Halte a la violence et au harcelement au travail, Ratifions la #C190

Hat off #Nigeria for ratifying the Convention 190 of the ILO on #violence and #harassment at work .

#RatifyC190 was the campaign we led this summer with various African representatives from diverse countries. Various representatives from African countries participated to the symposium, on violence and harassment at work.

The symposium about the Convention Nbr 190 and recommendation Nbr 206 of ILO, that I was glad to facilitate and participate in while giving multiple sessions.

The Nigerian colleagues did great while advocating for the ratification and being able to do so in November 2022, increasing the numbers of states that joined the convention to 22!

Let’s cross fingers for Lebanon to join the fight! #C190, as well as other countries.

Hat off #Nigeria for ratifying the @ilo convention 190 on #violence and #harassment . #RatifyC190 was the campaign we led this summer with various african countries. Let s cross fingers for our country to join the fight! #C190 https://t.co/lXpBQTGRu3

— Rita Chemaly (@Ritachemaly) November 8, 2022

Tres contente, enfin le #Nigeria a ratifie la convention190 de l’OIT sur la violence et le harcelement au travail.

En ete nous avons mene avec des representants.es. de plusieurs organisations gouvernmentales, syndicales, non gouvernementales une action de plaidoyer pour faire connaitre la convention et la recommandation numero 206 de l’OIT. Avec les participants.es une campagne en ligne a ete menee aussi pour faire connaitre la Convention et demander sa ratification par les pays de l’Afrique de l’Ouest. Fiere d’avoir participer au symposium, un grand merci aux responsables de l’OIT pour leur confiance.

Maintenant que le Nigeria a ratifie la Convention C190, c’est autour d’autres Etats de le faire. La campagne et les efforts de plaidoyer doivent continuer. Les magnifiques et dynamiques participants.es au symposium, je suis sure, vont continuer leurs efforts, prete pour toute aide pour mener les campagnes de plaidoyer et de lobbying direct a bien!

Rita Chemaly

#C190 #16DAYS #RATIFYC190 #ILO #EndGBV #GBV #VAW

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Campaign against the social normalisation of Violence against women in Common sayings – Lebanon

I m soo happy , to see that the campaign against sexist Common sayings launched by the National Commission For Lebanese Women and UNFPA for the #16dayscampaignagainstviolence #GBV , received many reactions, and was shared massively. 

The campaign is simply reversing the common sayings, and exposing while putting “man” instead of “woman” the Cultural and social violence faced by Women, while asking the “man” do you accept if we say that to you? This is  Violence and this Violence should Not be Normalised in the Culture. This Violence needs to Stop. it is Unacceptable.

Below are the short movie prepared by NCLW and UNFPA Lebanon, and shared on TVs (huge thanks to LBCI, MTV, OTV, Future and Tele Liban) those are the TV channels I was able to screen, as well as for the news sites (NNA, Tayyar, FL) , bloggers (Thanks to Tarek) , friends, students (Thanks to Ursula) , and partners who reacted and shared this campaign. Changing mentalities is on the way!

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Ou sont les femmes dans les Familles et ligues familiales?

je mene des combats sur tous les fronts sans ambages, sans gants, meme dans la famille. Lors d’un tres beau diner de famille je decouvre lors de couper le gateau que des hommes seuls le coupent. Ou sont les femmes brillantes de la famille? une question legitime me diriez-vous. On me repond, une en se mariant a perdu le droit de faire partie de la Ligue familiale. Depuis dans la ligue une femme seule est presente. Ceux et celles qui connaissent mon combat pour les droits egaux de tous et toutes, vont savoir quelle a ete ma reaction. A la Kesrwanite que je suis et que je reste. Oui c’est ca. Quoi? c’est du n’importe quoi, parite et egalite dans les droits des membres de la famille on connait non? et on retrousse nos manches pour changer les lois, ou des status interieurs de ligues patriarchales?

Pour simple rappel des faits et verites concernant les femmes au liban : Une femme garde son nom de jeune fille jusqu’a sa mort. Cela veut dire, soit-elle une jeune fille, une sexagenaire ou une femme mariee. Je suis une Rita Chemaly, malgre mon mariage et bien, je garde mon nom de famille apres le mariage. Regardez simplement pour cela les epitaphes sur les tombeaux des femmes, sur les communiques de morts , necrelogie c’est ca? chequez les registres d’etats civils et les cartes d’identite vos meres gardent leur nom, et vos soeurs aussi.

Bref, on ne change pas d’identite en se mariant, juste de status.

Par consequent les femmes ont le droit de participer activement a la vie familiale. Les femmes ont plus que ce droit, A mon avis, elles doivent etre presentes paritairement aux hommes 50% 50% dans tous les postes de leadership.

Bon ceci etant dit, je rappelle qu’avec Lamia Moubayyed on avait pris la decision de ne plus participer a des panels et des evenements ou les femmes n’ont pas de role comme les hommes. Lamia avait hausse le ton lors d’une conference organisee par la banque mondiale, ou le panel etait forme d’hommes seulement. Cela doit faire effet de papillon sur toutes les ONG, sur les boards de toutes les societes privees et non privees, dans les evenements de toutes les Organisations internationales et dans toutes les ligues soient-elles familiales.

Femmes de ma famille et feministes hommes et femmes de ma famille on se ligue pour les droits de base? Feministes d’autres ligues, on vous aide aussi a amender vos status?

Liguons nous pour nos droits et celles de nos enfants , garcons et filles.

 

Rita Chemaly

http://nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/show-news/305123/

l’image et l’instant qui m’ont fait sursauter!

l’image publiee par l’agence nationale de l‘information NNA

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Femmes libanaises votre droit a etre candidates dans vos regions d’origine vous a ete rendu!

Je suis tres contente! Hier le Parlement libanais a vote pour le projet de loi prepare par la Commission Nationale des femmes Libanaises (WWW.NCLW.ORG.LB) et presente au parlement par le depute Ghassan Moukhaiber en avril 2016.  Le projet de loi Permet aux femmes libanaises mariees, d’etre candidates aux elections municipales dans leurs localites  d’origine.

Ce droit est tres IMPORTANT. Il permet aux femmes de ne pas perdre tout les accomplissements qu’elles ont construits toute leur vie jusqu’a leur mariage. ce droit permet aux femmes de garder leur propre identite et de choisir ou se presenter aux elections, sans perdre tous les assets qu’elles ont pris du temps, du temps de leur vie a batir dans leur village/region d’origine, avec leur famille. Ce droit permet aux femmes de ne plus etre exclues de leurs familles.

Ce droit permet aux femmes de participer activement au developpement de leurs regions, de ne pas etre simples spectatrices, pire des spectatrices de passage. Leur mariage leur coupait le droit de participer activement au developpement de leur localite d’origine. Les femmes qui etaient elues en tant que celibataires dans le conseil municipal, perdaient leur poste apres le mariage. Mais la nouvelle loi, La loi amendee leur permet de garder un lien fort avec leur region et pouvoir marquer leur region des traces indelebiles de leurs travaux!

Municipales dans quelques annees, vous allez voir le nombre de femmes qui vont 1 se presenter aux elections et 2 gagner et 3 developper leur localite!!!

En toute solidarite

Rita Chemaly

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GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN THE CONTEXT OF MIGRATION

Eager to tell you about the MOOC  on Gender Based violence in the context of migration!

The course will begin on May 15!

what is a MOOC? a MOOC is Massive Online Open Course , that is offered for free by the Global Campus of Human Rights coordinated by the European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation (EIUC).

The Mooc addresses gender, migration, and Human rights studies. The Lecture I participate in, is related to gender based violence faced by migrants and asylum seeking girls in the MENA region. The Political Sciences Institute (ISP) of Saint Joseph University part of the Arab Master in Democracy and Human Rights,  has worked hard while dedicating a team to gather data, prepare, review, shoot, edit and produce the MOOC on GBV addressed by migrants girls and women in the region.  Examples for this specific lecture are taken from the newest published reports in the region related to GBV and SGBV.  Sexual Exploitation, trafficking  Statelessness, Child Marriage, Schooling and access to education are presented. Also main International Instruments addressing GBV are presented.

The MOOC is a free course of 5 hours per week, for 6 weeks, that is open to “upper year undergraduates; postgraduates; NGO activists and practitioners interested in interdisciplinary human rights, gender equality, women’s empowerment, migration; young lawyers and social scientists; active and motivated citizens from around the world.”

I am very excited to be part of this Global Campus MOOC, and to have prepared the first MOOC addressing GBV and women’s rights in the region. Can’t thank enough the team who helped put all the lecture together (ISP team you rock! )  as well as the friends who helped gather the latest information in a very short deadline. (Special thanks to Ghida, Hayat, Raghda, Zeina, Myriam, and special thanks to Jihad who filmed and edited the lecture ).

Stay tuned  and follow the link to participate and enroll  in the MOOC! https://www.eiuc.org/education/global-campus-mooc-gbv-migration.html 

In solidarity from Lebanon

Let us address GBV in our region and internationally with sustainable solutions!

Rita Chemaly

Screen Shot taken from the Global Campus page https://www.eiuc.org/education/global-campus-mooc-gbv-migration/the-mooc.html  

 

 

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Migrants day in Lebanon

For those who are interested, join us on Sunday at noon at Sodeco , for Migrant workers day In Lebanon.

Details below are taken from the facebook page, #WeWillNotBeSilencedAnyMore  #workersday2017, be many 

Rita Chemaly

Workers’ Day 2017
Abolish Sponsorship – Ratify C189 – Stop State Violence

For the eighth year in a row, we -migrant domestic workers and supporters- come together to claim labor rights, march, and celebrate workers’ day.
This past year did not witness any improvement of protection of migrant domestic workers (MDWs). On the contrary, we have seen the abuses continue against the lives, rights and freedoms of MDWs, while the abusers still enjoyed impunity.
Tragedies and deaths still happen on daily and weekly basis without proper investigations, domestic workers and their families are still being unjustly deported and subjected to political detention, especially the public human rights defenders among them.
The struggle continues, and we unite again to make our voices heard and to claim our rights. We hereby demand the Lebanese state to:
1. Abolish the sponsorship system and replace it with a just immigration and residency system that guarantees human rights, fair and ethical recruitment, labor mobility, and the possibility of MDWs to live outside the employer’s house and change employers.
2. Ratify and implement the ILO Domestic Workers Convention of 2011 (C189).
3. Expand the Lebanese labor law to cover all categories of laborers including domestic workers.
4. Reform the standard unified contract to guarantee basic rights including the rights to get the Lebanese minimum wage, terminate the employment contract, have a maximum hours of work and be paid for overtime, the rights to privacy and decent working and living conditions, the right to have a weekly day off outside the house and unaccompanied by employers, and the right to have proper health insurance.
5. Hold abusive employers accountable and establish an inspection mechanism coupled with accessible and affordable complaint mechanisms, fair and speedy trials and legal redress.
6. Hold to account and close down all abusive and unethical recruitment agencies and establish a black-list system for these.
7. Guarantee the right of domestic workers to organize and unionize.
8. Investigate properly the deaths of MDWs, and in case of unnatural deaths, bring to justice those who caused these deaths.
9. Stop state violence against MDWs including detaining MDWs who leave their employers’ houses, exercising violence in detention centers and police stations, and depriving MDWs’ children of legal residency. Authorities must stop detaining and deporting MDWs for administrative or trivial reasons such as expired residency permits or having children in Lebanon who should all be entitled to residency and education rights in Lebanon. Authorities must also ensure speedy return procedures to home countries for workers who need it, especially for parents with children in Lebanon and workers who are sick.
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عيد العمّال 2017
لإلغاء نظام الكفالة
للتصديق على الاتفاقية رقم 189
لإيقاف عنف الدولة على عاملات المنازل

للسنة الثامنة على التوالي، نجتمع معًا، عاملات منازل مهاجرات ومؤيّدين/ات لهنّ، للسير جنبًا إلى جنب في مسيرة مطلبية والاحتفال معًا بعيد العمّال.
لم يشهد العام الماضي أي تحسّن في أوضاع عاملات المنازل المهاجرات أو تقدّم في تعزيز حقوقهنّ، بل تزايد العنف والاعتداءات عليهنّ واستمرّت الانتهاكات لحريّاتهنّ وحقوقهنّ وأرواحهنّ، فيما بقي مرتكبو هذه الانتهاكات مُفلتين من أي شكل من أشكال المحاسبة والعقاب.
لا تزال المآسي وحالات الوفاة غير الطبيعيّة تحدث بوتيرة يوميّة أو أسبوعيّة من دون أي تحقيقات جديّة بشأنها، ولا تزال العاملات، وعائلاتهن،ّ معرّضات للاحتجاز والترحيل من دون وجه حق، وخاصّة الناشطات الحقوقيّات العلنيّات من بينهنّ المعرّضات بشكل خاص للاعتقال السياسي.

إنّ كفاح العاملات مستمرّ، وها نحن نتّحد مرّة أخرى لنُسمع أصواتنا ونطالب الدولة بحقوقنا. وبشكل خاصّ نطالبها بـ:
1• إلغاء نظام الكفالة واستبداله بنظام هجرة وإقامة عادل للعاملات يحترم حقوقهنّ الإنسانية ويؤمّن سبل استقدام سليمة، وتحرّكيّة العاملات وحقهنّ في التنقّل والانتقال، وإمكانيّة العيش خارج منزل صاحب/ة العمل، وحقهنّ في تغيير صاحب/ة العمل.
2• التصديق على اتفاقية منظّمة العمل الدولية رقم 189 المتعلّقة بالعمل اللائق لعاملات المنازل، وتطبيقها.
3• توسيع نطاق قانون العمل ليشمل العمّال والعاملات كافّة، وتحديدًا عاملات المنازل.
4• إصلاح عقد العمل الموحّد المُطبّق على عاملات المنازل بشكل يضمن لهنّ حقوقهنّ العمّالية البديهيّة، مثل الحقّ في الحصول على الحد الأدنى للأجور، والعدد الأقصى لساعات العمل وإعطاء أجر إضافي مقابل ساعات العمل الزائدة، والحقّ في يوم عطلة خارج المنزل من دون اشتراط مرافقة أصحاب العمل لهنّ، والحقّ في تأمين صحّي مناسب، والحقّ في الخصوصية وفي ظروف العمل والعيش اللائقة، والحقّ في إنهاء عقد العمل.
5• محاسبة أصحاب العمل الذين ينتهكون الحقوق ويسيئون إلى العاملات، ووضع آلية فعّالة للمراقبة والتفتيش، مقترنة بآليّات سهلة للتبليغ عن الشكاوى، وضمان المحاكمات والإجراءات القانونية السريعة والعادلة.
6• محاسبة مكاتب الاستقدام المسيئة والتي تتّبع سبل استقدام غير سليمة وإغلاقها، والعمل على تفعيل نظام القائمة السوداء لمنع تلك المكاتب من العمل مجدّدًا وأصحابها من فتح وكالات جديدة.
7• ضمان حقّ العاملات في التنظيم والعمل النقابي.
8 • التحقيق الجدّي في حالات الوفيّات غير الطبيعيّة لعاملات المنازل وسَوق مسبّبي الوفاة إلى العدالة.
9• وقف عنف الدولة ضدّ عاملات المنازل، بما في ذلك من تجريم ‘هروب’ العاملات المنزليات من بيوت أصحاب العمل، وممارسة العنف عليهنّ في مراكز الشرطة ومراكز الاحتجاز، وحرمان أطفالهنّ من الإقامة القانونيّة في البلاد. على السلطات التوقّف عن احتجاز عاملات المنازل وترحيلهنّ لأسباب إداريّة شتّى مثل انتهاء صلاحيّة الإقامة أو لسبب إنجابهنّ الأطفال، الذين يحقّ لهم أصلاً بالإقامة القانونية والتعلّم في لبنان. وعلى السلطات أيضًا ضمان إجراءات ترحيل سريعة للعاملات اللواتي يحتجن إلى المغادرة، وخاصّة الأهل وأطفالهم أو المرضى.
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Journées des Travailleurs 2017
Abolir le système du Kafala – Ratifier la Convention 189 – Arrêter la violence d’Etat

Pour la 8ème année consécutive, nous -les travailleuses domestiques migrantes et les supporteurs- s’assemblons pour revendiquer des droits du travail, marcher et célébrer la Fête du travail.
L’année qui vient de s’écouler n’a pas apporté d’amélioration dans la protection des travailleuses domestiques migrantes. Au contraire, nous avons vu les abus contre leurs vies, droits et libertés continuer pendant que les abuseurs profitent toujours de la même impunité.
Morts et tragédies continuent d’arriver tous les jours et toutes les semaines sans aucunes véritables enquêtes et les travailleuses domestiques migrantes et leurs famille sont toujours injustement déportées et sujettes aux détentions politiques, spécialement les défenseures publiques des droits humains parmi elles.
La lutte continue et nous nous unissons une fois encore pour faire entendre nos voix et réclamer nos droits. Nous demandons donc à l’Etat libanais de :
1- Abolir le système du Kafala et de le remplacer par un système d’immigration et de résidence juste qui garantit les droits humains, un recrutement juste et éthique, ainsi que la possibilité pour les travailleuses domestiques migrantes de vivre hors du lieu de résidence de leur employeur et de changer d’employeurs.
2- Ratifier et mettre en œuvre la Convention sur les travailleuses domestiques de l’OIT (C189)
3- Etendre le Code du Travail libanais pour inclure toutes les catégories de travailleurs, dont les travailleuses domestiques.
4- Réformer le contrat standard unifié pour garantir les droits fondamentaux des travailleuses domestiques dont les droits d’obtenir le salaire minimum libanais, de terminer leur contrat de travail, d’avoir un nombre d’heures de travail maximum et d’être payées pour les heures supplémentaires, le droit à l’intimité et à des conditions de travail et de vie décentes, le droit d’avoir un jour de congé hebdomadaire en dehors du lieu de vie et non-accompagnées par les employeurs, et le droit d’avoir une vraie assurance de santé.
5- Tenir pour responsables les employeurs abusifs et établir un mécanisme d’inspection accompagné de mécanismes de plainte accessibles et abordables, des procès équitables et rapides ainsi que des recours juridiques.
6- Tenir pour responsables et fermer toutes les agences de recrutement abusives et non-éthiques ainsi que d’établir un système de « black list » pour celles-ci.
7- Garantir le droit des travailleuses domestiques de s’organiser et de se syndiquer.
8- Enquêter convenablement sur les morts des travailleuses domestiques et dans les cas de morts non naturelles, traduire en justice les responsables.
9- Arrêter la violence d’Etat contre les travailleuses domestiques migrantes dont la détention de celles qui quittent le lieu de résidence de leurs employeurs, l’utilisation de la violence dans les centres de détention et les postes de police, et la privation de résidence légale aux enfants de travailleuses domestiques migrantes. Les autorités doivent arrêter de détenir et de déporter les travailleuses domestiques migrantes pour des raisons administratives ou triviales telles que l’expiration des permis de résidence ou avoir des enfants au Liban alors qu’ils devraient bénéficier du droit de résidence et à l’éducation. Les autorités doivent aussi s’assurer de mettre en place des procédures de retour rapides vers les pays d’origine pour les travailleuses qui en ont besoin, spécifiquement pour celles avec des enfants au Liban et celles qui sont malades

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KIP/AUB call for abstracts and proposals focusing on Discrimination and sexual harrassment

to all who might interested, kindly find below the KIP /AUB call for proposals and abstracts related to discrimination and sexual harassment.

You can propose before October 30 2016: In one of the following categories:

A.    Scholarly Research: Proposal to present the findings of a research study

B.    Expert Panel Debate:  Proposal to bring together a small group of experts to debate a central question

C.    Conference Sub-theme Track: Proposal to organize your own track (i.e., a series of connected sessions) around a key question

D.    Training Workshops: Proposal to organize a skill-based training workshop

full details are in the link sent below  http://thekipproject.info/call-for-abstracts/.

Good Luck and in Solidarity

Rita Chemaly

 

below is the mail I received from KIP project Director:

 

 

Dear KIP Community,

 

In preparation for the KIP multi-disciplinary conference that will be taking place on March 31st and April 1st, 2017 at the Olayan School of Business, we are happy to announce our Call for Abstracts and Proposals focused on examining issues pertaining to Discrimination and Sexual Harassment in relation to gender and sexuality within the context of Lebanon.

 

The two-day conference aims at bringing together activists, students, academics, private and public sector representatives, international organization representatives, donors as well as interested members from the general public to discuss and debate multiple formulations and manifestations of sexual harassment and discrimination and chart paths and processes for advocacy, policy recommendations and change at the organizational, community and societal levels.

 

Throughout the conference, we hope to generate recommendations for policies, practices and theory that are informed by multiple local perspectives and that provide momentum for specific ways through which we can support each other in the implementation of positive change forward.

 

Based on this, the attached call invites local and international candidates across sectors and disciplines to submit proposals or abstracts by October 30, 2016 falling under one of the following four below categories:

 

A.    Scholarly Research: Proposal to present the findings of a research study

B.    Expert Panel Debate:  Proposal to bring together a small group of experts to debate a central question

C.    Conference Sub-theme Track: Proposal to organize your own track (i.e., a series of connected sessions) around a key question

D.    Training Workshops: Proposal to organize a skill-based training workshop

 

Please see full details in the Call for Abstracts and Proposals attached. The guidelines for submissions are available on the KIP website http://thekipproject.info/call-for-abstracts/.

 

It would be great if you would consider submitting and, if possible, circulating widely among your networks.

 

with best wishes

Charlotte

 

 

 

 

 

Charlotte M. Karam, PhD

Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior

Associate Dean of Programs

Director of the KIP Project
Olayan School of Business

American University of Beirut

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Blaming the Victim because she “asked” for rape Lebanon policy maker fail

A new episode in Gender based violence, was highlighted during a discussion on Women rights!

The Discussion was organised by proeminent NGO , RDFL.

A Lebanese member of Parliament (re-conducted illegally) went out of the paper prepared by him or “for him??” and said that a women has a role in pushing men to rape her!

I am still shocked by the insanity of such an MP. He don’t understand the Harm such words do for all women. Such Words make sexual harassment at work , in public spaces, as well as in a Home Legal!!!

I do understand now why Most of our rotten laws such as the Penal Code, have such inanities! (reference to article  522)

What I loved is that bloggers, media, women activists, women right defenders spoke out about this insanity, and a petition asking MP to resign is being circulated!

Here is what is being circulated on the web, through different platforms:

النائب ايلي ماروني هان المرأة اللبنانية عندما صرّح: “في بعض الاماكن وبعض المطارح بدنا نسأل شو دور المرأة في قيادة الرجل إلى اغتصابها” وكان النائب يحمل المرأة مسؤولية الاغتصاب هيدا التصرف مرفوض من قبل أي رجل (او امرأة)، وخاصة نواب الامّة. مطلوب من الجميع التضامن لنطلب منه الاعتذار أو الاستقالة. الرجاء نشر البوست المرفق ابتداء من الان على كل صفحاتكم وحساباتكم على مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي. وشكرا

 

 

Below is the link to the Video in which Lebanese member of Parliament states his inanities:

اليكم/ن الفيديو الذي يظهر المواقف الذكورية التي أطلقها النائب إيلي ماروني حول حقوق النساء وبشكل خاص الجنسية، المادة ٥٢٢ والإغتصاب الذي اعتبر أن للمرأة دور في حدوثه. كذلك، يظهر في الفيديو الرد الكامل للنائب ماروني على اعتراض الناشطة حياة مرشاد على كلامه حيث لوح بإلباسها البرقع كي لا تخجل من تمثيله لها في البرلمانhttps://www.facebook.com/sharikawalaken/videos/1207350935984570/

 

Below is the statement Written by women activists, and that is open to be signed by all:

بيان للتوقيع والنشر صاغته ناشطات نسويات رداً على تصريحات النائب #ايلي_ماروني المهينة للمرأة في لبنان

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zqefNeT7ngDPVkiFXdq6xXlJbg1SGQrH120vp2YMHDw/edit

 

Below are the articles in the newspapers and media outlet that cover what happened:

Annahar

LBC News

The Daily Star

 

Action is Needed by the Political Party Kataeb of that Mp.

There is a need to amend and Delete article 522 which Blames Women being raped for their own rape, and which give them as a victory to the one who rape them!!

I call all Political parties to take action in Written against article 522 and against discriminatory articles of Penal code in Lebanon

Rita Chemaly

 

 

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Raise your voice and use your rights for gender equality!

Wonderful and amazing Video on gender equality by IWSAW-LAU, about the inequality facing women in Lebanon, and how decision makers are not considering the women voices!

The video, and the Lyrics are just great! by a simple cartoon they tackle GBV,  it tackles women stereotyping and the fact that law makers are not discussing women issues and rights with Women!!

I loved also  how they say that law makers prepare laws and forget them and Loose them in the drawers!!!

I remember that since 2011 many law amendments were presented to the Parliament in Lebanon regarding equality, and till now, LAWS were not Discussed !!! or Voted for….

MPs, did where , in which drawer did you hide those laws amendments?!!

Hat off IWSAW team!!!

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#PeaceDay #GlobalGoals SUBMIT VIDEOS TO THE UNITED NATIONS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE

 The Education Outreach Section of the United Nations Department of Public Information invites young people from around the world between the ages of 15 and 24 to submit 10- to 15-second videos in English on how the Sustainable Development Goals can build peace.

When making your videos, think about why ending poverty, addressing climate change, forging equality and ensuring access to education are important to creating a more peaceful world.

The most engaging videos will be featured on the United Nations International Day of Peace YouTube channel.

Some will even be shown at an official event at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 16 September.

We will be posting selected clips at www.youtube.com/channel/UCpLhcvaNT33Bs8ZvB4j6d8w

from 13 June (the start of the 100 day countdown) through 21 September, the International Day of Peace. When you make your video, please state your name and country at the beginning. [Example: “My name is Jimena, and I’m from Peru.”] And remember that all videos should be appropriate for viewing by younger audiences. We’ll be accepting your submissions from now until 1 September. So start sending your videos to unitednationspeaceday@gmail.com today! Background: The International Day of Peace falls on 21 September. Every year on this day, the United Nations calls on the people of the world to remember their common humanity and join together to build a future free of strife. The theme for 2016, “The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace”, highlights how ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring prosperity for everyone, all contribute to global harmony. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals were unanimously adopted by the 193 Member States of the United Nations at a historic summit in September 2015. More information on the International Day of Peace: http://www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/

More information on the Sustainable Development Goals: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs

Hashtags: #PeaceDay #GlobalGoals

 

http://www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/pdf/Invitation%20to%20Submit%20Videos%20for%20International%20Day%20of%20Peace.pdf 

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Launch of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity & Expression (SOGIE) Monitor

 

The Gender and Sexuality Resource Center (GSRC) at the Arab Foundation for Freedoms and Equality has announced the launch of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity & Expression (SOGIE) Monitor.

“The SOGIE Monitor is a unified online documentation tool between organizations working on gender and sexuality, with a focus on LGBT populations.”

This online  platform has been created to document and classify cases of human rights violations on the basis of gender identity & expression and sexual orientation. Marsa Sexual Health Center, Helem (Lebanese Protection for LGBT), LebMASH (Lebanese Medical Association for Sexual Health), and MOSAIC (MENA Organization for Services, Advocacy, Integration and Capacity Building) are Part of It! Hat off to the 3 Organisations!!!!

“The aim is to allow individuals as well as service providers to document cases of violations via a secure interface and to provide the necessary follow-up and referral for violation cases. Filling this information gap will also allow for the publication of regular reports of the different violations, to be used as an important tool for advocacy and lobbying.”

For more information, here is the  website in Arabic: www.thesogiemonitor.org

Again Hat off for such a wonderful Initiative!!

Rita Chemaly

here is the link 

https://thesogiemonitor.org/

 

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While Parliament is reconducted Women still fight for their rights in municipalities : a change of law is a must!

The National Commission for Lebanese Women, that is a National machinery affiliated to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers , has prepared a Draft law aiming at Helping Women to be Candidates and Win the elections for the municipalities.

The municipalities elections in Lebanon are a family and neighbors issue. The Women who want to be candidate needs to be registered as a condition in the registry of the Municipality. “sejjel kayd”.

The discrimination appears in article 25, of the current Municipality law, in which a Women will loose all her links to the family, and networks that she has created in her municipality of origins ” sejil kaydiha el assassi”  if she gets married, as she is directly and without asking taken down from the registry of origin and enlisted in the registry of her “Husband”.

For me, it is a PATRIARCHAL SOCIETY in which a Women is the PROPRIETY of her FATHER until Marriage, after MARRIAGE, SHE IS THE PROPRIETY OF HER HUSBAND;

regardless my point of view of how the laws in LEBANON discriminate against women in the texts and make her directly affiliated to a MAN (the father or husband) , the new draft law is  a new step forward for women’s rights in Lebanon. this is done through this draft law amendment registered at the Parliament by the Active MP Ghassan Mukahiber, on the 11/4/2016 under registry number 168/2016,

as a Practical example, I as a married women from Achkout/Kesrwan , can be candidate after my marriage in Achkout if I wish ! Because in the Municipality of my Husband which is Deir Dourit/Chouf, no one have ever heard of me! 🙂 unlike Achkout, where all my activism, links, are tight 🙂

apart from this personal example, and for this,

 I am now asking ALL MPS (the reconducted oops! ) (another polemique here hein? ) to LEGIFERATE and VOTE and ratify this NEW amendment PRIOR TO THE 2016 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS!

WE AS WOMEN need IT!!!!  WE still fight for our rights in municipalities : a change of the law is a must!

Rita Chemaly

here is the text of the law amendment as presented to the parliament by Ghassan Mokhaiber.

here is the link to the Press release covered by our National News Agency! http://nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/show-news/216377/ 

 

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Clooney for Presidency is going viral but clooney is not Lebanese

 

This picture of Georges Clooney is going viral but even for a fun campaign some basic requirements/ conditions are not met: Clooney is the husband of a lebanese woman but because of the nationality law dating of 1925 can’t be lebanese as Amal alameddine can’t transmit her nationality to her hsuband as per lebanese law!!!

Aha again shedding lights on the biggest discrimination facing lebanese woman.

So georges help fight to amend this patriarchal law for lebanese women to be able to transmit their basic rights for their husbands and children!!!

Rita Chemaly

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CSW 60th session march 2016 draft conclusions

Here is the direct Link to Full 18-Page CSW 60 Draft Agreed Conclusions Revision 2:

http://www.ngocsw.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Draft_agreed_conclusions_march_15.pdf?utm_source=website&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=draft_agreed_conclusion_march_14

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Avancee pour l’egalite aux Emirats et un recul en France? Ancrage aux stereotypes

Hier, j’ai recu par mail, une alerte concernant le remaniement ministeriel en France. Aujourd’hui en lisant l’article de liberation l’information se confirme. Je croyais que la France est un pays ou le feminisme a reussi a faire des progres sur le plan des mentalites patriarchales. Et bien non, avec le #remaniement ministeriel d’Hollande, le role des femmes a ete reconfine et  accole aux taches de femme “epouse” et de mere “la maman”.

Hmm… je pense  que le remaniement ministeriel est incomplet: le remaniement a rattache  le droit des femmes a celui de famille et des enfants, ils ont oublie aussi de rajouter un titre au ministere: taches menageres! La Totale !

Je suis libanaise, une societe ou  “feminisme” “distribution des roles au sein du foyer” ne sont pas toujours les bienvenus. Oui chez nous les stereotypes de tous genres sont ancres. Je vis constamment sous les doigts de ceux qui essayent de me coller l’etiquette de “maman”a tout va. Pire on essaye aussi de me coller une autre etiquette celle tres connue de “sett beyt” en libanais, l’expression veut dire la dame de la maison celle qui gere la famille et la maison. hmm laissez moi preciser: celle qui garde le foyer propre , qui cuisine pour son homme et son enfant qui ne devrait parler que de chiffons avec ses amies lors des sobhiyis. Et bien du tout, je fais la sourde oreille quand on me parle de la sorte, pire quand au Liban on m’appelle avec le nom du Mari. Car on pert notre nom en se mariant, on devient l’objet de la famille, des enfants, et de l’Epoux.

Bon, au Liban la route vers une quelquonque egalite est tres longue  , mais  en France retourner en arriere sur des aquis est une honte, une sorte de claque a tous les efforts des feministes!

A bas les stereotypes! Think out of the Box!

Rita Chemaly

Photo stereotype prise de Marie Claire 

ci dessous le copier colle du mail que j’ai recu:

COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE du 11 FEVRIER 2016
de Danielle BOUSQUET, Chantal JOUANNO et Pascale VION

Remaniement ministériel:
Associer les droits des femmes à la famille et à l’enfance
suscite de sérieuses préoccupations

Parité au nouveau Gouvernement : nous nous en félicitons. Mais, mettre sous un même Ministère « la famille, l’enfance et les droits des femmes », n’est-ce pas enfermer les femmes dans le rôle stéréotypé qui leur est assigné depuis des siècles : celui d’épouse et de mère ?

La formulation et le périmètre de ce Ministère sont d’autant plus déconcertants que, depuis 4 ans, les avancées en matière d’égalité femmes-hommes sont incontestables. La Loi sur l’égalité réelle du 4 août 2014 avait, en effet, consacré l’enracinement de l’égalité entre les femmes et les hommes dans toutes les politiques publiques. Pour autant, tellement d’inégalités perdurent.

A cette aune-là, nous nous interrogeons sur le périmètre du Secrétariat d’Etat chargé de l’égalité réelle. Nous attendons des clarifications et des assurances du Gouvernement quant à son engagement en matière de droits des femmes et d’égalité entre les sexes.

Danielle BOUSQUET, Présidente du Haut Conseil à l’Egalité entre les femmes et les hommes,
Chantal JOUANNO,  Présidente de la Délégation aux droits des femmes et à l’égalité du Sénat
Pascale VION, Présidente de la Délégation aux droits des femmes et à l’égalité du CESE

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Nationality right for Women in #Lebanon addressed by International Actress from Lebanese Origins Salma Hayek

What is the Right that I miss the most as a Lebanese Women? This is the question I as a women rights activist is always asked, and my answer is Clear:  the Right to transmit my Nationality to my Children is THE Right we need to work on in Priority.

As a Women, the nationality law that dates from 1925  in Lebanon still prohibits Lebanese women married to foreigners from granting their nationality to their husband and children. 

the Article 1 of the 1925 Nationality Law states that citizenship is granted to those born of Lebanese fathers only. Not Lebanese Mothers. The implication is dreadful for Lebanese women and mothers: Children born of Lebanese mothers are not granted citizenship in Lebanon. that means no Lebanese passport, No lebanese social security, No access to Public schools, no access to Lebanese universities, no Access to Lebanese jobs protected by Syndicates…. In addition to all that a new Law passed in November 2015 in the Lebanese parliament, granting the  expatriates who have male ancestors only to get Lebanese Citizenship. Even the Constitutional Council wasn’t able to reject such a law that clearly violates the principle of equality between men and women enshrined in Article 7 of the Lebanese Constitution. (Read more about the rejection of annulment of such a discriminating law here)
Citizenship in Lebanon is based on ancestry from the FATHER /Men Side only,  not where one is born. In my opinion this is a  discrimination showing how Lebanon is a patriarchal society !

Today I read that Salma Hayek the Hollywood famous actress with Lebanese origins have clearly highlighted that women in Lebanon need to be able to TRANSMIT Their Nationality to their Children. True!! if as activists and lobbyist and advocates our voice is not heard by our elected Members of Parliament, maybe the voice of a Hollywood actress is more Powerful??? They can hear her voice easily???

Il faut noter que Shakira est d’origine libanaise, Salma Hayek Aussi, … mais la nationalite ne peut leur etre octroyee car elles sont des femmes, d’origine libanaise. Mika aussi  est d’origine libanaise par sa mere non??? donc il n’y a pas droit non plus! On le cree ce Lobby d’Acteurs et actrices et chanteurs pour demander ce Droit Primordial pour Nous Libanais et Libanaises???

Rita Chemaly

below are some of the links and article I wrote previously in English , french or Arabic  about this issue:

Lebanese women not satisfied with second class

Cartographie des discriminations qui atteignent les femmes au Liban 

Le Dossier que j’ai prepare sur la Nationalite pour le Magazine

Les femmes libanaises insistent pour transmettre leur nationalite a leur famille 

Transmitting the Nationality in Lebanon is only for Men

Patriarchy and discrimination against women should not prevail Lebanese women should have the right to transmit their nationality

La nationalite a ceux qui sont d’origine libanaise … aux hommes pas aux femmes!

je reve : je suis libanaise de 2nde classe?

Kindly note that in this blog, I featured more than 20 articles and short movie and covered plenty of protests and street movments about this issue. they are all featured under this tag: Nationality tag ; Discrimination tag; women rights tag

 

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Vacancies at Amnesty International

1- Researcher for Gulf Team:

The Middle East and North Africa Programme at the International Secretariat of Amnesty International is seeking to appoint a dynamic, team oriented person to the role of Iraq Researcher in the Gulf team.

“ABOUT THE JOB:
As a research-based campaigning organization, investigating and documenting human rights issues is fundamental to our advocacy and lobbying work. Our Gulf team requires a researcher to take the lead in initiating human rights research and action by providing regional and thematic expertise, excellent research skills and sound political judgement. A campaign oriented approach to your work is essential. You will be required to conduct and co-ordinate research activities, monitor, investigate and analyse political, legal and social developments and human rights conditions, give authoritative advice on these areas and prepare human rights action materials.

ABOUT YOU:
With experience of working on human rights issues, you must have specialist knowledge and preferably first hand experience of the Gulf region in particular Iraq and an understanding and awareness of the cultures of the Gulf region. You’ll have a background in activism, academia, law or journalism with the ability to identify and thoroughly investigate those issues and ensure our voice has authority. You will need proven research and communication skills, impartial political judgement, coupled with strong strategic thought. Fluency in English, including excellent writing skills, is essential, as is the ability to speak and read Arabic fluently. ”

here is the source for the opening : https://careers.amnesty.org/vacancy/researcher—gulf-team-1332/1358/description/ 

Here are more details appearing on the page about this specific opening

• Closing Date: 17 January 2016
• Directorate: Research
• Location: London
• Type: Fixed Term Contract
• Duration: 9 months
• Working Hours: 35
• Salary: £43,200

to download the full TOR of the researcher job file:Researcher – Gulf Team amnesty international

2- Gender sexuality and identity – PROGRAMME DIRECTOR (1371)

“Whatever a person’s gender, sexuality, race, religion or any other identity tag, no-one should be discriminated against on the basis of who they are. No one should have their rights violated because of their identity, or because they defend the human rights of others. That’s why we’re committed to ending human rights abuses on the basis of identity, and ending the prejudice and discrimination that fuel such abuses. It’s pioneering work – and it’ll be down to you to lead the way. 

About the role
In this highly influential role, you’ll shape and develop our strategies, policies, research and advocacy on gender, sexual orientation and other forms of identity-based discrimination – making us the recognised authority on human rights abuses grounded in such discrimination. Doing this successfully means working with people across Amnesty International (AI), strengthening our research methodologies and managing a team of dedicated staff as they advise us on how to how to research, advocate and campaign on equal rights. It will involve raising awareness, enabling staff to play their roles and generating external debate. As well as writing incisive analyses, reports and briefings, you’ll represent AI to the media and to policy makers. You’ll also manage a significant budget and develop a coherent and effective operational plan. More than that, you’ll keep up to date with emerging political, academic and human rights trends to better support those who are standing up to perpetrators of human rights violations throughout the world. Even more importantly, you will yourself be an important thought leader or entrepreneur in this area of work.

About you
An experienced human rights leader, you’ll have an impressive record of researching for advocacy and carrying out intersectional analyses of discrimination in relation to human rights. You’ll have a proven record of work and scholarship in identity-based discrimination. You’ll need specialist knowledge of international human rights and humanitarian law and a proven ability to inspire and motivate those around you. With practiced relationship-building and strategic planning abilities, you’ll be adept at successfully managing people and resources. You’ll also have shown your ability to write for a variety of publications and have the credibility, communication skills and political judgement to represent AI externally. A strong team player, you’ll be committed to working collaboratively and be passionate about ending identity-based human rights violations.”

here is the source of the opening: https://careers.amnesty.org/vacancy/gender-sexuality-and-identity—programme-director-1371/1397/description/

• Closing Date: 7 February 2016
• Directorate: International Law and Policy
• Location: London
• Type: Permanent
• Working Hours: 35
• Salary: £65,412
• here is the pdf with all details for this post! GSIU Director of Gender, Sexuality and Identity Unit amnesty international rita chemaly

3 – finally a post that is for the BEIRUT Office: Regional Director  MENA: (1388)

“THE CONTEXT

Amnesty International has embarked on a global transition programme to ensure a more impactful and truly global presence for the movement. A movement that acts with greater legitimacy, speed, capacity and relevance as we stand alongside those whose rights are violated. We are adapting to a changing world by building on Amnesty International’s 50+ years of ground-breaking achievements for justice and freedom. We believe that by deepening our work in new global offices, including in the global South, we will be even more in line with our mission and core values. Our activists and staff around the world will have increased direct and indirect contact with defenders, partners and human rights violations in different parts of the world with our IS staff “closer to the ground”. As we build significant membership in the South, we will see international solidarity and democratic decision-making in full bloom.

In the past two years we have opened Regional Offices in Dakar, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Hong Kong and Mexico City – and now we are expanding our presence further. Over the next year we will establish new operations in Bangkok, Tunis, Beirut with other locations to come.

ABOUT THE BEIRUT REGIONAL DIRECTOR ROLE
Our Beirut office will tackle a host of diverse human rights issues in the region. As Regional Director and leader of our presence in the region, we will look to you to develop and adapt our global strategies within the region. You will lead a multifunctional team to develop and deliver effective research, campaigns, communications, growth and fundraising plans. So you will need to create a culture of collaboration and integration as you establish the office, support your staff and take accountability for managing resources and increasing the impact of our work. At the same time, you will be guaranteeing that your team retain all that is distinctive about Amnesty including our values & beliefs, our global identity, coherence and consistency, our independence and impartiality and the centrality of the individual.

ABOUT YOU
A politically astute, experienced, inspirational and resilient leader, you will bring your expert knowledge and experience as a leader capable of influencing the direction of Amnesty International’s impact within the region. You will have a sound knowledge of regional political and social contexts that comes from living and working in the region; with knowledge of international human rights law and regional human rights frameworks you will have a balance with your awareness of membership and constituency building, fundraising and media visibility within the region. You’ll be a strategic thinker who can create plans, manage staff directly and in a global matrix, allocate resources and maintain a strong network of government, NGO and media contacts. So you’ll have the communication, presentation and advocacy skills needed to represent AI to a variety of audiences, along with the credibility to influence them and effect positive change.

ABOUT US
Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 7 million people who campaign for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all. We reach almost every country in the world and have:

• more than 2 million members and supporters who drive forward our fight for rights
• more than 5 million activists who strengthen our calls for justice

Our aim is simple: an end to human rights abuses. Independent, international and influential, we campaign for justice, fairness, freedom and truth wherever they’re denied. And whether we’re applying pressure through powerful research or direct lobbying, mass demonstrations or online campaigning, we’re all inspired by hope for a better world. One where human rights are respected and protected by everyone, everywhere. We can only do this because of the generous donations from millions of people around the world.

FREEDOM, JUSTICE, EQUALITY – LET’S GET TO WORK.

LE CONTEXTE

Amnesty International s’est engagée dans un programme mondial de transition, afin d’assurer une présence plus efficace et véritablement mondiale du mouvement. Un mouvement qui a renforcé sa légitimité, sa rapidité, sa capacité et la pertinence de ses actions auprès des victimes de violations des droits humains. Amnesty International s’adapte à un monde en évolution en s’appuyant sur plus de 50 ans d’avancées majeures en faveur de la justice et de la liberté. Nous sommes convaincus qu’en accentuant notre travail dans de nouveaux bureaux à travers le monde, notamment dans les pays du Sud mondial, nous serons encore davantage en accord avec notre mission et nos valeurs fondamentales. Partout dans le monde, avec un personnel du SI « plus près de terrain », nos militants et les membres de nos équipes auront davantage de contacts directs et indirects avec les défenseurs des droits humains, avec nos partenaires et avec les personnes qui ont été victimes d’atteintes à leurs droits fondamentaux. En recrutant dans les pays du Sud un nombre significatif de membres, nous verrons s’épanouir la solidarité internationale et les processus décisionnels démocratiques.

Lors des deux dernières années, nous avons ouvert des bureaux régionaux à Dakar, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Hong Kong et Mexico – et nous continuons d’étendre notre présence. Au cours des prochaines années, nous mènerons de nouvelles actions à Bangkok, Tunis, Beyrouth et dans d’autres endroits à venir.

RÔLEDU DIRECTEUR RÉGIONAL DE BEYROUTH
Notre bureau de Beyrouth se focalisera sur de nombreuses questions liées aux droits humains dans la région. En tant que directeur ou directrice régional-e et responsable de notre mouvement dans la région, nous compterons sur vous pour développer et adapter nos stratégies mondiales dans la région. Vous dirigerez une équipe multidisciplinaire dans le but d’élaborer et de réaliser des travaux de recherche efficaces, des campagnes, des communications ainsi que des plans de croissance et de collecte de fonds. Lors de la mise en place du bureau, vous devrez donc développer une culture de collaboration et d’intégration, et soutenir votre équipe. Vous serez responsable de la gestion des ressources et de la maximisation de notre impact. Dans le même temps, vous veillerez à ce que votre équipe ne perde pas de vue les caractéristiques propres d’Amnesty, notamment nos valeurs et nos convictions, notre identité mondiale, notre cohérence et notre constance, notre indépendance, notre impartialité et le caractère central que nous conférons à l’individu.

VOTRE PROFIL
Avec l’intelligence politique qui est la vôtre, avec votre expérience, votre caractère mobilisateur et votre résistance, vous tirerez profit de votre expertise et de vos compétences à la tête d’une équipe pour accroître l’impact d’Amnesty International dans la région. Vous disposez d’une solide connaissance du contexte politique et social de la région, acquise en vivant et en travaillant sur place. Vous êtes au fait du droit international en matière de droits humains et des cadres régionaux relatifs aux droits humains. Vous faites également preuve de connaissances en matière de recrutement de membres, de recherche de soutiens, de collecte de fonds et de visibilité médiatique dans la région. Vous avez des capacités de réflexion stratégique et êtes capable d’élaborer des plans, de gérer une équipe tant directement que dans le cadre d’une structure mondiale, de répartir des ressources et d’entretenir un solide réseau de contacts au sein du gouvernement, d’ONG et des médias. Vous disposez donc des compétences nécessaires en matière de communication, de présentation et de travail de pression pour représenter Amnesty International auprès de publics variés. Vous jouissez également de la crédibilité suffisante pour avoir une influence sur ces publics et les orienter vers un changement positif.

À PROPOS DE NOUS
Amnesty International est un mouvement mondial réunissant plus de sept millions de personnes qui agissent pour que les droits fondamentaux de chaque individu soient respectés. Nous touchons presque tous les pays du monde et nous comptons : 

• plus de 2 millions de membres et sympathisants qui font avancer notre lutte en faveur des droits
• plus de 5 millions de militants qui renforcent nos appels à la justice

Notre objectif est simple : mettre fin aux violations des droits humains. Indépendante, internationale et influente, notre organisation se bat pour la justice, l’équité, la liberté et la vérité partout où elles sont bafouées. Que nous nous engagions en menant d’importantes recherches, par un travail de pression directe, en organisant des manifestations de masse ou des campagnes en ligne, nous sommes tous poussés par l’espoir d’un monde meilleur. Un monde où les droits humains seraient respectés et protégés par tous et partout. Notre travail n’est rendu possible que par les dons généreux de millions de personnes dans le monde.

LIBERTÉ, JUSTICE, ÉGALITÉ – METTONS-NOUS AU TRAVAIL.

 

 

شرعت منظمة العفو الدولية في تنفيذ برنامج انتقالي عالمي يهدف إلى ضمان أن تصبح المنظمة حركة ذات حضور عالمي حقيقي وأكثر تأثيراً، حركة تعمل بمشروعية وسرعة وقدرة أكبر وأكثر ملاءمة للواقع، وهي تقف إلى جانب الذين تُنتهك حقوقهم. إننا نتكيف مع عالم متغير عن طريق البناء على المنجزات المبتكرة التي حققتها منظمة العفو الدولية على مدى 50 عاماً ونيِّف من أجل العدالة والحرية. ونعتقد أننا بتعميق عملنا في مكاتب عالمية جديدة، بما فيها بلدان الجنوب، سنكون أكثر اتساقاً مع رسالتنا وقيمنا الأساسية. وسيكون نشطاء المنظمة وموظفوها حول العالم على صلة مباشرة وغير مباشرة، وعلى نحو متزايد، مع المدافعين عن حقوق الإنسان والشركاء وضحايا انتهاكات حقوق الإنسان في مختلف بلدان العالم، وسيكون موظفونا في الأمانة الدولية “أكثر قرباً من الميدان”. ومع بناء عضوية كبيرة في بلدان الجنوب، سنشهد ازدهاراً كاملاً للتضامن الأممي وصنع القرار الديمقراطي

وقد أنشأنا في السنتين الماضيتين مكاتب إقليمية في كل من داكار ونيروبي وجوهانسبرغ وهونغ كونغ ومدينة المكسيك- ونحن نقوم الآن بتوسيع حضورنا العالمي أكثر فأكثر. وخلال السنتين القادمتين سنقوم بإنشاء مواقع عمل جديدة في بانكوك وتونس وبيروت، مع مواقع أخرى في المستقبل.

ما يتعلق بدور المدير الإقليمي في بيروت

سوف يتعامل مكتبنا في بيروت مع طائفة متنوعة من قضايا حقوق الإنسان في المنطقة. ونحن نتوقع منك، كمدير إقليمي وكقائد لعملية تواجد المنظمة في المنطقة، أن تقوم بتطوير وتكييف استراتيجياتنا العالمية في المنطقة؛ وأن تتولى قيادة فريق متعدد الوظائف يضطلع بوضع وتنفيذ الخطط الخاصة بالبحوث والحملات والاتصالات والنمو وجمع الأموال. ولذا ينبغي أن تعمل على خلق ثقافة تعاون وتكامل أثناء تأسيس المكتب، ودعم موظفي المكتب، وتحمُّل المسؤولية عن إدارة الموارد، وزيادة تأثير عملنا. وفي الوقت نفسه، ينبغي ضمان أن يحافظ فريقك على كل ما هو مميَّز لدى منظمة العفو الدولية، بما في ذلك قيمها ومعتقداتها وهويتها العالمية وتماسكها واتساقها واستقلالها وحيدتها ومركزية الفرد بالنسبة لها.

ما يتعلق بك

إننا نتوقع منك، كقائد يتسم بالحصافة السياسية والخبرة والإلهام والمثابرة، أن تحمل معك معارفك وخبراتك وتجاربك كقائد قادر على توجيه تأثير منظمة العفو الدولية في المنطقة؛ وأن تتمتع بمعرفة رصينة بالأوضاع السياسية والاجتماعية الإقليمية المستمدة من العيش والعمل في المنطقة. وبتمتعك بمعرفة القانون الدولي لحقوق الإنسان والأطر الإقليمية لحقوق الإنسان، يمكنك خلق توازن مع وعيك ببناء العضوية وقواعد المؤازرين وجمع الأموال والحضور المرئي في وسائل الإعلام. والمطلوب أن تكون مفكراً استراتيجياً قادراً على وضع الخطط، وإدارة الموظفين بشكل مباشر، وضمن منظومة عالمية، وتخصيص الموارد، والاحتفاظ بشبكة قوية من الصِلات مع الحكومات والمنظمات غير الحكومية ووسائل الإعلام. وعليه ينبغي التمتع بمهارات الاتصال والتقديم والعمل الدعوي الضرورية لتمثيل منظمة العفو الدولية أمام جمهور متنوع، إلى جانب التحلي بالصدقية اللازمة للتأثير عليهم وإحداث تغيير إيجابي.

 

ما يتعلق بنا/ من نحن 

منظمة العفو الدولية حركة عالمية تضم ما يزيد على 7 ملايين عضو ومؤازر وناشط يناضلون من أجل عالم يتمتع فيه جميع البشر بجميع حقوق الإنسان. وتصل المنظمة إلى كل بلد من بلدان العالم تقريبا، وتتألف من:

• أكثر من 2 مليون عضو ومؤازر يقومون بدفع نضالنا من أجل الحقوق إلى لأمام،
• أكثر من 5 ملايين ناشط يعززون دعواتنا من أجل تحقيق العدالة.

وهدفنا بسيط: وضع حد لانتهاكات حقوق الإنسان. وبصفتها منظمة مستقلة ودولية ومؤثرة، فإنها تناضل من أجل العدالة والمساواة والحرية والحقيقة حيثما يجري الحرمان منها. وسواءً كنا نمارس ضغوطاً من خلال البحوث القوية أو كسب التأييد، بواسطة المظاهرات الجماهيرية أو الحملات عبر الانترنت، فإننا جميعاً يحدونا الأمل في عالم أفضل، عالم تحظى فيه حقوق الإنسان بالاحترام والحماية من قبل كل شخص في كل مكان. ولا يمكننا أن نفعل ذلك بدون التبرعات السخية لملايين الأشخاص من سائر أنحاء العالم.

حرية، عدالة، مساواة- هيَّا إلى العمل.

there is no salary salary scale for this post 😦 here r the details they give :

• Closing Date: 17 January 2016
• Directorate: Regional Offices and Global Operations
• Location: Beirut
• Type: Permanent
• Working Hours: 35

good luck for all!!

Rita Chemaly

 https://careers.amnesty.org/vacancy/regional-director—mena—

beirut-office-1388/1414/description/Here is the source:

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#Lebanon and #Women #Rights a Long Road Ahead

Today the National Commission for Lebanese women and UNFPA, worked hard on disseminating the Concluding observations published by the United Nations Committee on Lebanon. The concluding observations are a kind of ” findings”  that cover how each country is implementing the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination, #CEDAW, this year these findings ” highlight positive developments ”  and most importantly highlight ”  main matters of concern and recommendations”.

UN committee give those observations after holding discussions with the government delegation and the NGOs of the country.

The Last recommendation of this batch was already implemented by NCLW and UNFPA: Disseminating the observations widely! Picture taken by Rita Azzi 

 

This year the main area of concern were numerous:

I am listing their titles below:

• Refugee, asylum-seeking and stateless women\
• Parliament
• Withdrawal of reservations
• Constitutional framework
• Legislative framework
• Access to Justice
• National machinery for the advancement of women
• Stereotypes
• Violence against women
• Trafficking and exploitation of prostitution
• Participation in political and public life
• Education
• Employment
• Women migrant workers in domestic service\
• Women Palestine refugees
• Health
• Rural women
• Marriage and family relations

as for the main areas of concerns: here is their translation to arabic for those who wish to get a quick look! (Lebanon cedaw Areas of concerns in arabic Rita Chemaly)

I am copy pasting for those who are interested in the Principal areas of concern and recommendations as they were published in the document of the UN #cedaw committee. 

Refugee, asylum-seeking and stateless women

11. The Committee commends the State party for the open border and reception policy that it has had for years regarding refugees from Palestine, Iraq and Syria, for hosting over 2 million refugees and its remarkable and sustained efforts to ensure the protection of refugees and asylum seekers. However, it takes note of the policy paper on Syrian displacement in Lebanon approved by the Council of Ministers on 23 October 2014 and the three main priorities for managing the displacement crisis. The Committee is concerned that the 1962 Law regulating the Entry, Stay and Exit to/in/from Lebanon does not distinguish between asylum seekers/refugees and migrants. The Committee is further concerned about the high number of reported cases of child, early and forced marriage among Syrian refugee women and girls and the lack of official data on this phenomenon, as well as on the number of stateless persons in Lebanon.
12. The Committee recommends, in line with its general recommendation No. 32 (2014) on the gender-related dimensions of refugee status, asylum, nationality and statelessness of women, that the State party:

(a)     In the implementation of its policy paper on Syrian displacement in Lebanon approved by the Council of Ministers on 23 October 2014, ensure that the principle of non-refoulement is upheld, including for women and girls in need of international protection, by ensuring access to its territory, establishing gender-sensitive asylum procedures, and including gender-based violence as a ground for asylum, in line with Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention;

(b)     Review the 1962 Law regulating the Entry, Stay and Exit to/in/from Lebanon, to distinguish between the protection needs of asylum seeking and refugee women on one hand and migrant women on the other hand;

(c)      Seek technical support for the establishment of a data collection system on incidents of gender-based violence against women, in particular sexual violence, and incidents of child, early and forced marriages of refugee women and girls, and provide victims with medical and psychosocial assistance and access to justice, in line with Article 2 of the Convention, and the Committee’s General Recommendation No. 33 (2015) on women’s access to justice;

(d)     Conduct a census to ascertain the number of stateless persons in its territory and take the necessary measures, provide them with civil registration documents and consider ratifying the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Additional Protocol, the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness;

(e)      Enlist and mobilize the support of the international community to share the economic burden and to provide for the needs of the refugee population, including resettlement and humanitarian admission opportunities and continue cooperating with UNHCR;

(f)      Adopt a national action plan to implement United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security, and ensure women’s participation at all stages of peace processes, in line with the Committee’s General Recommendation No. 30 (2013) on women in conflict prevention, conflict and post-conflict situations, and seek the support of the international community for the implementation of its obligations.

Implementation

13. The Committee is fully aware of the efforts undertaken by the State party to adopt a legal and institutional framework protecting and promoting women’s rights. The Committee urges the State party to consider the recommendations contained in the present concluding observations as requiring a high priority for national mobilization and international support. The Committee urges the State party to promptly implement the present concluding observations by setting up a coordination mechanism with all relevant State institutions at all levels, the parliament and the judiciary, and the civil society, as well as with its international partners.

Parliament

14. The Committee stresses the crucial role of the legislative power in ensuring the full implementation of the Convention (see the statement by the Committee on its relationship with parliamentarians, adopted at the forty-fifth session, in 2010). It invites the Parliament, to take all measures necessary to unblock the current institutional crisis and, in line with its mandate, to take the steps necessary for the implementation of the present concluding observations.

Withdrawal of reservations

15. Notwithstanding the detailed explanations given by the delegation, the Committee remains concerned about the State party’s reluctance to withdraw its reservation to:

(a)     Article 9 (2), with a view to granting women equal rights with men with respect to the nationality of their children.. The Committee also notes with concern that the Council of Ministers repeatedly endorsed the discriminatory provision in Decree No. 15 of 1925 on Lebanese Nationality establishing that nationality is exclusively based on patrilineal descent;

(b)     Article 16 (1) (c), (d), (f) and (g) regarding equality in marriage and family relations.

16. The Committee calls upon the State party to:

(a)     Withdraw its reservation made upon accession to the Convention regarding article 9 (2) and repeal Decree No. 15 of 1925 on Lebanese Nationality and adopt legislation ensuring women equal rights with men to confer their nationality to their foreign spouse and children;

(b)     Withdraw its reservation made upon accession to the Convention regarding article article 16 (1) (c), (d), (f) and (g).

       (c)           Initiate a dialogue with the leaders of religious sects communities and religious scholars, taking in consideration best practices in the region, with a view to overcome the resistance to the withdrawal of its reservations to the Convention.

Constitutional framework

17. The Committee remains concerned that the Lebanese Constitution is still not in full conformity with the Convention and does not explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex. It is also concerned about the limited scope and applicability of the procedure for challenging laws on the basis that they are incompatible with the State party’s Constitution and its international legal obligations.
18. The Committee reiterates its previous recommendations to include in the Constitution a provision defining and prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex, in line with article 2 (a) of the Convention (CEDAW/C/LBN/CO/3, paras. 10 and 11 and A/60/38, para. 95 adopted in 2005) and to amend articles 9 and 10 of the Constitution to ensure gender equality in the context of religious freedom and sectarian diversity.

Legislative framework

19. The Committee welcomes the initial review legislation containing discriminatory provisions against women by the State party but is concerned about the delays in adopting the required amendments. The Committee welcomes the amendment of the Criminal Code and the repeal of its Article 562. However, it is concerned about the remaining discriminatory criminal law provisions as well as personal status laws that discriminate against women within sects and between women across different sects. The Committee is also concerned about discriminatory provisions in labour, social security and municipal elections laws.
20. The Committee recommends that the State party expedite a comprehensive legislative review to ensure compatibility with the provisions of the Convention, and, upon resolution of the institutional crisis and the re-functioning of the government, urges it to amend or repeal all articles of the Criminal Code, personal status laws as well as labour, social security and municipal election laws that discriminate against women.

Access to Justice

21. The Committee is concerned about the obstacles women face when accessing the justice system, in particular the lack of adequate legal aid services and the lack of knowledge and sensitivity of justice officials regarding women’s rights.
22. The Committee in line with its general recommendation No. 33, on women’s access to justice, recommends that the State party:

(a)     Institutionalize systems of legal aid and public defence that are accessible, sustainable and responsive to the needs of women and ensure that such services are provided in a timely, continuous and effective manner at all stages of judicial or quasi-judicial proceedings, including alternative dispute resolution mechanisms;.

(b)     Take immediate steps, including capacity-building and training programmes for justice system personnel on the Convention and women’s rights , to ensure that religious courts harmonize their norms, procedures and practices with the human rights standards enshrined in the Convention and other international human rights instruments.

National machinery for the advancement of women

23. The Committee regrets the institutional weakness, the limited status, the insufficient decision-making authority, human, technical and financial resources of the national machinery for the advancement of women and the obstacles faced concerning coordination and gender mainstreaming throughout all government bodies. The Committee is concerned about the low level of coordination between the gender focal points within the line Ministries with the Department of Women’s Affairs of the Ministry of Social Affairs. The Committee is also concerned about the limited and inadequate information provided on the implementation of the National Strategy for Women in Lebanon.
24. The Committee reiterates its previous recommendation (CEDAW/C/LBN/CO/3, para. 21) that the State party:

(a)     Give urgent priority to strengthen the institutional capacity of the national machinery for the advancement of women, and provide it with the mandate, decision-making power and human, technical and financial resources that are necessary to work effectively for the promotion of equality of women and men and the enjoyment of their human rights;

(b)     Institutionalize and strengthen the system of gender focal points in line Ministries and other public institutions in order to achieve an effective gender mainstreaming strategy throughout its policies and programmes;

(c)      Ensure coordination between the national machinery and its cooperation with civil society and women’s non-governmental organizations with a view to promote a participatory planning for the advancement of women.

(d)     Accelerate the implementation of the National Strategy for Women in Lebanon by adopting a plan of action that clearly defines the competencies of national and local authorities regarding the National Strategy, and supported by a comprehensive data collection system to monitor its implementation.

Stereotypes

25. The Committee is concerned about the discriminatory patriarchal stereotypes about the roles and responsibilities of women and men in society and in the family and the role of the media in overemphasizing the traditional role of women as mothers and wives or commodities thus undermining women’s social status and their educational and professional careers. The Committee notes with concern that the advertising sector persistently convey stereotyped and sometimes degrading images of women.
26. The Committee recommends that the State party take all measures necessary to raise awareness of the media and the advertising sector to eliminate discriminatory gender stereotypes, to ensure that women are not portrayed only as wives and mothers or commodities and to promote positive images of women as active participants in political, economic and social life.

Violence against women

27. The Committee welcomes the adoption of Law No. 293 of 7 May 2014 on the protection of women and other family members from domestic violence. However, the Committee notes with concern the absence in the law of an explicit reference to gender-based violence against women and of provisions specifically criminalizing marital rape, crimes committed in the name of so-called honour, and other harmful practices. It is also concerned that the law continues to maintain discriminatory provisions with regard to the criminalization of adultery and that it takes no precedence over customary and personal status laws. The Committee further regrets the lack of disaggregated data on the number of reports, investigations, prosecutions and convictions in cases of violence against women, including sexual harassment, domestic violence, assault and rape, including by security forces.
28. The Committee urges the State party to:

(a)     Amend Law No. 293 on domestic violence, in line with the Committee’s general recommendation No. 19 (1992) on violence against women, to specifically criminalize gender-based violence against women, marital rape, crimes committed in the name of so-called honour, and other harmful practices;

(b)     Remove discriminatory provisions between women and men regarding adultery and ensure that Law No. 293 on the protection of women and other family members from domestic violence takes precedence over customary and personal status laws;

(c)      Collect data, disaggregated by sex, age, nationality and relationship between the victim and the perpetrator, on the number of reported cases of violence against women, of prosecutions, convictions and sentences imposed on perpetrators

(d)     Strengthen the legal, medical and psychological support to victims of violence against women;

(e)      Ensure that all allegations of sexual harassment are recorded and that all allegations of assault and rape, are duly investigated, prosecuted and sanctioned and that victims have access to appropriate redress, including compensation. Ensure that all allegations of assault and rape by members of the security forces are investigated by an independent judicial authority.

Trafficking and exploitation of prostitution

29. The Committee welcomes the adoption of the Anti-trafficking Law No. 164 of 2011 but notes with concern that the artist visa scheme of 1962 facilitates sexual exploitation of women migrant workers in the entertainment sector, and that the law no. 164 is not effectively being enforced, that it criminalizes victims and is without prejudice to the artist visa scheme. It is also concerned about the absence of an early identification and referral system for victims of trafficking who are frequently arrested, detained and deported without adequate protection and assistance for victims and weak coordination between government security, justice and social services as well as lack of cooperation with civil society.
30. The Committee recommends that the State party:

(a)     Review and revise the artist visa scheme to ensure it is not misused for the sexual exploitation of women and take appropriate steps to decrease the demand side of prostitution;

(b)     Amend article 523 of the Criminal Code as necessary to ensure that victims of trafficking are not subjected to prosecution;

(c)      Provide mandatory gender-sensitive capacity-building for judges, prosecutors, border police, immigration authorities and other law enforcement officials to ensure the strict enforcement of the Anti-Trafficking Law by promptly prosecuting all cases of trafficking in women and girls and adequately punishing traffickers;

(d)     Ensure early identification and referral to protection of trafficking victims; and strengthen assistance to victims of trafficking, including by granting temporary residence permits to victims of trafficking irrespective of their ability or willingness to cooperate with the prosecution authorities and by providing them access to alternative income opportunities, respectively;

(e)      Provide victims of trafficking with adequate access to health care and counselling and strengthen those services by providing targeted training to social workers;

(f)      Ensure inter-agency coordination between government security, justice and social services to combat trafficking and strengthen cooperation with civil society.

 

Participation in political and public life

The Committee is concerned about the gross underrepresentation of women in public and political life; the lack of capacity-building for political parties and labour unions representatives on women’s rights and regrets that the draft law providing for a 30 per cent minimum quota for women’s representation on candidates lists of political parties for parliamentary elections was not adopted. It is concerned about the strong political resistance to the adoption of temporary special measures to effectively promote women’s equal participation in public and political life.

31. The Committee recommends that the State party:

       (a)           Take all appropriate measures to increase the number of women in elected and appointed office at all levels, so as to comply with article 7 of the Convention;

(b)     Take concrete measures, including temporary special measures in accordance with article 4 (1) of the Convention, the Committee’s general recommendation no. 23 on women in political and public life and general recommendation no. 25 on temporary special measures, and to establish concrete goals and timetables in order to accelerate the increase in the representation of women in all spheres of public and political life;

(c)      Implement awareness-raising campaigns to highlight the importance to society as a whole of women’s full and equal participation in leadership positions in all sectors and at all levels and explain the purpose of introducing temporary special measures such as quotas as a necessary strategy for accelerating realization of women’s de facto equality..

Education

33. The Committee notes the recommendation in the study by the National Committee for the Follow-up of Women’s Issues and the Centre for Educational Research and Development to eliminate discriminatory gender stereotypes in school books. However, the Committee is concerned that the State party’s has not taken effective steps to remove such stereotypes from school curricula and textbooks. It is also concerned about the lack of training for teachers on women’s rights and gender equality and limited career guidance encouraging women and girls to choose non-traditional career paths, in particular in the fields of science and technology.
34. The Committee recommends that the State party intensify its efforts in reviewing school curricula and textbooks to eliminate any stereotyped and patriarchal roles of women. It reiterates its previous recommendation (CEDAW/C/LBN/CO/3, para. 25) that the State party enhance training for teachers on gender, women’s rights and equality. The Committee further recommends that the State party give priority to eliminating traditional stereotypes and structural barriers that may deter girls from enrolling in traditionally male-dominated fields of study, such as science and technology, and step up efforts to provide girls with career counselling on non-traditional career paths including non-stereotypical vocational training.

Employment

35. The Committee welcomes the adoption of Laws No. 266 and No. 267 of 15 April 2014 extending maternity leave in the public and private sectors to 10 weeks with full pay. However, the Committee is concerned about the lack of measures to promote the concept of shared family responsibilities and to combat the difficulties women face in combining work and family responsibilities. The Committee is also concerned about women’s limited access to the formal labour market and about the absence of legislation criminalizing sexual harassment in the work place. The Committee is further concerned about the occupational segregation and the high percentage of women in low paid jobs as service sector workers and salespersons, administrative staff and mid-level professions as well as gender pay gaps.
36. The Committee calls on the State party to:

(a)     Promote equal sharing of family and domestic responsibilities between women and men, including by introducing compulsory paternity or shared parental leave following childbirth;

(b)     Take measures, including temporary special measures in line with article 4 (1) of the Convention and General Recommendation No. 5 (1988) on temporary special measures, such as incentives for employers to recruit women, introduce flexible working arrangements and strengthen professional training for women, with a view to enhancing women’s access to the formal labour market;

(c)      Adopt legislation criminalizing sexual harassment in the work place;

(d)     Take concrete measures to address horizontal and vertical segregation including by promoting the equal participation of women in highly skilled jobs and senior management positions; providing counselling and placement, that stimulate their on-the-job career development and upward mobility in the labour market; stimulating the diversification of occupational choices by both women and men; encouraging women to take up non-traditional jobs, especially in science and technology, and men to seek employment in the social sector and providing women with access to effective job training, retraining, counselling and placement services that are not limited to traditional employment areas;

(e)      Take concrete measures to close the gap between women’s and men’s pay and to implement the principle of equal pay for work of equal value including by establishing a body responsible for conducting job evaluation schemes with gender-neutral criteria.

Women migrant workers in domestic service

37. The Committee welcomes the various measures adopted by the State party to protect the rights of women migrant domestic workers, including by issuing unified contracts, requiring employers to sign up to an insurance policy, regulating employment agencies, adopting a law criminalizing human trafficking, and integrating women migrant domestic workers in the Social Pact and the National Strategy for Social Development. However, the Committee notes with concern that these measures have proved insufficient to ensure respect for the human rights of women migrant domestic workers. The Committee is equally concerned about the rejection by the Ministry of Labour of the application of the National Federation of Labour Union to establish a Domestic Workers’ Union and the .absence of an enforcement mechanism for work contracts of women migrant domestic workers; limited access by women migrant domestic workers to health care and social protection; and the non-ratification of ILO convention No. 189. The Committee is concerned about the high incidence of abuse against women migrant workers in domestic service and the persistence of practices such as the confiscation of passports by employers, the maintenance of the “Kafala system” which puts workers at risk of exploitation and make it difficult for them to leave abusive employers; obstacles affecting domestic workers’ access to justice, including fear of expulsion, insecurity of residence during procedures. The Committee is deeply concerned about the disturbing reports of documented deaths of migrant domestic workers from unnatural causes, including suicide and falls from tall buildings and the failure of the State party to investigate into those deaths.
38. The Committee, in line with its General Recommendation No. 26 (2008), on Women Migrant Workers, recommends that the State party:

(a)     Raise awareness among women migrant domestic workers of their human rights under the Convention, and monitor the work of employment agencies, including by establishing an enforcement mechanism to ensure that the same contracts are used in the State party and in countries of origin;

(b)     Expedite the adoption of the draft law regulating domestic employment with adequate sanctions for employers engaging in abusive practices and ratify ILO Convention No. 189 (2011) on decent work for domestic workers;

(c)      Abolish the “Kafala system” and ensure the effective access to justice, of women migrant domestic workers including by guaranteeing their safety and residence during procedures;

(d)     Promptly investigate, prosecute and sanction all reports of deaths of women migrant domestic workers from unnatural causes;

(e)      Take the measures necessary to protect the rights of women migrant domestic workers including by approving the establishment of a Domestic Workers’ Union.

Women Palestine refugees

39. The Committee is concerned about restrictions on the right to work of Palestine refugee women.
40. The Committee recommends that the State party review and amend its labour laws to ensure Palestine refugee women’s right to work, namely by providing them with access to the labour market in the State party.

Health

41. The Committee welcomes the adoption of the “Comprehensive Primary Health Care Package and Services” by the Ministry of Public Health in 2013, the establishment of primary health care centres throughout the State party and the progress achieved in reducing maternal mortality. The Committee is, however, concerned about the limited access of women and adolescent girls to sexual and reproductive health services in rural and remote areas in the State party. It is also concerned about insufficient monitoring of private health care providers, which offer most of the specialized health services for women. The Committee further notes with concern the high number of unsafe abortions due to the strict criminalization of abortion and the delay in introducing age-appropriate education on sexual and reproductive health and rights at the primary, intermediate and secondary levels of education.
42. The Committee recommends that the State party provide comprehensive health services, in particular sexual and reproductive health services, in each region in relation to area and population size; take measures to adequately monitor the performance of private health care providers, and introduce age-appropriate education on sexual and reproductive health in the curricula at the primary, intermediate and secondary levels of education. The Committee also recommends that the State party legalize abortion at least in cases of threats to the life or health of the mother, rape, incest, and severe fetal impairment and that it increase women’s access to safe abortion and post-abortion care services.

Rural women

43. The Committee welcomes the creation in 2008 of the National Observatory for Women in Agriculture and Rural Areas by the Ministry of Agriculture. The Committee notes with concern the lack of updated disaggregated data on women’s participation in the agricultural sector. It remains concerned about the exclusion of women agricultural seasonal workers from the protection of the Labour Code and the limited initiatives for women’s access to rural entrepreneurship through technical assistance, micro credit facilities and bank accounts.
44. The Committee reiterates its previous recommendation that the State party collect updated disaggregated data on women working in the agricultural sector, adopt legislation for the protection of women agricultural seasonal workers and strengthen the support for the entrepreneurial initiatives of women in the rural areas.

Marriage and family relations

46. The Committee recommends that the State party:

(a)     Adopt an optional civil personal status law based on the principles of equality and non-discrimination and the right to choose one’s religious affiliation in order to protect women and alleviate their legal, economic and social marginalization;

(b)     Require religious sects to codify their laws and submit them to Parliament for review of their conformity with the Constitution and the provisions of the Convention; that it establish an appeals mechanism to oversee religious court proceedings and ensure that judgements of religious courts do not discriminate against women;

(c)      Set the legal minimum age for marriage at 18 years for girls and boys, in line with international standards, and takes the measures necessary to effectively prevent child marriage among rural girls.

 

 

in brief, in Lebanon, the long road ahead for equality is a process that needs many institutions to work hard , public administrations to make efforts, political will, working on behaviors, customs, and so much more!

the task is enormous? yes! but sooo many magnificient activists worked restlessly to have some positiveness in all this. We need to continue the struggle, and fight for #equal rights!!

Rita Chemaly

if you wish to download the full text of the concluding observations here is the word text:

CEDAW_Concluding observations on Lebanon 2015 Rita Chemaly

The source for the document is : http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=970&Lang=en

‪#‎16DaysofActivism‬ ‪#‎GBVTeachin‬ ‪#‎womenlead‬ ‪#‎orangetheworld‬  ‪#‎EndGBV‬ ‪#‎16days‬ #16dayscampaign

 

 

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Mariage a 12 ans possible au #Liban!

Les differentes lois du status personnel libanais permettent des mariages de mineures.

Une fillette a 9 ans peut se marier au Liban! (loi catholique) , les jeunes fillettes de 14 ans chez les evangelistes peut aussi se marier. Chez les chiites, aussi une fillette de 9 ans peut se marier (Voila le lien vers mon billet precedent a ce sujet avec l’age des filles et garcons selon la secte ou confession religieuse ) .

l’ONG Kafa avec Leo Burnett et l’UNFPA, ont decide de montrer l’horreur de ce mariage via un film montrant sur la Corniche un homme de 60 ans et une fillette de 12 ans prenant des photos le jour de leur mariage presume!.

Dans le film, il est clairement dit que la Loi au Liban PERMET ce genre de mariages, ce sont des mariages Legaux! Meme si les passants sur la Corniche etaient outres!

pour vous voila le short movie:

Rita Chemaly

Quelques articles ecrits sur le sujet:

1- https://ritachemaly.wordpress.com/2014/08/27/le-liban-prepare-une-loi-inedite-au-moyen-orient-contre-les-mariages-precoces/

 

2- https://ritachemaly.wordpress.com/2014/01/25/early-marriages-in-lebanon-who-helps-the-bride-child/

 

3- The article of Layal Timani in the Legal Agenda of 1 February 2014 (Arabic)

زواج القاصرات بين الفتاوى الشرعية والقانون!  “سندريلا” تقع فريسة احلامها

4- The article of Nermine Sibai in the Legal Agenda (Arabic)

قضاة الأحداث في لبنان يرسمون حدود الحماية: صلاحيات المحاكم الشرعية والرواسب الاجتماعية الرجعية

5- The article of Ana Maria Luca in NOW Lebanon of 30102013 : Lebanon’s child brides  (English)

6- The short video created by NCLW, IWSAW and LAU to shed lights on the terrific consequences of child Marriage in Lebanon: Campaign against child bride : Early marriages In Lebanon    (Arabic with english subtitles)

7- Draft Law aiming at protecting Children from early marriages presented to the Parliament in Lebanon , September 30 2014, Chemaly Rita

8- Penal Code in Lebanon too lose in protecting minors from Marriage and Exploitation , June 18 2014 , Chemaly Rita

9- Join the Movement to end Child Marriage in Lebanon, February 1 2014, Chemaly Rita

10-My previous post of February 1 2014 related to Child Marriage: Join the Movement to end Child Marriage in Lebanon (French)

11-My previous post of January 25 2014 related to child bride : Early marriages in Lebanon who helps the bride child ? (English)

12-article of Jay Martin in Annahar , October 2014 http://en.annahar.com/article/181289-minors-marriage-draft-law-is-a-big-step-p-forward–but-is-it-enough-for-lebanons 

13- Article of Laura Hamade in I lOUBAN, http://www.iloubnan.info/social/79663/An-attempt-to-eliminate-marriages-among-minors-in-Lebanon 

 

 

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#Childmarriage in Lebanon numbers and survey results

The Political Science Institute of Saint Joseph University which I’m an alumni of, Has prepared a survey about Child marriage in Lebanon.

The field survey answers have been compared to UNHCR sources and the Ministry of Interior sources.

The final research paper show high number of child marriage and the need to work on a sustainable plan of Education for children and their parents.

The aim of the research paper is:

1- Measure the numbers of Child marriages in Lebanon and for the Syrian refugees  communities living in Lebanon.

2- Estimate the progress of child marriage throughout the years.

3- Identify whether the child marriage increased for the Syrian refugee communities after the Syrian Crisis.

4- Identification of the main factors that increase child marriage.

below is a table showing the number of child marriage by Confessions / Sects in Lebanon :

Numbers of Child Marriage by Sects source ISP Research 2015

Moreover the reasons for child marriage have been consolidated by the Field Survey prepared by ISP and done by its students with Lebanese and Syrian refugees

below is an illustration taken from the report that explains what are the most important factors that facilitate child marriages:

source ISP survey page 31

To read the full research and download the survey results kindly click on this link : Link to survey/research French

it is worth noting that 2 of my students had participated in the Field Survey  Nour Makhlouf and Ines Zaky, their are brilliant!

To see the video created that covers how the survey was prepared and how the questionnaires were filled in ALL Lebanese regions:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/2btqWPo29tU” target=”_blank”>

For those who are interested in joining forces and mobilise against child marriage in Lebanon,

here are some readings and sources about the subject :

1- My previous post of February 1 2014 related to Child Marriage: Join the Movement to end Child Marriage in Lebanon (French)

2-My previous post of January 25 2014 related to child bride : Early marriages in Lebanon who helps the bride child ? (English)

3- The article of Layal Timani in the Legal Agenda of 1 February 2014 (Arabic)

زواج القاصرات بين الفتاوى الشرعية والقانون!  “سندريلا” تقع فريسة احلامها

4- The article of Nermine Sibai in the Legal Agenda (Arabic)

قضاة الأحداث في لبنان يرسمون حدود الحماية: صلاحيات المحاكم الشرعية والرواسب الاجتماعية الرجعية

5- The article of Ana Maria Luca in NOW Lebanon of 30102013 : Lebanon’s child brides  (English)

6- The short video created by NCLW, IWSAW and LAU to shed lights on the terrific consequences of child Marriage in Lebanon: Campaign against child bride : Early marriages In Lebanon    (Arabic with english subtitles)

7- Draft Law aiming at protecting Children from early marriages presented to the Parliament in Lebanon , September 30 2014, Chemaly Rita

8- Penal Code in Lebanon too lose in protecting minors from Marriage and Exploitation , June 18 2014 , Chemaly Rita

9- Join the Movement to end Child Marriage in Lebanon, February 1 2014, Chemaly Rita

Chemaly Rita

https://www.youtube.com/embed/2btqWPo29tU” target=”_blank”>

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@16DaysCampaign Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign new theme on Education for 2015

16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign has announced its new theme for 2015.

The Campaign that will be held from November 25 to December 10 will focus on:

“From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Make Education Safe for All!”

Below is a clearer view of what is thought of under the theme of 2015:

“Under this global theme, the 16 Days Campaign is asking you to join in advancing the right to education and challenging violence, discrimination, and inequity in education at the intersection of gender, race or ethnicity, religion, real or perceived sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and other social identifiers. You can start thinking about what spaces and access to education look like in your community, country, or region. In planning your participation, consider the ways in which militarism affects education, whether in peacetime, during conflict, in refugee and IDP camps, in indigenous territories, in schools and other education settings, or even on the streets. Consider how violence and increased militarism has affected the education of young people in countries that have recently experienced different types of armed conflict; how extremism through State and non-State policies and practices have affected the right to education, especially for girls; and how government expenditures on arms and other priorities of militarization set the tone in funding for safe and accessible education for all .”

In Lebanon Education is a huge domain in which clear action plans need to be implemented, the Problem is access and quality of education for several people living in Lebanon.

I am thinking of all those IDPs camp in which I was greeted by yound children that didn’t go to school, and stayed in the camps all day long.

below is the link the website:

http://16dayscwgl.rutgers.edu/2015-campaign/2015-theme

here is what you Can do to join this Global Movement:

RESOURCES FOR 2015

CWGL is in the process of developing resources and campaign materials, which will provide useful background information on the theme and suggestions for planning campaign activities.

CWGL will be posting these resources on the 16 Days Campaign website over the months leading up to the campaign. You can also write to the 16 Days Campaign (16days@cwgl.rutgers.edu) to request hard copies of these materials. Participants can visit our website (http://16days.cwgl.rutgers.edu) to download the Take Action Kit materials or to request a hard copy when available.

Join the 16 Days Campaign!

The 16 Days Campaign is open to participants engaging in action on these issues in ways that are relevant to their specific context. Participants know best on what and with whom they can engage – whether their governments or communities – to challenge and change in positive terms the structures which perpetuate gender-based violence. Create or join a community, campus, national or international activity! Request campaign materials, join the 16 Days listserv, and use past International Calendars of Activities (available online) to spark ideas for your activities or to find information about groups in your area. Use of the hashtag #16Days on social media is encouraged!

Share your plans!

As November approaches, remember to submit your plans to CWGL for posting to the 2015 International Campaign Calendar to become part of the global 16 Days Campaign movement. The International Campaign Calendar can be found at http://16dayscwgl.rutgers.edu/campaign-calendar.

Check out the website!

If you would like more information about the international 16 Days Campaign, please visit the website http://www.cwgl.rutgers.edu/16days/home.html. Pictures from previous 16 Days Campaigns can be viewed on Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/16dayscampaign.

Sign up for the 16 Days e-mail list!

Join the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence e-mail listserv, which gives activists a space to share work against violence, build partnerships with others worldwide, and develop strategies and themes for the annual 16 Days Campaign. Sign up at https://email.rutgers.edu/mailman/listinfo/16days_discussion.

ABOUT THE 16 DAYS CAMPAIGN

Since its founding in 1991, the Center for Women’s Global Leadership has been the global coordinator of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign. For the past twenty-five years, the 16 Days Campaign has been dedicated to advocacy and coordination of work in support of ending gender-based violence at the local, national, and international levels. The dates, November 25th (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) and December 10th (Human Rights Day), were chosen to emphasize the links between ending gender-based violence and human rights principles and highlight that gender-based violence is an international human rights violation. The 16 Days Campaign is used as an organizing strategy to call for the elimination of all forms of gender-based violence by individuals, groups, and institutions throughout the world.

Attached is the full PDF form :

Theme Announcement 2015 FINAL_English

Rita Chemaly

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George Clooney et Amal Alameddine viennent au Liban… il a besoin d’un Visa

Voila le celebre George Clooney  et Amal Alameddine viennent au Liban…  ils se sont maries, et la viennent visiter le beau pays des Cedres. Mais attention, Monsieur Clooney n’a pas Droit a la Nationalite Libanaise de sa femme.

il a besoin d’un Visa, car LA FEMME LIBANAISE NE PEUT PAS TRANSMETTRE SA NATIONALITE A SON EPOUX ou ENFANTS de Son Epoux Non National.

voila, au risque de me repeter la loi de  1925 qui parle de la Nationalite au Liban discrimine contre la Femme Libanaise.

Yalla on la change cette loi pour les beaux yeux de Clooney? ou de sa belle princesse???

et attention pas de decret presidentiel cette fois car …. IL N’Y A PAS DE PRESIDENT maintenant !!! Youy

Rita Chemaly

Below are the latest link related to the nationality issue I wrote:

https://ritachemaly.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/les-femmes-libanaises-et-la-droit-a-la-nationalite-pour-leur-famille1.jpg

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Women in Cabinets/ Governments in Lebanon with Ministerial Portfolios

A strategy is needed for equality and an effective political participation of women in the Public sphere in Lebanon. this simple info graphic shows who were the women responsible of a ministerial cabinet in Lebanon and for which year since 1942. IN brief just 7 women were since 1942 were appointed as MINISTERS in Lebanon. 2 of them without a portfolio ! 😦

Only 6 Cabinets/ Governments out of 74 Governments in Lebanon have appointed Women!!!!

We need to ACT!!!!

Rita Chemaly

This pic is taken from the Women participation in Elections prepared by UNDP in Lebanon http://www.lebanon-elections.org/Modules/Document/UploadFile/6171_12,02,YYWomen-in-Elections-accordion.pdf

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Outrageous behavior by a woman in Lebanon that is also a Judge

I am chocked, I just watch the episode of 7ki Jelis on You tube again, and I’m still chocked.

a woman that is a Judge has beaten and acted violently on 2 other people : one man and another woman.

more chocking that this Judge in Lebanon has terrorised other neighbors and didn’t let them approach to help the woman she has beaten so violently!

in my opinion this Judge must be Judged for exercing extra powers, as well as exercing Violence against other people whether they are women, men, elderly, foreign refugees!!

She needs to Be CRIMINALISED by her own institution: The Judiciary system in Lebanon, as she is Very Badly Representing it!! she needs to be also “kicked off” by other orders or networks she is member off.

voila!!!

OMG!!! we are working on empowering women, and combating Gender Based Violence, but with such a behavior that is inexplicable such a person is showing us how much work we still need to do!!!

Rita Chemaly

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National numbers and stats about women in Lebanon… latest researches 2014

Following the part one blog post ” Recent legal achievements about women in Lebanon… latest researches 2014“, here are some other national surveys that can help researchers prepare their desk reviews about what exists in Lebanon:

Do not forget the MDG follow up 2013-2014 launched last month by the Council of Minister in Lebanon.

the Latest report that is very well known is the MICS 2009, In my opinion we need to update it asap but here is it link:

 http://www.cas.gov.lb/images/Mics3/CAS_MICS3_survey_2009.pdf

Labour Market In Lebanon

This publication focuses on the Labour Market in Lebanon gathering a number of key indicators and figures from different sources.

Type of publication: Indicators.

Language: English, Arabic

Format: pdf file size 2.87MB  (Download file: English, Arabic)

Women in Numbers in Lebanon prepared by Maral tutelian for CAS april 2014

http://www.cas.gov.lb/images/PressRoom/Women%20in%20Lebanon_Dr.%20Maral%20Tutelian_Grand%20Serail%2023%20Avril%202014_Presentation.pdf

here is the presentation in arabic http://www.cas.gov.lb/images/PressRoom/Women%20in%20Lebanon_Dr.%20Maral%20Tutelian_Grand%20Serail%2023%20Avril%202014.pdf

please stop giving me outdated data, we can create and find data as most of the ministries and national insitutions are publishing theirs online.

good luck for all researchers!! 🙂

Rita

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