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Undermining gender identity of women in public space

22-7-2019

In an article in Al Akhbar daily, columnist Ahmad Mohsen shed light on the gender discrimination against women in public life, in terms of language and gender. Mohsen mentioned the absence of the linguistic feminine affix for the title of a female director in Fakhredine Public High School for Girls. He also pointed to the Council of Ministers website, where in the published decrees, they refer to the appointment of the minister of interior (without accentuating the feminine title) in relation to the female minister of interior, Raya Hassan, and this applies to other female colleagues as well. If the Lebanese government truly promotes ‘gender equality in language’, it ought not choose the masculine (which is the general norm) over the feminine expressions, but opt to invent new answers, Mohsen wrote. He drew attention to the effortless aiming at a woman before scrutinizing what she said or wrote, contrary to how a male is treated usually. He gave MPs Dima Jamali and Roula Tabsh as two examples for this discrimination. If the tweeter, or if the member of the Legislature having coffee publicly during Ramadan were males, the reaction would not be the same. There are reasons for this prejudiced attitude, Mohsen explained, which regrettably and definitely is not out of concern for the image of a woman. Should this be the case, he said, the argument would be restricted to this aspect and would take cover in politics to criticize the woman in an attempt to shake or shatter her image publicly, and to endorse dominance and supremacy over her physical presence. The article can be found on the following link: :https://bit.ly/30Pwxwx. (Al Akhbar, July 18, 2019)

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Minister of Tourism: Festivals stimulate internal tourism only

22-7-2019

The minister of tourism Avedis Guidanian pointed out that the ministry’s budget has dropped by nearly LBP 10 billion, asking how a country can promote tourism with only USD 2 million. Guidanian was responding to Noura Jumblat who warned last week that Beitiddine Festivals were threatened with suspension anytime now. Guidanian explained that he was not against international festival planners or organizers, but that such events are not what is needed to boost tourism. They can boost internal tourism but cannot generate hard currency which is brought in by foreign visitors. He said festivals do not regulate the flow of incomers to the country. On the current tourism activity, Guidanian pointed to a growth rate in GCC and Arab visitors by 25%. The 4-star hotel occupancy rate of Arab tourists has exceeded 80% and posted between 70% and 75% in the 5-star hotels, the minister said, adding that the growth rate of European visitors reached 42%. On the other hand, the head of the Traders’ Association of Jounyeh and Kesrouan, Samy Irani, said Jounyeh International Festivals (https://bit.ly/2YqyemN) has revived commerce in the town, pointing to an extraordinary activity of Lebanese, Arab, GCC, expatriates and foreigners that reminds of the good old days. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, July 18, 22, 2019)

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Violence against women: father molests three daughters, girl kidnapped in Baalbak, blackmailer in Tyre

22-7-2019

The Criminal Court of Mount Lebanon headed by Judge Elie Hilou, sentenced last week a father to 8 years in prison on charges of molesting his three daughters after forcing them to watch porn movies when they were under 15. Meanwhile, local media brought up on July 19 the news of kidnapping of the girl R.J.G from in front of her workplace in Dorus, Baalbaq. Immediately after, the girl’s family staged a sit in at Khalil Motran Square in the Beqaa city in protest, demanding the government to take action and bring back their daughter safely home. On the other hand, a patrol from the Southern Investigation Unit in Tyre, arrested on July 14 the suspect R.M (Lebanese, born in 1987) who blackmailed girls threatening to publish their pictures and videos in which they appear nude. The assaulter was handed over to Tyre Gendarmerie Station for legal action. (L’Orient Le Jour, Al Mustaqbal, July 14, 20, 2019)

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Fighting foreign work force: bakeries raise price of bread

19-7-2019

Following protests by Palestinian refugees against ministry of labor’s plan to bring down what it calls “illegal workforce”, voices of dissent came this time from concerned industrialists and unions. To this end, a delegation of the Union of Owners of Bakeries in Lebanon, led by Kazem Ibrahim, discussed with minister Wael Abu Faour repercussions of the labor ministry’s request requiring employers of foreign laborers to cover them in social security and provide them with a work permit and health insurance. This, Ibrahim explained, is costly and detrimental to the sector, especially with the reluctance of Lebanese workers to work in bakeries. Raising the cost of production of a baguette of bread will increase the burden on consumers, not by a fragment of LBP 150 or 100 but significantly more. On the other hand, the Gathering of Shweifat and Environs Industrialists, which covers around 100 plants and factories, held a press conference yesterday to evaluate effects of the new labor ministry directive. Participants voiced fears on how the situation is developing. They called on the labor minister and the General Security department to give a 6-month grace period in order to settle the status of foreign workers, demanding a reduction of fees and an annulment of charges amassed during said period. Stressing that industrialists are law people, the gathering maintained that the above measure remains incomplete if not propped by reforms to support and protect national industry against smuggling and dumping. On the subject, Al Akhbar reported that opposition was expected from stakeholders who accrued profits over the years at the expense of foreign labor by sidestepping the law and denying their workers social security or legal work permits. (Al Akhbar, Al Diyar, July 19, 2019)
 

Previous related news:
Combatting illegal foreign workforce in Lebanon
 

 

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Discriminatory, racist treatment at Lebanon beaches

19-7-2019

In its issue of today, Al Akhbar newspaper shed light on the racism and discriminatory treatment rampant at beach resorts across Lebanon. Recalling, that a circular issued a month ago by tourism minister, Avedis Guidanian, advising ‘equal treatment’ in the reception of customers irrespective of race, nationality which applies as well to competent persons with special needs, has not been observed by above institutions, apparently, Al Akhbar wrote. The newspaper revealed two instances live from the Sporting Club, Manara, Beirut. The first incident was reported by journalist Sahar Mandour involving an Indian woman and her child who has been barred from entering the beach because of her race and color. Noting that the Indian beach goer was in Lebanon as part of an academic team to attend an international conference, a fact the receptionist did not scrutinize. The second instance relates to a flyer issued by the same beach resort on the dress code of helpers, or migrant domestic workers, requiring the family to pledge in signing that the worker wears a special uniform, shorts and a t-shirt. And in the event of violation, the family will be expelled without compensation. The flyer, Al Akhbar said, has sparked a wave of reactions on social media, calling for boycotting the Sporting Club for its racist attitude and its infringement on the rights of workers. Marwan Abu Nassar, co-owner of the club, clarified to Al Akhbar that the circular was meant to enforce a dress code without discrimination and that everyone should strictly comply to wearing a swim suit inside the pool. He denied banning the Indian lady from entering the beach. (Al Akhbar, July 19, 2019)

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Beirut ranks 53rd globally, 4th regionally in cost of living index

18-7-2019

The Mercer Institute published its ‘2019 Cost of Living’ survey which compares the cost of living indices for expatriates in 209 countries around the world. The Mercer report is designed to help multinational companies determine compensation allowances and social benefits for their expatriate staff. It also helps them determine the feasibility of opening branches in different countries, especially if the cost of living is high and not commensurate with anticipated profits. According to the report, Beirut ranked 4th in the Middle East and North Africa and 53rd globally in terms of high cost of living, after Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, and ahead of Doha and Kuwait City. The Lebanese capital also beat world cities like Amsterdam, Munich, Berlin, Madrid, Barcelona, Istanbul and Montreal. In terms of the quality of living, Beirut ranked 184th globally out of 231 cities. Noting, that in order to determine the cost of living, the Mercer survey measures the cost of food, alcohol, tobacco, housing, clothing, footwear, domestic services, special care, transport, local supplies and entertainment. To determine the quality of life, Mercer weighs various factors, including political (political and security stability, observation of laws), economic (banking services…), educational (quality of education), public services (electricity, water, public transportation and traffic), entertainment (theatres, restaurants, cinemas…), housing, consumer goods (cars …), medical services, epidemics, diseases, climate, pollution, etc. (Al Akhbar, July 16, 2019)

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Inclusion of persons with special needs in Zain Group

18-7-2019

Zain Group launched on July 8 the Disability Inclusion initiative, WE ABLE, which is set to announce Zain as Disability Inclusive by the year 2020. The initiative aims to: increase the number of persons with special needs within the Zain workforce by 2022; ensure all training programs are disability inclusive by 2022; ensure that accessibility is sustained to all persons with special needs across all Zain touchpoints by 2022, and finally, identify innovative and assisting technologies that enable more people with disabilities to join Zain and achieve success and career development. On the occasion, Zain Group vice president, chief executive, Badr Nasser Khurafi, said the launch of the initiative will make Zain Group one of the a handful of pioneers in the region to develop a strategy dedicated to integrating people with special needs into its workforce. (Al Akhbar, July 16, 2019)

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MP Ezzedine speaks in favor of reforms of personal status laws

18-7-2019

MP Inaya Ezzedine called for the modernization and development of the personal status laws to ensure the protection of women and children. Ezzedine, who was speaking during the budget debate parliamentary session, addressed House Speaker Nabih Berri, saying the issue should be a top priority for the government and the Legislature and should be given the required legislative support. Ezeedine stressed that respecting women’s rights is a fundamental condition for the protection of the family which constitutes the core of a society and the key to its advancement and prosperity. She also asked members of the parliament to step up discussions and subsequent ratification of related draft bills that have been referred to the concerned committees to be submitted to the General Assembly. In conclusion, Ezzedine pressed for the formation of a special body of all stakeholders, namely representatives of religious institutions, lawyers, social workers and psychologists, as well as deputies, to lay down the foundations for reform. Ezzedine’s speech to the parliament can be found at the following link: https://bit.ly/2LZLYya. (Al Akhbar, July 18, 2019)

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Thirty-three licenses for food industries over six months

18-7-2019

The ministry of industry released yesterday a report on the circulars related to the issuance during the period from January 2019 to mid-July 2019, of 286 circulars covering 33 food manufacturing plants. The ministry clarified in a statement, that above figures indicate a high demand from investors on the food industries, which the ministry gives special consideration to due to the complementary role of the sector, along with other productive sectors, notably agriculture. The food sector, according to the ministry’s statement, also boasts an advanced position in export and in accessible prospects to expand investments and increase its competitiveness and export capacities. The ministry stressed that, the series of protectionist, and other, measures it has worked on over the past six months, have created incentives for industrialists and businessmen to expand their businesses and establish new productive institutions in all regions, which generated new jobs and encouraged young people to stay steadfast in rural areas. Recalling, that the industry ministry has coordinated to this effect with the ministries of finance, economy and trade, public works and education, as well as with the Customs and Port departments, the LIA and Industrial Research Institute. (Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, July 18, 20, 2019)

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Combatting illegal labor reaches children of Lebanese mothers despite exemption law

17-7-2019

In its issue of today, Al Akhbar newspaper reminded its readers of the law exempting children of Lebanese mothers married to non-Lebanese holding complimentary residences from getting a work permit (https://bit.ly/2Lnm2Ml). It wrote that, three weeks into its enactment, the law has not been published in the Official Gazette, making it ineffective, and hinted to an administrative lingering coinciding with the launch of the labor ministry’s campaign on foreign labor (https://bit.ly/2Fb2Yxe). This, the newspaper said, prevents the children of Lebanese mothers holding complimentary residences from being exempted from work permits, putting them at risk of prosecution by ministry labor inspectors. According to Al Akhbar, the situation is reinforced by a politico-administrative obstruction, that could be calculated, pointing to opposing voices by LF and FPM during the parliamentary session devoted to enact the above law. Al Akhbar spoke to the coordinator of My Nationality is a Right for Me and My Children, Karima Chebbo, who clarified that the Campaign has received several complaints in the past few days to this effect, pointing out that after scrutiny of some official gazette editions, it found out that the law has not been published, and therefore is still null and void. Chebbo mentioned a number of cases related to this impasse, including one of a son of a Lebanese mother and a Syrian father who received a ticket, and another of a young man from a French father who received a notice at work, despite his holding of the complimentary residence. Also a young man was fired from work because the employer was reluctant to fix his papers. (Al Akhbar, July 17, 2019)

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