suggestions which led him to ask her to join his legal team.  Saade first refused the offer as she wanted to pursue her professional career rather than go into politics but she ended up agreeing.  Saade recalls that the first set of legal amendments she prepared were related to the municipalities law, the tax measures for the 2018 budget, the electricity bill, and others.  Saade noted that she is committed to fighting all forms of discrimination against women and indicated that her work with UNDP focuses on legal reform toward gender equality in Lebanon and the Arab world. (L’Orient le Jour. 19 August 2019)
 

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Minister of Justice calls for the reform of human trafficking legislation

16-8-2019

On the occasion of the international day to combat human trafficking (July 30th), the International Organisation  for Migration (IOM) as well as Justice without Frontiers, launched at Cinema City on August 8th the campaign entitled “together to combat human trafficking”.  The event featured the screening of a documentary entitled “cheap humans” and was under the auspices of the Minister of Justice, Albert Serhal, with the presence of several notables.  The Minister reiterated that Lebanon is a founding member of the UN and its constitution adheres to the International Declaration of Human Rights and is committed  to materialize these values in all sectors.  The Minister also said that Lebanon is committed to track down and punish criminals involved in human trafficking as well as effectively protect victims.  He further noted his commitment to reform pertinent laws as the current laws define the nature of the crime as well as the correspondent punishment without taking into consideration how to deal with the victims.  The Minister also shared his intent to create a unit within the Ministry of Justice which would be specialized in human trafficking and which would be a link between the Ministry and other concerned ministries as well as with local and international NGOs. (Al Dyar, August 10th 2019)
 

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Outstanding LAU students in research on women

9-8-2019

Six LAU students in total, including five female students, won the Mary Turner Lane competition organized earlier this month by the Arab Institute for Women -LAU to select the best research paper on gender issues. The topics addressed by the 58 participating students, were, the patriarchal system, feminism, gender equality, women’s rights, sexual harassment, Syrian women refugees, domestic violence, legal, political and economic discrimination against women, crimes of honor and early marriage. L’Orient Le Jour published the names of the winners and they are: Carla Richa, junior media student, on the emancipation of women from traditions and stereotypes; Tala Lakiss, education student, stories of witches and lessons learned; Fadia Habib, graduate student in gender studies, marriage of underage girls among Syrian refugees; Mona Saeed, graduate student in gender studies, marriage of underage girls in Yemen; Emma Harfush, psychology student, gender bias and masculinity, and Khaled Rajeh, English literature student, on feminism. The aim of the competition, according to the Institute’s director, Myriam Sfeir, is to encourage students to tackle issues on women and underscore the importance of research in the field. (L’Orient Le Jour, August 6, 2019)

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Marriage of underage girls in Syria between law and enforcement

9-8-2019

In its issue of today, Al Akhbar newspaper published a feature on the marriage of underage girls in Syria, noting that under the guise of norms and the sidestepping of laws, the marriage of underage girls prevails and grows. On the subject, Al Akhbar spoke to the head of the Nour Foundation for Relief and Development (NFRD) in Damascus, Abdel Latif Bunni, who pointed to the expanding phenomenon of the marriage of underage girls in Al Tal area and environs. Despite the ratification of laws that forbid the marriage of girls under 18, many sheikhs and spiritual mentors skip the registration of similar marriage contracts sticking to an oral contract in the presence of witnesses from the immediate family and relatives. Bunni stressed that restraining this phenomenon requires raising awareness and law enforcement. “We are not aware of any arrest of a sheikh or guardian who has conducted a marriage contract contrary to the law,” Bunni stated. Likewise, Syrian Arab Red Crescent psychologist, Alia Chamat, explained that the parents’ exploitation of the possibility of contracting a marriage without officially registering it in the competent official department, allows further evasion of laws that can prevent this from happening. This in fact pushes for an all-encompassing review of the proposed solutions to the impasse, through the enactment of relevant legislation and spreading awareness on the risks of early marriage, Chamat maintained. (The feature can be found on the following link: : https://bit.ly/2GXuzCI). (Al Akhbar, August 9, 2019)

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Husband interrogated over suspected muder of wife Rana Beaino

9-8-2019

The investigative judge of Mount Lebanon, Ziad Makneh, began Wednesday his investigation with Sh.H, the detained suspect in killing wife, customs officer, Rana Beaino on July 28 who died in a moving car in Bhamdoun area (https://bit.ly/2MFNTrJ). The first investigative judge has reviewed the preliminary file and referred it to judge Nadim Nashef who voluntarily stepped aside returning the file to Judge Mansour. The latter asked the Appeals Prosecution in Mount Lebanon to appoint a new investigative judge to this effect. Recalling, that the report of coroner, Hassan Mokdad, has shown that the cause of death is repeated incidences of violence before fall from the car. (Al Diyar, August 8, 2019)

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… while MWDWs ordeal continues: suicidal attempt in Tyre, falling “accident” in Saida

8-8-2019

On August 6, Al Mustaqbal daily reported that a Sri Lankan domestic worker attempted to kill herself by drinking bleach at her employer’s house in Ain B’al town, Tyre. She was later transferred by an ambulance to hospital for treatment. On August 7, the newspaper brought about the news of an Ethiopian MWDW who fell from the fifth floor of her employer’s residence in the southern city of Saida causing her injuries and fractures. The worker was carried to hospital but is still in critical condition. A security squad started investigation into the incident. According to our portal, the total number of deceased MWDWs has reached 7 since the beginning of this year. (Al Mustaqbal, July 19, 2019)

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Lebanon is reconsidering MWDW sponsorship system

8-8-2019

The minister of labor, Kamil Abu Sleiman, on July 26 visited ILO offices in Beirut to follow up discussions on the kafala (sponsorship) system in Lebanon. Noting, that under the kafala system, the legal residence of migrant women domestic workers is restrictively subject to a contracted relationship with the employer giving him almost complete control over the life and mobility of the MWDW. Abu Sleiman chaired a meeting which included ILO Regional Director for Arab States, Ruba Jradat, as well as representatives of a number of concerned local and international organizations. Meetings to this effect have been underway to submit proposals aimed to modify the sponsorship system in the country, which is tantamount to modern slavery, as Abu Sleiman described it. During the meeting, the labor minister reiterated his rejection of the continued inhuman treatment of many migrant domestic workers, stressing that he will continue to take immediate measures in the event of any assault against an MWDW. (Al Diyar, July 28, 2019)

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