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Empowering women globally to improve the food situation

8-8-2019

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has prepared a report which concluded that women are the most important victims of climate change, yet, they stand in the front line to combat its after effects due to their important participation in agriculture. To note, that delegates of 195 member countries in IPCC have been in closed meetings in Geneva since August 2 discussing the report expected to be out today. According to Hindou Omar Ibrahim, the coordinator of the Association of Indigenous Peul Women and Peoples of Chad, men traditionally own the land, and when the time comes to distribute it, they pass it on to males and not to females. Likewise, Greenpeace researcher, Reyes Terrado, stated that in many developing countries and rural communities, women play an active role in household consumption food agriculture. Women and girls are directly affected when climate warming makes access to water harder, Terrado maintained. The above report also noted that women working in agriculture face other challenges as well. In this regard, FAO found that women have fewer opportunities compared to men in the acquisition of real estate or livestock, the use of novel technologies, access to loans or similar financial services or training. Should they get access to the same production resources like men, women are bound to increase the labor productivity by 20% to 30%, FAO said, adding, that increasing production can reduce by 17% the number of poor around the world. (An Nahar, August 8, 2019)

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Law amendment preventing jailing of mother rejected

7-8-2019

The Parliamentary Administration and Justice Committee chaired by MP George Adwan, rejected yesterday the draft law to amend Article 1003 of the Code of Civil Procedure, preventing the imprisonment of the mother sentenced to hand over her underge child. The Committee, after reviewing the explanatory statements and the justice ministry’s standpoint, noticed that enactment of the proposal, as per equality standards, requires that the father not be jailed for violating relevant provisions as well as the alimony provisos, which could undermine the implementation of similar judiciary rulings. Recalling, that the above draft bill was submitted on November 13, 2018, by lawmaker Paula Yacoubian. (https://bit.ly/2T9Q0FC). (An Nahar, August 7, 2019)

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Graduation of female makeup trainees in Mreijat, Beqaa

7-8-2019

Nahda Women Gathering, Zahleh- Central Beqaa, celebrated on August 5 the graduation of women who completed a beauty and makeup workshop in Mreijat, in the presence of mayor Michel Mechalani, the head of the Gathering Mona Fares, and officer for Zahleh and Central Beqaa, Adele Ashkar. On the occasion, Ashkar stressed support for women and families and their key role societal reform through targeted educational and training courses. Mechalani, for his part, confirmed his readiness to support any initiative that strengthens and spreads the Gathering and its work, pointing to his constant cooperation to this effect. Recalling, that the mayor has provided the municipal hall for the above training session. Likewise, Fares said Nahda’s main goal is to sustain rural activities and empower rural communities to become productive and stay steadfast in order to reduce migration to urban areas. Fares underlined the importance of training workshops in enabling beneficiaries to produce rather than providing them with the end-product. Training on a productive profession generates economic benefit to the beneficiary, Fares concluded. (NNA, August 5, 2019)

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Beirut mural for promoting women in leadership

7-8-2019

The Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (LADE), uncovered a large mural in the Hamra neighborhood of Madkessi under the slogan, ‘You are a natural leader’. The mural is part of ‘Activating the role of women in leadership’ project supported by Hivos International in coordination with ‘Art for Change’ project. During the launch, LADE secretary general, Yara Nassar, said the association wanted to communicate a message in a creative style to serve as a muse for inspiration and strength. Every person can interpret the mural from his/her own viewpoint, Nassar maintained, hoping it will become a symbol and model for Lebanese women. She stressed that the natural place for women is leadership, the leadership of demonstrations and protests, the leadership of parties and the nation. Nassar reiterated her call to break the stereotypes against women and their roles, refusing to tolerate any political party that will not recruit women on their electoral lists in the upcoming parliamentary elections 2022, or any party that abstains from voting in favor of a bill that endorses women’s rights.(NNA, L’Orient Le Jour, August 3, 6, 2019)

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Abeer Shbaro: Feminist and advisor to PM on women’s affairs

6-8-2019

In its issue of August 5, L’Orient Le Jour spotlighted the life and career of activist, NCLW vice president and advisor to prime minister for women’s affairs, Abeer Shbaro. Shbaro stressed that her main goal is to bring about equality between men and women and eliminate all discriminatory laws against women. As part of her work, Shbaro maintained, she witnesses the daily predicaments of Lebanese women incurred as a result of the predominant patriarchal system. She mentioned women victims of domestic violence and sexual harassment, divorced women deprived of their children, and women denied inheritance which naturally goes to their brothers, or women disallowed to confer nationality to their children, among other injustice. Shbaro told L’Orient Le Jour correspondent that she wanted to become a doctor but chose public health upon the persistence of her parents who argued that medicine conflicts with marital life and parenthood. She said she worked at a hospital before she met NCLW executive board member, Afifa Sayyid, and became tied up in the feminist movement. After 10 years in the field, she was chosen by prime minister Saad Hariri to help in the establishment of the ministry of women’s affairs, where she became advisor to former minister, Jean Ogassapian, when focus was on fighting sexual harassment. Shbaro said it is important to get the backing of politicians in order to press for women’s rights. (L’Orient Le Jour, August 6, 2019)

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Sudanese women’s struggle for gender equality

6-8-2019

In its issue of August 5, Al Diyar daily published an article by Agence France Presse featuring Sudanese women’s struggle for equality. AFP interviewed a number of Sudanese women activists who while lamenting the many restrictions enforced on them in the name of religion, stressed that women led the protests which toppled former president Omar Hassan Bashir on April 11, 2019 after 30 years in power. Sudanese woman lawyer and human rights activist, Amani Uthman, who was detained for 7 hours in refrigerated solitary confinement for demonstrating against the regime, said Sudanese women shall continue to fight to achieve gender equality. She said her arrest was in blatant violation of all laws and moral standards because of her advocacy for her unrepresented compatriots. Uthman warned that women will not wait to be granted their rights, we will fight for them. Sudanese women demand 40% of seats in the next parliament, she said, adding, that the coalition Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC), which leads the protests, has included the demand in the agreement signed with the ruling military council. For her part, Amira Tijani, English professor at Ahfad University for Girls in Om Durman, said the movement is an opportunity for women to be heard. Likewise, Salwa Mohamad, 21, said she was present daily at the April rallies in front of the army headquarters in the Sudanese capital in April to make women’s voices heard. Women in Sudan cannot go out alone or study abroad or dress as they like, she complained. (Al Diyar, August 5, 2019)

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French Stephanie Frappart, first woman to referee major men’s European match

6-8-2019

For the first time in the history of European matches, the Union of European Football Association, UEFA, announced on August 2, the appointment of Stephanie Frappart, France, to referee the UEFA Super Cup in Istanbul. Frappart will be the first woman to lead a major Men’s European match between Liverpool and Chelsea, on August 14. The UEFA revealed that the assistant referees will be Frappart’s compatriot, Manuela Nicolosi and Michelle O’Neil from Ireland. Frappart, 35, has in July refereed the Women’s World Cup final in Lyon between the US and the Netherlands. She also led the semi-final EUFA Women’s Championship in 2017 between the Netherlands and English, in addition to EuroCup Women (under 19) which took place in Turkey in 2012. (An Nahar, August 3, 2019)

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Training in water resources management for farmers

5-8-2019

The Economic and Social Development Fund (ESDF) distributed on August 2 certificates to 74 farmers from Dinniyeh, Beit Yunis and Hrar in Akkar, who completed agricultural training and extension courses in integrated water resources management. The training comes as part of the ‘Agricultural extension on integrated water resources management and the enhancement of cherry and apple orchard production’ program, implemented by ESDF, in cooperation with Maurice Hbeika for Trade and Agriculture Est and Dabbaneh Agriculture Holding. The said program, which is supported by the EU, targets about 520 farmers from the villages of the Federation of Municipalities of Diniyeh and Jabal Amel, in addition to the town of Arkoob (Hasbayya), Upper Shuf, Al Qaa and Deir Ahmar (Baalbaq-Hermel), Beit Yunis (Akkar) and Ain Ebl (Bint Jbeil). On the other hand, SEED Bound for research organized yesterday, in the Beqaa town of Sar3in, the 7th annual ‘Farm Day’ under the patronage of agriculture minister Hassan Lakkis. The latter underlined the importance of the fair in informing farmers and researchers in the area and across the country, on relevant findings in the production of seeds suitable for Lebanon’s nature and climate. What is more important, Lakkis maintained, is the application of those outcomes in the field. The Minister unveiled a draft bill underway aimed to regulate the import, export and registration of seeds to the end of protecting local farmers. The proposal is currently deliberated with the participation of specialists and researchers, and the private sector, Lakkis noted, advising cooperation between the private and public sectors for the benefit of national agriculture and the Lebanese farmers, and the domestic economy at large. (Al Diyar, August 3, 5, 2019)

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Saudi Arabia authorises women to travel without male guardian

5-8-2019

Saudi Arabia announced on Thursday a new list of reforms allowing Saudi women to apply for a passport and also travel without the consent of their guardians. The new bill, enacted by the Saudi cabinet, allows women, 21 and older, to travel abroad without prior consent of the guardian. The new bill will become effective by the end of August, according to the Saudi ministry of information. Other changes included, allowing Saudi women to report child birth like men, register marriage, divorce and obtain official family documents. The above decision was widely celebrated in the Kingdom, and was described by some as a historic step on the road to gender equality. The Saudi woman ambassador to Washington, Prince Rima bint Bandar Al Saud, tweeted, "These amendments make history as they call for the parallel integration of women and men in society. It constitutes a historic approach to achieving gender equality.” (Al Diyar, An Nahar, August 3, 2019)

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Violence against women: Arrest of 7 persons for blackmailing underage girls

5-8-2019

The ISF Directorate General – Public Relations Division, announced in a statement on August 2, that it has been informed by the Appeals Public Prosecution in Mount Lebanon of a complaint filed by a 14-year old girl, to the Anti-Cybercrime and Intellectual Property Protection Bureau in the Judiciary Police. The girl reported an attempt of rape, sexual extortion, blackmailing and threat to publish disgraceful videos and pictures of her via social media. Upon investigation, five suspects, all Lebanese (born in 1994, 1999, 2000, 2001) were arrested and referred to the competent judiciary, the ISF statement said. Meanwhile, the ISF- Information Department in Besharreh-Zgharta, seized on August 4, J.S in the town of Hasroon, on charges of raping an underage girl, and later, his accomplice, T.M was arrested and referred to the competent judiciary for legal action. (Al Mustaqbal, August 2, 4, 2019)

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