Backlash on LGBTIQ+ rights in Lebanon

Anti-gender movements are driving a backlash to deny #women rights & criminalize #LGBTQI+ people. #Lebanon has been witnessing a fierce backlash from soldiers of God, Hezb Allah, followed by MP Achraf Rifi from Tripoli and Mikati positions, Trying to get cover of the Christian Patriarch.

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In a country with crises (hyperinflation, brain drain, lack of meds), the political apparatus, be it territorial, partisan, or sectarian found a new way to strengthen acabiyas, re-using z term “chouzouz” & pointing to LGBTQ+ &rainbows in a nation with impunity since more than 3 years.

Conservative actors are reinforcing #patriarchy while preparing laws with 10 years of imprisonment for LGBTIQ+ people & criminalization of “actors” who promote LGBTIQ “Ideologies”.And since the #BeirutBlast no one is in prison. long live impunity in my #Lebanon

Noting that in the UPR 2021 Report, more than 15 countries encouraged Lebanon to amend its penal code, mainly repealing Article 534 of it. Instead of doing so, Parliament commissions are reinforcing acabiyas of patriarchal norms. afraid of a rainbow?

Rita Chemaly

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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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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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What are the discrimination facing women in Lebanon

To all the blog readers wanting to know what the national machinery in Lebanon is working on regarding to Women’s rights in lebanon, here is the Annual Report dated December 2014 covering all the components from LAWS to Circulars, with clear details regarding the discrimination faced by women . Also, the networking happening between the NCLW and the CSOs as well as the International agencies is clear!!

the report is in 2 languages!!!

Rita Chemaly!!

Women in Lebanon will one day be Free of ALL kind of Discriminations thanks to the efforts of ALL!!!

 

NCLW Annual Report 2014 copy reducedNCLW Annual Report 2014 english and arabic

 

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What is a Movement ? Infographic by GFW!

The Global Fund for Women have released the #DETERMINED campaign, in which the stories of women are told. All of these stories are part of “a powerful collective effort to create lasting change—a movement for women’s human rights.” To know more about what is a Movement? Check the beautiful Infographic Below!!!

Rita Chemaly 

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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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Shame! Freedom of expression and peaceful protesters arrested in Beirut

it is a Shame! Freedom of expression and peaceful protesters are being  arrested in Beirut! more than this they are being stopped by water!!!

I didn’t blog about the #YOUSTINK movement before, but now I can’t but rally this #‏طلعت_ريحتكم great movement.

All what the protesters are asking is: for the Responsibles : MPS and Ministers to take Their responsibilities seriously or Resign, because they were not able to find a solution for the #garbagecrisis in Lebanon.

Videos are taken from Nadine Moussa’s facebook: <div id=”fb-root”></div><script>(function(d, s, id) {  var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];  if (d.getElementById(id)) return;  js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;  js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3″;  fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));</script><div class=”fb-video” data-allowfullscreen=”1″ data-href=”/nadine.moussa.14/videos/vb.519526221/10152907226256222/?type=1″><div class=”fb-xfbml-parse-ignore”><blockquote cite=”https://www.facebook.com/nadine.moussa.14/videos/10152907226256222/”><a href=”https://www.facebook.com/nadine.moussa.14/videos/10152907226256222/”></a><p>LlVE FROM RIAD EL SOLH  – THIS IS HOW FREEDOM IS RESPECTED ..</p>Posted by <a href=”#” role=”button”>Nadine Moussa</a> on Wednesday, August 19, 2015</blockquote></div></div>

this is live from Riad el Solh!!!

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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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Des PV a Beyrouth et partout sur les voitures pour conscientiser autour de la corruption

Encore une initiative “choc” de l’ONG Sakker El Dekkeneh.

Des PV sur toutes les voitures des grandes rues Beyrouthines, et des grandes villes comme Batroun et Zahleh dans la Bekaa.

Les citoyens ont eu un choc en se reveillant et en voyant des contraventions sur leur voiture ce mercredi matin 1er avril 2015.

En lisant la contravention, ils et elles decouvrent que c’est une campagne de conscientisation menee par les volontaires de l’ONG qui mene son combat contre la corruption dans tous les domaines.

Un nouveau code de la route a ete vote au Liban et sera obligatoire des debut Avril. Le nouveau code a pour but de preserver la vie des citoyens et cityonnes.

alors #Akalta ce matin ? a toi de t’assurer de la limite de vitesse, de passer l’examen pour avoir un permis de conduire et assures toi que tout fonctionne dans ta voiture .L’Etat quant a lui devrait par le biais de ces ministeres s’assurer de l’etat des routes, de l’eclairage ect!!!

voila le Poisson d’avril de la dekkeneh  #Akalta!! 🙂

Rita

Previous posts about Dekkeneh’s activities:

• https://ritachemaly.wordpress.com/2014/06/19/a-toi-de-fermer-la-boutique-libanaise/
• Achrafieh streets taken over by biyye3ines el balad
• Electricity for free in Lebanon as well as Free Diplomas call the Dekkeneh !

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I am Charlie to the bones

Picture taken by Emile Issa Lebanon https://www.ooshot.com/emile-issa/photo/32552

It was hard and a horrible week: we Watched on TV the murder of people in a country that is for us known as “safe”.

More than that it was horrible to know that people were savagely murdered because of their drawings, “cartoons” in the Country of the Freedom, in the Country where expression of thought was born for me. At School 20 years ago I read Le Cid, Voltaire , the story of the “revolutionnaries”, ….. killing people for their thoughts in the Country of Moliere?! for me it was IMPOSSIBLE, Not CONCEIVABLE.

Today, all the family went to the I am Charlie gathering in Beirut, eventhough I have received sooo many messages of all those who wanted to “Enlight” me about the cartoons Charlie did, especially about christians. They asked me how can I accept such an “insult” to our “faith” they were specifically speaking about the christian faith .

Those lebanese friends who flooded my inbox, my news feed, smsed me,  and whats app me I understand them. I do. They have seen the cartoons and they said : oh “blaspheme”in arabic “istaghfara el lah el 3azim” .

First for me the believer blasphemes, not the non believer.

On a second thought , I would have probably reacted the same way if I didn’t receive the french education I had. no idea, probably. probably I knew that Charlie hebdo was born in France, in the country where the values are different than the values we have here in Lebanon.

Even if I usually dislike the satire “cartoons” of Charlie hebdo, what I have done in the past, is not to read it, and not to buy it, or to write a piece about how foolish and not empowering their cartoons are, and definetly not sharing their cartoons :-). simple as that.

Today, if I decided to be Charlie, it is because I am Charlie to the bones. I refuse to use VIOLENCE against anyone. I refuse to kill, and murder because of a drawing or a text or a saying. The “Je suis Charlie” is for me “a world without fear, without violence wihtout extremism, a world where I can express all what I WANT WITHOUT BEING AFRAID OF BEING SHOT DEAD BY OTHERS, or slammed , or lashed  . (in another part of the world: Raif the Saudi Blogger is being lashed because of his sayings!!) 😦

I am afraid for the freedoms in France  after  the savage murder of  January 7, I’m afraid that journalists will use this “wing cutting thing” that is the self-censorship. In Lebanon bounderies are so common, they do come from the big family, from work, from religious socialisation, from a center or association that has been created to check and approve any creation (artistic, movies, …) and so on, BUT Lebanon is a  country where so many charlies were savagely killed!!!! Samir Kassir is one of those Journalists that were killed , he was not afraid, and we shouldn’t be afraid to live in a world where thinking differently and expressing yourself differently will make You an easy goal for violence. Violence must End!!! in Lebanon and In france!!! Today and Tomorrow and again  I’ll be charlie in my bones for every part of the world!! I want to express my self freely and I want my child to be able to express himself freely without fear of what he might draw, write or sing.

Enough  censorship ,ENOUGH BOXES,  Enough barbarism!!! YES FOR FREE EXPRESSION! FREE THINKING!

Rita

The illustration is the banner I held taken in  a picture by Emile Issa during the protest in support of the je suis Charlie movement in Lebanon . To Watch all the album: https://www.ooshot.com/emile-issa/portfolios/charlie-hebdo-manifestation-beyrouth-11-1-15

title corrected as per the advice of Marhaba Nabil 🙂

Article edited on January 14/1/2015

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#TakeBackTheMétro une campagne en France pr que les femmes affirment leur droit d’user des espaces publics sans crainte

#TakeBackTheMétro, me rappelle la Campagne de Salwa qui a été initiee au Liban par le Collectif feministe “Nasawiya” il y a quelques annees. La campagne #TakeBackTheMétro en France est lancee par “Osez le féminisme !” pr que les femmes affirment leur droit d’user des espaces publics sans crainte.

voici l’article qui l’annonce:

#TakeBackTheMétro

• Article

Osez le féminisme ! lance aujourd’hui sa nouvelle campagne : Take back the métro !, L’objectif ? Dénoncer les violences machistes dont sont victimes les femmes dans les transports en commun et interpeller les transporteurs afin qu’ils réagissent.

Selon une enquête réalisée par Osez le Féminisme dans le métro parisien, 94% des 150 femmes interrogées indiquent avoir déjà subi des comportements sexistes intimidants, du sifflement à l’agression sexuelle. Par peur d’agression, près des trois quart d’entre elles adaptent leur comportement ou leurs tenues vestimentaires lorsqu’elles sont dans le métro. Une étude Reuters parue cette semaine indiquait que 8 Parisiennes sur 10 pensaient que personne ne les aideraient si elles étaient victimes d’un viol dans le métro.

Malgré le débat public sur le harcèlement de rue, ce sujet ne s’est pas encore traduit par des actions de sensibilisation de grande ampleur de la part des pouvoirs publics.

Pourtant, les régies de transports communiquent largement pour prévenir des vols à la tire, la fraude ou la mendicité, mettent en garde les voyageurs contre les pickpockets, les colis suspects ou même sensibilisent sur les incivilités. Ils ne l’ont jamais fait sur les violences sexistes qui touchent pourtant une grande partie de leurs usagèr-e-s.

Cela doit changer! Les femmes sont aussi légitimes que les hommes dans l’espace public et devraient être parfaitement libres de circuler et de se déplacer comme bon leur semble. Nous voulons :

que les femmes puissent se réapproprier les transports et en faire usage sans craintes,
que les transporteurs tels que la RATP en Ile-de-France, mènent des actions de prévention et de lutte contre les violences sexistes.

Pour reprendre le le métro, le bus, le tram, le RER et tous les transports mis à la disposition des citoyennes, Osez le Féminisme! lance une campagne intitulée #TackBackTheMetro. Vous pouvez y participer:

– En vous inscrivant pour les prochaines actions collectives et festives dans le métro: pour « reprendre » les transports,
– En diffusant sur les réseaux sociaux les visuels humoristiques qui visent à détourner les visuels existants dans le métro parisien,
– En signant et en diffusant la pétition à destination des régies de transport afin qu’elles mettent en place un plan de lutte contre ces violences

NB: Le nom de notre campagne, #TakeBackTheMétro fait référence aux marches “Take Back the Night”[Reprenez la nuit]. Initiées aux États-Unis dans les années 70, ces marches nocturnes composées uniquement de femmes visent à affirmer leur droit de faire usage des espaces publics sans crainte de harcèlement sexuel ou d’agression sexuelle.

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Hihglighting great movie produced by Catharsis Lebanon

A new movie will be screened in Lebanese Cinemas since November 20, Shehrazadeh’s Diaries,

a movie by Zeina Daccache director of Catharsis, the NGO that works in Lebanon to offer therapeutic help through theater and art.

to watch the trailer of the movie do click this link http://youtu.be/5VnZGmd6EMg

here is a brief about Catharsis:

Catharsis is the 1^st non-profit organization in Lebanon to promote & offer therapeutic actions through the use of theatre & art processes for individuals and groups.  It offers services & programs in various social, educational & therapeutic settings such as substance abuse treatment centers, mental health facilities, hospitals, correctional facilities, private practice settings for children & adults, schools and corporations.  Catharsis also works with individuals who want to explore various life problems & expand their quality of life.  Catharsis produced the play & documentary 12 Angry Lebanese with male inmates of Roumieh Prison (2009-2010);  Scheherazade in Baabda the play interpreted by Baabda prison women inmates(2012); the play From the Bottom of my Brain with the residents at Al Fanar psychiatric hospital(2013); the documentary Scheherazade’s Diary with the Baabda inmates (2013).

Great work and I’m eager to watch it on the big Screen!!

Rita Chemaly

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Job Vacancy: Lebanon. GBV IMS National Coordinator

dears, for those interested, a National coordinator post is available. attention for the deadline and requirements.

Good luck!

GBV IMS National Coordinator

GBV IMS National Coordinator

Duty Station: Beirut, Lebanon

Contract Type & Level: FTA – NO-B (ONLY for Lebanese Candidates)

Duration: One year (with possibility for extension

Vacancy Announcement Nb.: VA-FPA-LBN-2014-07

Vacancy Date: October 20, 2014

Closing Date: November 2, 2014

1. Organizational Location

The incumbent (i.e. GBV IMS National Coordinator) will be based partly at UNHCR Beirut Office, partly at UNFPA Country Office, according to a time division agreement between the two Agencies. He/she will undertake regular in-country travels to the five regions where the project is implemented: Akkar, Tripoli, Bekaa, South Lebanon and Mount Lebanon.

The incumbent will work under the umbrella of the national SGBV Task Force chaired by UNHCR and co-chaired by UNFPA and UNICEF. She/he will report to the SGBV Task Force Coordinator.

The incumbent will plan deliverables and priorities in collaboration with the chair and the two co-chairs of the SGBV Task Force and will keep them regularly informed of all programmatic and technical aspects of the Job Description. All administrative related matters will be reported to UNFPA, as the recruiting Agency.

The incumbent will work in close cooperation and coordination with the inter-agency GBV IMS Coordinator at the national level, as well as with the Field SGBV Coordinators in the five regions.

2. Job Purpose

The Gender-Based Violence Information Management System (GBVIMS) was created to harmonize data collection on GBV in humanitarian settings, to provide a simple system for actors providing services to GBV survivors to collect, store and analyze their data and to enable the safe and ethical sharing of reported GBV incident data within and between relevant entities. The intention of the GBVIMS is both to assist service providers to better understand the GBV cases being reported as well as to enable actors to share data internally across project sites and externally with agencies for broader trends analysis and improved GBV coordination and response.

In Lebanon, increasing concerns regarding the ongoing conflict in Syria and spill-over of persons of concern into the country prompted the SGBV Task Force to consider means and modalities to improve data collection and analysis. In January 2013, a pilot GBV IMS roll-out was launched in Akkar (North Lebanon). In July 2013, the GBV IMS Global Team supported the progressive extension of the phased roll-out to the other regions in Lebanon. As of today, the 6 GBV specialized service providers (IRC, DRC, INTERSOS, IMC, Caritas, Makhzoumi) are using the system in the 5 above mentioned regions. An Information-Sharing Protocol endorsed by the Task Force in October 2013 allows the national compilation of a limited set of data.

In order to reinforce the dissemination of good practices and increase the quality and the quantity of GBV data available, the Government of Canada is funding a two-year project “Developing Field Level GBV Capacity for Improved Service Delivery, Information Management and Inter-Agency Coordination” in 6 countries, including Lebanon. As part of this project, the incumbent will be responsible for supporting the roll-out and driving the successful implementation of the GBV IMS in Lebanon, under the supervision of the SGBV Task Force Coordinator and the guidance of UNHCR, UNFPA and UNICEF.

3. Major Activities/Expected Results

With the support of the inter-agency GBV IMS Coordinator, the incumbent will facilitate the implementation of the GBVIMS in Lebanon, providing technical support to the organizations and agencies using the GBVIMS for data collection through their service provision to GBV survivors in order to improve and expand the use of the GBVIMS. In addition, the incumbent will support national efforts to roll-out the GBVIMS among potential additional GBVIMS users in coordination with the GBVIMS Steering Committee.

The incumbent should work closely and in collaboration with GBVIMS organizations, the National GBV IMS Steering Committee, the SGBV Task Force, the Global Team and all relevant stakeholders and/or coordination bodies.

1. Coordination:

• Participate in GBVIMS coordination meetings at the field and national levels. Provide all support needed to the field GBV IMS coordinators, including in the identification of new GBV IMS users;
• Maintain and update the work plan/strategy for the GBVIMS rollout ensuring a clear implementation process per region;
• Ensure ongoing communication between the field GBVIMS Steering Committees and the national GBV IMS Steering Committees, and between the National GBV IMS Steering Committee and the SGBV Task Force;
• Assist with any other issues related to the coordination of the GBVIMS.

2. Capacity Building/Coaching: 

• In coordination with the SGBV Task Force Coordinator, the inter-agency GBV IMS Coordinator, the National Steering Committee and the Global Team, encourage organizations and agencies to use the GBVIMS through technical support, trouble shooting, training, and quality assurance;
• Identify capacity building needs and liaise with the inter-agency GBV IMS Coordinator for follow up;
• Document concerns, good practices and lessons learned from the rollout process.

3. Information & Analysis: 

• Participate in and facilitate the process of revising the Information Sharing Protocol (ISP);
• Support the consolidation of monthly reports from GBVIMS users;
• Utilize GBVIMS data to support reporting, produce information bulletins for programming and advocacy purposes and every other relevant use.

4. Facilitation and Representation:

• Help organize support missions to Lebanon and facilitate the delivery of technical outputs;
• Represent the GBV IMS Steering Committee as requested;
• All other tasks required from the supervisor.

4. Job Requirements

Core Competencies

• Integrity/Commitment to mandate: Acts in accordance with UN values and holds himself/herself accountable for actions taken.
• Knowledge sharing/continuous learning: Takes responsibility for personal learning and career development and actively seeks opportunities to learn through formal and informal means.  Learns from others inside and outside the organization adopting best practices created by others.  Actively produces and disseminates new knowledge.
• Valuing diversity: Demonstrates an international outlook, appreciates differences in values and learns from cultural diversity. Takes actions appropriate to the religious and cultural context and shows respect, tact and consideration for cultural differences. Observes and inquires to understand the perspectives of others and continually examines his/her own biases and behaviors
• Working in teams:  Works collaboratively to allow the achievement of common goals and shared objectives. Actively seeks resolution of disagreements and supports decisions of the team.
• Analytical and strategic thinking:  Uses appropriate analytical tools and logic to gather, define and analyze information, situations and problems and draws logical conclusions from data. Demonstrates an ability to set clear and appropriate priorities focusing on tasks and activities which have a strategic impact on results. Anticipates and meets information needs of the team and other stakeholders.
• Conflict and self management: Manages personal reactions by remaining calm, composed and patient even when under stress or during a crisis and avoids engaging in unproductive conflict. Expresses disagreement in constructive ways that focus on the issue not the person. Tolerates conditions of uncertainty or ambiguity and continues to work productively.
• Results orientation/Commitment to excellence: Strives to achieve high personal standard of excellence. Takes action that goes beyond responding to the obvious needs of the situation and persists until successful outcomes are achieved.

Additional Competencies:

• Offer great organizational skills and efficiency in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
• Demonstrate strong organizational skills and ability to work independently and productively, with multiple stakeholders in a fast-paced environment;
• Adopt flexible work attitude: the ability to work productively in a team environment and independently, and to handle requests or issues as they arise;
• Has excellent interpersonal and communication skills and ability to successfully and effectively liaise with people in a wide range of functions in a multi-cultural environment;
• Demonstrate understanding of issues related to confidentiality, data safety and other ethical concerns related to the sharing on sensitive data between humanitarian agencies.

Requirements/Qualifications 

• Lebanese nationality;
• MA (preferred) in public health, social work, women/gender studies, humanitarian or development work, or other related degree, or equivalent programming experience;
• At least 3 years of Programme management or other relevant experience, preferably including at least 1 year implementing a GBV program in a humanitarian context;
• Experience developing and facilitating workshops;
• Experience in information management, database development, usage and management;
• Demonstrated capacity to analyse data/statistics for humanitarian operations;
• Excellent Computer skills: MS Word, Excel, Access and database software, including in depth knowledge of pivot table/chart analysis;
• Fluency in English and, Arabic strongly preferred.

5. Notice:

• There is no application, processing or other fee at any stage of the application process
• UNFPA does not solicit or screen for information in respect of HIV or AIDS and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status

HOW TO APPLY?

Interested candidates who meet the above qualifications should apply on line by submitting the following:

• Letter of motivation
• Updated CV
• P11 form [click to download] detailing work experience that is relevant to the vacancy requirements as indicated in the Job Description

The above documents should be submitted to the following email address: info-lebanon@unfpa.org no later than 2nd November 2014.  

UNFPA will only be responsible to respond to those applicants submitting the required CV and P11 and in which there is further interest.\

Source: http://www.unfpa.org.lb/UNFPA-LEBANON/Vacancies-and-Notices.aspx

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4 M Beirut The Forum related to Journalism and online media

I was super glad to participate to the 4M Beirut Forum. Meeting and exchanging with people coming from different countries, with different experiences related to activism and sharing of information.

below is a copy of 3 days announcement. more info are available: http://www.4m.cfi.fr/index.php/en/the-forums/4m-beirut-forum/presentation-4m-beirut-forum-2014

ONLINE MEDIA AND JOURNALISM IN THE ARAB WORLD: RISKS, PRACTICES AND ECONOMIES

توفير المعلومات عبر الإنترنت في العالم العربي: المخاطر، الممارسات والاقتصاد

How are online media changing the very foundations of news production and broadcasting in the Arab world?

What impact are they having on the public debate?

At a time when life in the Arab world is becoming more turbulent than ever, the 4M forum in Beirut from 17 to 19 October will analyse the role and place of online media in this complex and highly charged context: how are online media changing the very foundations of news production and broadcasting in the Arab world? What impact are they having on the public debate?

At the forum, more than 200 stakeholders from Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Syria and Tunisia will therefore have the opportunity to discuss the practices, new tools, ideas and innovations that they are implementing as part of their everyday activities and to describe the changes that are occurring in the region, in particular the increasing power of citizen journalists.

Participants’ discussions will focus on 3 main themes:

– New media or the redefinition of the media scene in society in the Arab world

– Innovation in terms of production of web based content and the new tools available to journalists

– Media enterprise and economy in the Arab world.

4M Beirut picks up the baton from CFI’s various ongoing projects supporting online media in the Arab world, such as EBTICAR and 4M Mashreq.

    

 

فكيف تُحدث وسائل الإعلام تغييراً جذرياً
في طريقة إنتاج المعلومات في العالم العربي ونشرها؟

ما هو تأثيرها على النقاش العام؟

في خضمّ الغليان الذي يعيشه العالم العربي اليوم، يطرح منتدى “ 4M بيروت” (4M Beyrouth)، من 17 إلى 19 تشرين الأول/أكتوبر، التحديات الكبرى المرتبطة بدور وسائل الإعلام الإلكترونية ومكانتها في هذه البيئة المعقّدة والمتغيّرة. فكيف تُحدث وسائل الإعلام تغييراً جذرياً في طريقة إنتاج المعلومات في العالم العربي ونشرها؟ ما هو تأثيرها على النقاش العام؟

في هذا الإطار، يوفّر المنتدى فرصةً لأكثر من 200 صحافي وناشط وخبير من الأردن، تونس، الجزائر، سوريا، العراق، فلسطين، لبنان، مصر ليبيا، والمغرب، ليتبادلوا المعلومات والآراء حول الممارسات والوسائل الحديثة والأفكار والابتكارات المتعلقة بواقعهم اليومي، ويشهدوا على التحوّلات الراهنة، لا سيّما سطوع نجم صحافة المواطن.

ومن المقرّر أن يتبادل المشاركون الخبرات حول ثلاثة مواضيع أساسية هي: 

– وسائل الإعلام الجديدة أو إعادة تعريف المشهد الإعلامي ضمن المجتمعات العربية.

– الابتكار على صعيد إنتاج المحتوى الإلكتروني والأدوات الجديدة المتوفّرة للصحافيين.

– ريادة الأعمال واقتصاد وسائل الإعلام في العالم العربي.

يندرج منتدى “4M بيروت” ضمن إطار مشاريع مرافقة مختلفة متعلقة بوسائل الإعلام الإلكتروني في العالم العربي، تنفّذها في الوقت الراهنقناة فرنسا الدولية (CFI)، مثل مشروع “ابتكار- ميديا”، و” 4Mالانتقال الرقمي للصحف العربية””، أو أيضاً“4M مشرق”.

    

  

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Child Labour increasing in Lebanon with the Syrian War

Yesterday at a restaurant serving lebanese food I was shocked a small boy of 7 to 8 years old maybe was serving on the tables.

He was offering narguileh (the famous smoking pipe very well-known in Lebanon), and drinks to us. Is that safe??  Also, I remembered that during the video-shooting of the prank organised by Sakker el Dekkeneh, a small boy of 12 years old followed me on the street to take a free “brevet” and “baccalaureat”. He didn’t understand that it was a prank against corruption in Lebanon, all what he wanted is a school diploma. When I asked why aren’t you at school, he said I have to work!

In Lebanon with the millions of refugees flying from Syria we are witnessing the high numbers of those working children. They are everywhere at the hairdresser, on some construction sites (which is not safe at all for them), at the restaurants, and in the streets!

The problem is that those young boys and girls are deprived from any opportunity to have an education!!! they are obliged to leave school and attend to their families welfare at a very early age!!

I don’t know which associations, NGOs or International Organisations  (other than what I have read on ILO webpage ) are working on that subject in Lebanon, but the issue needs to be adressed as a priority!!!

Rita Chemaly

Stop #Childlabour #Redcard #ILO

 

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A toi de fermer la Boutique Libanaise …

Oui, le Liban est une grande boutique ou tous vos droits peuvent être achetés et vendus.

La corruption régnE, et le maitre mot “ikramiyeh” “rachweh” = les tips!

La flash mob organisée la semaine dernière par Sakker el Dekkeneh a vendu dans les routes de Beyrouth tous genres de papiers administratifs importants “permis de conduire”, baccalauréat, brevet, permis de port d’armes, même des parties des trottoirs publics et des plages publiques ont été mis en vente!!

oui j’ai participe a la Flash Mob, oui j’ai été heureuse des réactions de plusieurs personnes qui m’ont dit: non nous on n’aime pas la corruption.

En espérant avoir plus de pareils citoyens,

c’est leur et Notre rôle de fermer la Boutique et les boutiques Libanaises.

Rita Chemaly

voila le lien de la flash mob: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk6wYu_767c

“Dekkeneh” en arabe signifie boutique qui vend de tous: épicerie, produits pharmaceutiques, cigarettes, ….

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Electricity for free in Lebanon as well as Free Diplomas call the Dekkeneh !

free electricity, free diplomas, big fat awards form Lebanon, and the fashion is to take it from other countries too 🙂

have you witnessed the new tags on Beirut streets?

You can get your free brevet or bac, without “antiseches”, without even going to the exam…

the same for Driving license!!! who said euno “sa33abouwa”?? in Lebanon it is easy to get a driving license as a gift for your sweet 18!! 🙂

you want the nationality for your foreign kids “wlak” buy it from the dekkeneh, sooo easy, bring some cash and stop mobilizing and participating to all the protests to transmit it to your children…. bring your liras and dollars and get it 🙂

what else do you need? you will get! I need to build and take some few meters from the “trottoirs”, it is easy to get it from Dekkenet el Balad….

for you here are the latest pictures and you can call and get your grosseries from el Dekkeneh 🙂

Rita Chemaly

Citoyenne Libanaise

 

attention, par ce billet je n’ encourage absolument pas au manque d’ethique, mais met en lumiere une nouvelle initiative qui sera lancee au Liban pour dire non a la corruption et au clientelisme.

‪#‎Dekkenetelbalad‬   #دكانة_البلد  an initiative that can get you free driving licence in Lebanon, & free diplomas ! wayni el dawli?!! let us take a stand against ‪#‎bribery‬ and ‪#‎corruption‬ in ‪#‎Lebanon

Rita Chemaly

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iKNOW Politics invites you to the webinar on “The role of ICTs in empowering women in politics”

Who is interested in knowing how to use ICT in their campaigns?

how you can use facebook, twitter, and other tools to promote your goals?

it is a webinar on wednesday april 30 2014,

full details are below!

prepare your speakers, mic and pc and check your internet connection first!

good webinar!

Rita Chemaly

iKNOW Politics invites you to the webinar on “The role of ICTs in empowering women in politics”

When?  April 30th, 2014 at 9 am EDT

The 21st century has seen an unprecedented increase in the percentage of internet users around the world. 27.5% of people in Asia are now internet users, in Latin America and the Caribbean it’s 42.9% and the increase in internet users from 2000 to 2012 has been highest in the African continent, with an approximate 3,606.7% increase. Over 1.11 billion Facebook users communicate across borders every day. At least one-half of the world’s population has a mobile phone, and the number is increasing every day. Texting is the number one most used data service in the world, with 8.6 trillion text messages sent worldwide in 2012. In developing countries, two in three people have mobile phone subscriptions. Interestingly, the most remarkable innovations that have come from the use of mobile phones were where internet coverage was poor.

While it is doubtless that current communication technology has a lot to offer any activist or politician, it may be of particular value for women in politics since mobile phones, the internet and social media channels have the potential to, not only serve as an equalizer for women politicians and activists, but to also increase their political participation. Often discriminated against in traditional media, women have started going around traditional communication outlets, such as television and radio, to adopt more direct and interactive communication tools, such as Facebook, Twitter, SMS, promotional videos, podcasts, and blogs, which have proved very effective, eliminating the use of intermediaries in communication and allowing the women themselves to be ‘the news makers’.

Women members of parliament are increasingly using these different technology platforms during their political campaigns and careers to generate dialogue with their constituencies as elected representatives. Political leaders are catching on to the crowd sourcing possibilities that these technologies offer.

Blogs, Facebook pages and Twitter accounts have been created for many women politicians and activists. Additionally, text messages are used to alert journalists and to create viral campaigns during public rallies, televised debates and press conferences. YouTube videos are also supplementing paid television spots for political messages and breaking dependency on mainstream media sources. Political activists are using these social networks to personally organize events and disseminate information on public policy issues and communication between individual citizens and their government is increasing through online petitions, discussion forums and platforms.

Join us on April 30th, 2014 at 9 am EDT for an inspiring webinar on the use of ICTs to empower women in politics. NDI will tell us a bit about their Survey “The use of ICTs for women in politics”, Ms. Oyungerel, Member of Parliament in Mongolia, will share her experience during the “Women CAN Campaign” and Ms. Danya Bashir Hobba, a Libyan activist and Executive Director for “Social Media for Change”, will show us the power of social media in reshaping societies.

Register here!!

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Am I The only one who disliked the movie “Ghadi” ?

 

I went with the Faith and Light Community to watch the movie Ghadi. The movie is a social comedy, which won many awards.

the pictures are nice, the colors, the comedy part describing the Lebanese customs and behavior in a village all those things are funny.

But What I disliked, Big time Disliked is how the movie is not related at All to Ghadi!!

Who is Ghadi? In the movie Ghadi is a child that has a mental handicap. The movie is entitled Ghadi, but for me, the child Doesn’t appear in the movie at all!!! Even on the billboards , the ads of the movie are not related to Ghadi, but picture the dad and the mum on a bicycle! why?

We didn’t meet Ghadi in this Movie!!!

we met he father Leba (Alias Georges Khabbaz) and his ideas and plot to make a story related to an “angel”.

Ghadi the handicapped boy, is pictured in this movie as an “angel” but even this we didn’t see!

he never mingled with the people of the “mshakkal” village he is supposed to live with!

the movie show us a small boy always sitting ALONE!! always sitting in his boxers and “flanella” ,

always alone! and just socializing with his father, mother and sisters!!

a Handicapped person can socialize, can communicate, sorry let me correct it, the only interaction I have noticed in this movie that is supposed to turn around a handicapped boy, was when he smiled and tried to make his neighbor Takla smile while mimicking his daddy.

a special case, can socialize, and can communicate, shouldn’t always be featured sitting on a balcony alone, just looking at people from behind bars,

again, I loved the visuals and the actors who played and showed us the Lebanese ways of living in a village,(sex worker, butcher, hairdresser….)  but and again, I disliked the message behind the story of the angel , and I was furious when I didn’t see ghady (the small boy that is a special case) having Any kind of communication, or any role, or any socialization in this movie!!

in Faith and Light we don’t see the special cases as special anymore, even the worse handicap is seen as “normal” and we try to make everybody participate in our activities. the aim of FL, for example is to help people to go out from the home circle, to let people KNOW, Mingle, and discuss with special cases!! discussion and communication, even listening are a way to know special cases better!!

I didn’t like how ghadi never get down from his home, stayed sitting on the window, always played alone,  never mingled with other fellows from the village, ghadi was pictured and stereotyped even more as a special case, as a different case,  and as an abnormal case!

bref, this Is my humble opinion!

rita chemaly

here is the trailer of the movie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGkDvVlFXbk

“Published on Sep 25, 2013

The trailer of Ghadi, a film by Amin Dora, a social comedy written by and starring Georges Khabbaz giving you a closer insight about a special kid and the struggles of his humble family. Expect strange phenomena to affect the behavior and beliefs of their little Lebanese town’s population.”

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#Women #rights in #KSA #Saudiarabia … #women2drive campaign & #political rights

Thank you Cases show for hosting me to shed light about women rights in Saudi-Arabia , KSA

to watch the show hosted by Farah Atoui and produced by Aly Sleem for Etejah TV Channel, follow the link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZyrMZhnNZw&feature=youtu.be

Kudos to all Saudi women driving, campaigning, speaking out and defying norms and bans,

You’ll do it one day, and achieve your political, social and economical rights!!

Rita Chemaly

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Do you know how to use Twitter and Facebook Efficiently? Not all know…

because many “illiterate ” digital, have shown an interest on how to use Facebook, twitter and other social media platforms,

the National commission for women in Lebanon and the Ministry of Social Affairs have tailored a special training program for beginner users.

They gave me the responsibility to train “Digitally” illiterate women and men on how to use Social Media platforms to make some noise on the web about the causes they champion.

It was one of the most wonderful experience, seeing elder women who usually open Facebook to contact their children abroad with (their help), try to figure out how to make keywords, write catchy status, make interesting pictures….

for you here is the synopsis and the overview of the training program specially tailored for those wonderful women and men!

Rita Chemaly

 

 

 

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African Festival In Lebanon high in Music Colors Sounds and Spices

I participated to the African festival that was held in Jesus and Mary School in Rabieh last Sunday.

I was so happy to finally see African people in Lebanon wearing their countries costumes, and eating and dancing their countries folkloric dances.

The Ethiopian Delegation, the Madagascar Delegation, the Côte d’Ivoire Delegation, the Sudanese Delegation all prepared dances, and beautifully colored shows.

Proud to be african, I was just Happy and clapping madly to all the groups!!

even though I loved the Ethiopian dance, and if I wasn’t so heavy in my pregnancy I would have enjoyed dancing with them 🙂

not to forget about the Clothes!!!!!! A simple Waw!!! Mum and I found some Clothes truly beautiful!

for you some of the pictures of the event, thank You samar and Ghada for inviting us, we were supposed to be 2 but you know in My family we are all happy to always enjoy such beautiful events!!!!

Rita

Caritas migrant center distributed brochures to all attendees, It was truly lovely!

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what is happening in #Syria is #horrible #Human basic #Fundamental #rights have been forgotten by all parties!

what is happening in #Syria is #horrible #Human basic & #Fundamental #rights have been forgotten by all parties!

I cannot look at the feed of my Facebook page, without being afraid of watching the horrific images coming from Syria!

I love this country, when I visited for the first time in 2005, i found the cultural heritage they have, and that syrian people are not protecting now. How can they be interested in their cultural heritage, when the life of Innocents are taken without any conscience???

all Parties in Syria should Stop violating Human rights, Children Rights, Women Rights.

I won’t re-post the shocking pictures of guys  handling the heads of the people they just killed!! this is an abomination!!!

in a war, (And in LEBANON) we have lived numerous ones, atrocities happen, but keeping quiet is an ABOMINATION!!!

The basic Human rights should be Respected!!!!!!

People and Innocents should be Protected!!!!

Khalass , Enough to Atrocities!!

yes for the implementation of basic rights even during war!

Rita!

here are recent articles describing the war crimes happening in Syria our neighbor country

U.N. lists Syrian army and militias as sex predators
Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2013/Apr-17/214104-un-lists-syrian-army-and-militias-as-sex-predators.ashx#ixzz2Rt7sWovW

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