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Posts Tagged ‘human-rights’

As a mother of a young baby boy, looking for a school in #Lebanon,  I was happy to read the last decision taken and published in the official  gazette ( Source: No 23 of the 4/6/2015)  in Lebanon by the Ministry of work ( Circular Nb 2068 ). Now the employees having a work contract can benefit from a scholarship allowance  for the education of their kids at school for the 2014 and 2015 educational year. 🙂 As for the sums allocated, here is a brief about what has been decided:

  • 300 000LL for students in public schools;
  • 750 000LL for students in private schools or universities;
  • 450 000LL for students enrolled in the Lebanese university;

As the Circular says: the children must be between 4 and 25 years old. If the employee benefits from an allowance that is higher than this one, it shouldn’t be changed. this is what is written in the text. For more details attached the picture of the official gazette/ JARIDA RASMIYA Even if the sums are “tight” this IS a GREAT Step for WORKING parents!!!!!! Now Make sure to ask your accountant and boss to IMPLEMENT This Marsoum!!! youhou! Below is a picture of it! Rita Chemaly20150611_124035 AND HERE IS THE CLEAR PICTURE OF THE MARSOUM EDUCATION ALLOWANCE LEBANON PAGE 1 OFFICIAL GAZETTE CHEMALY RITA EDUCATION ALLOWANCE LEBANON PAGE 2 OFFICIAL GAZETTE CHEMALY RITA

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Here is the good news of the day, Political Science Insitute of Saint-Joseph University has partnered with other Universities in the region to launch the Master in Democratic Governance, Democracy and Human rights in the MENA Region. the Masters offers a ” unique programme designated to meet the needs of students, professionals and experts who want to deepen their knowledge in the field of democratic governance and human rights in the Arab world. It also aims to give practical experience needed for building up their professional career and academic activities.”

Master in democratic governance USJ ISP democracy and Human rights in MENA region Chemaly Rita dema

The partnering universities are

  • Cadi Ayyad University (Morocco),
  • International University of Rabat (Morocco),
  • Carthage University (Tunisia),
  • Birzeit University (Palestine),
  • Saint Joseph University (Lebanon),
  • Ca’ Foscari University (Italy)

The tuitions are fees amount to 3600 euro with possibility of tuition waivers.

The programme will provide for grants covering accommodation and subsistence costs (around 2000 euro for the stay in Venice and around 1500 euro for the second semester).

The deadline for application is the 5th December 2014.

I am happy to read that great Rana Habib professor of St Joseph University that is following ISP since years now is reponsible of one of the Module : International relations in the global systems of HR protection

W9: International Instruments

W10: Gender equality, protection of minorities

W11: Regional systems of HR protection

the other modules and their responsibles and all the program details are the follwoing:

Dates: 19th January- end of June 2015
Deadline for Applications:
5th December 2014
Location:
Monastery of San Nicolò, Venice Lido (Italy)
Programme Director:
Prof. Mohsine El Ahmadi

Master in Democratic Governance

The Master’s programme offers students a multidisciplinary course of study with a mix of theory and practice, covering topics ranging from the principles and practices of democracy, the rule of law, the international and regional systems for Human Rights protection to specialised courses focused on the process of political and social development and transition.

In addition, the Master seeks to create a Euro-Mediterranean network of academic institutions and foster professors and students’ exchange in the field of democracy and human rights.

The programme consists of two semesters:

  • 1 semester: from 19th January to 3rd April 2015 (11 weeks) in Venice-Lido, Italy
  • 2 semester: from 7th April to the end of June 2015 (13 weeks) in one of the partner universities

Programme of the first semester

1st Module:

Democracy and Rights
(3 weeks)

W1: Political theory: State, civil society, Democratic Institutions

W2: Citizenship and political rights

W3: Democracy, social and economic rights

Responsible for the thematic section: 
Prof. Mudar Kassis, from the Birzeit University, Palestine
2nd Module:
Governance, law and constitutional process

(3 weeks)
W4: Rule of Law, Governance

W5: Control mechanisms

W6: Political transition

Responsible for the thematic section: to be appointed soon
3rd Module:
Development of the Political system in the Arab world

(2 weeks)

W7: Current issues

W8: The role of media

Responsible for the thematic section:
Prof. Rachida Einnafer,
from the University of Carthage, Tunisia

Here is the link for the admissions and registration requirements and forms.

Do not hesitate to contact ISP secretariat in Lebanon for more information 01/421443 or isp@isp.usj.edu.lb

Rita

Rita Chemaly

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I was tore, my brother hit me with his belt when I refused the aged groom …. The first night was a nightmare, I was ashamed of what we did.  I was not a happy Cinderella after that. I was pregnant at 12…. those are what child brides are telling us, their testimonies are terrible! How do you feel if your little 12 years old girl is getting married and for life in a country like Lebanon? The white veil will change into black chains!! Image(picture source)

In Lebanon, Child Marriage is not well criminalised and this shocks me greatly!

We have a law protecting minors “kanoun ahdass” , a law that transcend the sects ( 18 confessions  in Lebanon) but regarding marriage issues even this law is not clear. There is a blank!!

Our Lebanese Penal Code the famous “kanoun el oukoubat” permits a child marriage with the CONSENT of the parents or the “wali“.

For me this is a disguised human trade: It means a dad can “sell” his children and this is protected and covered by the Lebanese law!!

I have been shocked by what Abeer abdel Samad from the Ministry of Social Affairs Speech during a conference on Child Marriage organised by RDFL told us:  MOSA (Ministry of Social Affairs)  has discovered that children are “taught” what to say in front of a religious leader by the “waseet” it means the one who find a husband for the children!! Ahhhh!!!

Moreover, and More terrible for me is our Penal Code in Lebanon: it does punish a religious leader that married a minor or a child without the consent of the parents (father)  with just 500 000 LL !! almost 300$ Only!!! the price of a cheap mobile phone!!!!!

This article number 483 of the Penal Code in Lebanon needs to be amended Asap!!

for those who read arabic here is the text of the article 483 of the Penal Code in Lebanon :

المادة 483 – زواج قاصر

 عدلت الغرامة الواردة في المادة 483 بموجب القانون رقم 239 تاريخ 27/5/1993 على الوجه التالي

 اذا عقد أحد رجال الدين زواج قاصر لم يتم الثامنة عشرة من عمره دون أن يدون في العقد رضى من له الولاية على القاصر او ان يستعاض عنه باذن القاضي عوقب بالغرامة من خمسين ألف الى خمسماية ألف ليرة

In my opinion we must act and amend and change this article

1-Punishment should be more severe ( prison, triple or quadriple the amount of money the religious leader will pay?…)

2- We (as Lebanese activists, parents, citizens,…)  cannot  accept that children are forced to get married by their so called “parents” because of economical problems! If a minor get the consent of his parents “father” they can easily get married!! and no one will lift a tiny finger after that to help the poor child, that might be abused, that might get an early pregnancy, that might, as one of the Lebanese child bride testified in the movie get violented by the family in law, ect.

3- We need to clearly say no to #Childtrade and to #Childmarriage in Lebanon.  That is in my opinion a form of it!!

Rita Chemaly

 

 

 

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

here are some readings and sources:

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)

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Dears

if you are interested in the status of Lebanon and whether Lebanon has ratified , accessed or signed a treaty, convention, protocol…

please do find attached this great map I found on the United Nations Website (United Nations treaty United Nations treaty collection, direct link, https://treaties.un.org/ , last accessed on January 21 2014.  )

the full treaty name is here, the date of signature or ratification is also featured

Good luck for all the researchers!

Rita Chemaly

LEBANON Treaties signed

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One of the most Horrible action against #human rights and human #dignity without talking about the freedom of choice,

the story as it has been prepared by NOW, is below for your information,

in both english and arabic.

rita

 

“I was standing outside the nightclub with my friends when I was ordered by [municipality] police to get into the car, with no legal order” one of the transgender revelers harassed Saturday night at Dekwaneh club Ghost told NOW, on condition of anonymity. She said she was taken into a room where she was abused both verbally and sexually by municipality head Antoine Chakhtoura’s deputies.

“They hit me and pushed me around and insulted me by using derogatory terms like ‘faggot’ and ‘half-a-man,’ then they asked demeaning questions such as how much do I make per hour and whether I enjoy ‘sucking on it,’ then asked me to strip naked and then took photographs of me.”

Lebanese activists and experts believe Chakhtoura’s actions have set a dangerous precedent whereby the Lebanese official can apply his own conception of justice as Lebanese law.

Among those who were arrested late night Saturday were three gay men and a transgender person. Each were forced to undress in front of Chakhtoura’s policemen, under his order, so they could determine their gender.

Following Saturday’s events, in an interview with the Lebanese television station LBC, Chakhtoura admitted that the detained were undressed, saying “Of course we made them take off their clothes, we saw a scandalous situation and we had to know what these people were. Is it a woman or a man? It turned out to be a half-woman and half-man and I do not accept this in my Dekwaneh.”

In an interview with NOW, Chakhtoura defended his actions saying “It is not my business what gender they decide to be, but they were violating moral codes of conduct and were taking drugs and it is my duty to put an end to it.”

However, the transgender person emphasized that she had no drugs in her possession and has asked the forces to give her a blood test to check for the viability of the accusations. Her requests have gone unanswered.

As for the sealing of the night club, Chakhtoura stressed to NOW that he believes it endorses sexual activities inside and outside its premises, and promoted the trafficking of drugs and “drunken” behavior. He also claims that his actions are justified by Article 74 in the municipal law code.

Ghost nightclub’s management has condemned the municipality’s accusation, stressing to NOW that the accusations against them are false and that the raid had no prior warning.

The manager, who also preferred to remain anonymous, explained that Chakhtoura came to the location and accused him of drug trafficking and prostitution, and when he was given the freedom to look into his accusations Chakhtoura replied “No, I don’t want to check, I want this place to be shut down.”

“I refused to close down,” then he walked out saying “but you have gay men in here.” Soon after, twelve of Chakhtoura’s policemen entered the nightclub, bullied customers out, and turned the music off. As of Monday afternoon, Ghost nightclub was sealed by order of the municipality, a note visible on its door with the names of the 4 persons who had been detained.

Lawyer and human rights activist Nizar Saghieh explained that the head of the municipality, in his actions, surpassed the relevant legal institutions and should thus be held legally accountable.

“By law, he is only allowed to gather the information needed and file a complaint to the public prosecution office. He has no right to take the decision on his own. His raid is illegal,” stressed Saghieh.

Until now, the club’s management has not filed a law suit against Chakhtoura and is waiting for the prosecution office to issue its own order, because they strongly believe Chakhtoura’s case is personal.

“Clearly, he has personal issues with homosexual men because this is not the first time these harassments take place, his men have been detaining passersby for over 6 months now,” the manager added.

Charbel Maydaa, the director of Helem, an NGO whose mission is to defend gay rights, confirmed the above allegations and explained that the organization has been monitoring the nightclub since they learned of the recurrent harassment and abuse of gay men and transgender people. Maydaa told NOW that customers near the nightclub are frequently exposed to abuse because of their appearance, and that victims were taken to the police municipality in the trunks of police cars.

Saghieh added that the municipal police’s detainment of customers is also illegal and should be looked into urgently because it is a clear violation of the constitution.

“They have no right to question subjects in any case; it is the judicial police jurisdiction and that is, if there was a crime at hand, but there isn’t one, transsexuality is not a crime, there is no legal finding to support it anywhere.”

Saghieh emphasized that if the subjects decide not to pursue a case, then it is  the lebanese civil society’s duty to address the issue as quickly as possible.

“This is a crime and Chakhtoura admitted to it publicly. Lebanese civil society should file a complaint against him at the public prosecution office.”

“This is very dangerous. He is forcing his own values, considering anything against them a crime, then punishing the wrong-doers. This should not be accepted,” said Saghieh.

SOURCE https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/reportsfeatures/transgender-club-victim-speaks-out

هذا ما حصل في ملهى المتحولين جنسياً في الدكوانة

رئيس بلدية يعتقل ويضايق مثليين ومتحوّلين جنسياً

(أ.ف.ب.)

“كنتُ أقف خارج الملهى الليلي مع أصدقائي عندما أمرتني شرطة البلدية بالدخول الى السيارة، دون أي مذكّرة قانونية” قالت لـ NOW واحدة من المشاركين في الحفلة الصاخبة الذين تعرضوا لمضايقات ليلة السبت الماضية في ملهى Ghost في الدكوانة، شرط عدم ذكر اسمها. قالت إنّها أدخلت الى غرفة حيث تعرّضت لأذى شفهي وجنسي من قبل مندوبي رئيس البلدية أنطوان شختورة.

“ضربوني وعاملوني بقسوة وأهانوني مستخدمين تعابير بذيئة مثل “مخنّث” و”نصف رجل”، ومن ثم طرحوا عليّ أسئلة مهينة مثل كم هو أجري في الساعة وإذا ما كنتُ أستمتع بالأمر، ومن ثم طلبوا مني ان أخلع ثيابي والتقطوا لي صوراً”.

يعتقد الناشطون والخبراء اللبنانيون أنّ أعمال شختورة تفرض سابقة خطيرة حيث يمكن لمسؤول لبناني أن يطبّق مفهومه الخاص للعدالة على اعتبار أنّه قانون لبناني.

من بين أولئك الذين تمّ اعتقالهم ليل السبت الماضي كان ثلاثة مثليين وشخص متحوّل جنسياً. وكل واحد منهم أجبر على خلع ثيابه أمام رجال شرطة شختورة، بأمر منه، بحيث يتمكنون من تحديد هويتهم الجنسية.

بعد أحداث ليلة السبت، وفي مقابلة له مع محطة التلفزيون اللبنانية LBC، اعترف شختورة بأنّهم جعلوا المعتقلين يخلعون ثيابهم، قائلاً “بالطبع جعلناهم يخلعون ثيابهم،عندما رأينا وضعاً فاضحاً وكان علينا أن نعرف ما هم هؤلاء الأشخاص. رجال أو نساء؟ وبدا أنّهم أنصاف رجال وأنصاف نساء وأنا لا أقبل بمثل ذلك في الدكوانة التي أنتمي إليها”.

وفي مقابلة له مع NOW، دافع شختورة عن أفعاله قائلاً “ليس شأني أية هوية جنسية يريدون لأنفسهم، ولكنّهم كانوا ينتهكون قوانين السلوك الأخلاقية وكانوا يتعاطون المخدرات ومن واجبي وضع حد لذلك”.

غير أنّ المتحوّلة جنسياً أكّدت أنّه لم يكن بحوزتها مخدرات وطلبت من القوى [الأمنية] أن يُجرى لها فحص دم للتحقّق من صحة الاتهامات. ولم تتم الاستجابة لمطالبها.

وبالنسبة لختم الملهى الليلي بالشمع الأحمر، أكد شختورة أنّه يعتقد بأنّه يسمح بالنشاطات الجنسية داخل مبناه وخارجه، وأنّه يروّج لتجارة المخدرات ولسلوك السكيرين. وهو يزعم بأنّ أفعاله تبرّرها المادة 74 من قانون البلديات.

ومن جهتها أدانت إدارة ملهى “غوست” اتهام البلدية، مشدّدة لـ NOW على أنّ الاتهامات الموجهة لها باطلة وأنّ “الكبسة” على الملهي لم يسبقها أي تحذير.

وشرح مدير الملهى، الذي فضّل هو كذلك عدم الإفصاح عن هويته، أنّ شختورة جاء الى المكان واتهمه بتجارة المخدرات وبالدعارة، وعندما سُمح له بالتحقّق من صحة اتهاماته، أجاب شختورة “لا، لا أريد التحقّق، أريدُ إقفال هذا المكان”.

“رفضتُ الإقفال”، ومن ثم خرج قائلاً “ولكن لديكم مثليين هنا”. وبعد ذلك بقليل، دخل 12 من رجال شرطة شختورة الى الملهى، قاموا بالتنمير على الزبائن، وأطفأوا الموسيقى. ومنذ بعد ظهر يوم الإثنين الماضي، جرى إقفال ملهى غوست بالشمع الاحمر بأمر من البلدية، وتبدو ملاحظة عُلّقت على بابه بأسماء الأشخاص الأربعة الذين جرى اعتقالهم.

وفي هذا السياق، شرح المحامي والناشط في مجال حقوق الإنسان نزار صاغية أنّ رئيس البلدية تخطّى بهذه التصرّفات، المؤسسات القانونية المختصّة وبالتالي يجب أن يحاسب قانونياً على ذلك.

“كما ينص القانون، يُسمح له فقط بجمع المعلومات المطلوية ورفع شكوى الى مكتب المدعي العام. لا يحق له أن يتخّذ القرار بنفسه. إغارته على المكان غير قانونية” شدّد صاغية قائلاً.

حتى الآن، لم ترفع إدارة الملهى قضية على شختورة وهي بانتظار أن يُصدر مكتب الادعاء حكمه، لأنّهم يعتقدون اعتقاداً راسخاً بأنّ قضية شختورة قضية شخصية.

“من الواضح أنّ لديه مسائل شخصية حيال الرجال المثليين لأنّ هذه ليست المرة الأولى التي تحصل فيها هذه المضايقات، فمنذ أكثر من ستة أشهر يقوم رجاله باعتقال المارة”، أضاف المدير.

وبدوره أكّد شربل الميدع، المدير التنفيذي لجمعية “حلم” غير الحكومية التي تهتم بالدفاع عن حقوق المثليين، على الادعاءات السابقة وشرح أنّ الجمعية كانت تراقب الملهى الليلي منذ علموا بالمضايقات المتكرّرة وبالإساءة الى الرجال المثليين والأشخاص المتحولين جنسياً. وقال الميدع لـ NOW إنّ الزبائن قرب الملهى الليلي دائماً ما يتعرّضون للاعتداء بسبب مظهرهم، وأنّ ضحايا الأحد الماضي نُقلوا الى مقر شرطة البلدية في صناديق سيارات الشرطة.

وأضاف صاغية أنّ اعتقال الشرطة البلدية للزبائن هو أيضاً غير قانوني ويجب النظر فيه بأقصى سرعة لأنه مخالفة واضحة للدستور.

“ليس لديهم الحق باستجواب أي كان في أية قضية كانت؛ فهذا من اختصاص الشرطة القضائية، هذا في حال كانت هناك جريمة، ولكن لا توجد جريمة، التحوّل الجنسي ليس بجريمة، ليس هناك أي حيثية قانونية لدعمها في أي مكان”.

وشدّد صاغية على أنّه في حال قرّر المعنيون بالحادثة عدم رفع أي قضية، فمن واجب المجتمع المدني اللبناني معالجة المسألة بأسرع وقت ممكن.

“هذه جريمة وقد اعترف شختورة علناً باقترافها. على المجتمع المدني أن يرفع شكوى ضدّه لدى مكتب المدعي العام”.

“هذا أمر شديد الخطورة. إنّه يفرض قيمه الخاصة، معتبراً أي شيء يعارض هذه القيم جريمة، ومن ثمّ يعاقب الآثمين الذين ارتكبوها. لا يجب القبول بذلك”، قال صاغية

Source:

https://now.mmedia.me/lb/ar/nowspecialar/%D9%87%D8%B0%D8%A7-%D9%85%D8%A7-%D8%AD%D8%B5%D9%84-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D9%84%D9%87%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AA%D8%AD%D9%88%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%AC%D9%86%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%83%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A9

 

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civil servant women's rights in Lebanon Rita Chemaly

 

The Lebanese Council of Ministers, during his session held on the 12 december 2012,
decided to give LEBANESE WOMEN such as Lebanese Men same rights. Congratulations Lebanese Women, and specifically Lebanese women civil servants 🙂
in details, in his session, the Council of ministers amended the law 3950 of 1960, regarding civil servants access to family compensation and assistance benefits! ( Nizam el ta3widats wal mousa3adats), and now if a couple of civil servants, both can choose who can benefit from the Family compensations and assistance.

the National Commission for Lebanese women, worked a lot to achieve equality in this domain:
as the Annual report stipulates:
“The objective is to achieve equality between husband and wife who are both civil servants in terms of the entitlement to family compensation and assistance benefits. The conditions governing civil servants’ access to such benefits are not the same for the husband and his wife.

Currently, a male civil servant benefits from family allowance (and takes priority over his wife in the access to such benefits despite her being also a civil servant and possibly being in a higher rank to his). The conditions governing the husband’s entitlement are clear. In contrast, the conditions governing the wife’s entitlement to this same family allowance are more stringent. Hence, women civil servants and men civil servants are not placed on an equal footing when it comes to family allowance entitlement and do not benefit from the equal opportunity policy. Clearly, men enjoy a preferential right to receive such compensation. This imbalance needs to be corrected in that entitlement to this family allowance shall be decided based on the rank of the civil servant, whether they be the husband or his wife.”
so at this end, thanking the Councils of Minsiters for this Beautiful step forward, and while still hoping to achieve equality and complete citizenship for Lebanese women and Men!
Rita Chemaly

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Excellent film d’une conference par Ahmed Benchemsi donnee au Canada….

il parle de la laicite “secularism : from within” dans le monde arabe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DeYzNvTVd38

a voir!!!

Rita Chemaly

 

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Dear Readers,

 

Kindly find below the latest issue of the Middle East & North Africa Gender and Development e-Brief (No 125)  

 

Best regards, 
CRTD.A / IRIS

 

 

The Middle East &North Africa 
“Gender and Development E-Brief”
Issue #125
October 2012

 

NEWS & ARTICLES

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GENDER ACTIVISM

Iranian Women’s Rights Activists Stop the Registration of Anti-Women Tradition As ‘National Heritage’

Women on Waves Boat Makes First Trip to a Muslim Country, Morocco

 

GENDER BASED VIOLENCE

Syrian Refugee Women – High Risk of Violence in Lebanon

… and Refugees suffer from critical lack of women’s health care
Algeria TV boss convicted for sexual harassment

Child Marriage on Rise Due to Hunger in Niger

Woman Allegedly Raped By Police, Accused of “Indecency” in Tunisia...

… Public Support & President Apology for Alleged Police-Raped Victim

Maronite clergy unleashes unprecedented public attack on what they refer to as “the gender concept”

Ikea deleted women from Saudi version of catalogue

Women lose out on affordable housing in Gulf countries

Egypt teacher cuts girls’ hair for not wearing veil

 

GENDER & HUMAN RIGHTS

Oman Has Lowest Divorce

Women’s Day Video in Tunisia

In Yemen Women Say Lives Worse Since Revolution

Women & Children Refugees Flee Attacks in Sudan

Egypt’s Brotherhood top officials face investigation over attacks on women protesters
RESOURCES & CALLS

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ANNOUNCEMENTS & CALLS

UN Joint Statement: “Adultery as a criminal offence violates women’s human rights”

 

 BOOKS & REPORTS

UN: Marrying Too Young, End Child Marriage Report

Arab Region: No Revolutions without Equality and Justice: The struggle for women’s rights in rethinking development in the Arab region

A frank discussion from woman to man

 

Please note that the MENA Gender and Development e-Brief is posted on line on the following URLM:http://crtda.org.lb/sites/default/files/newsletters/MENA%20GAD_125.pdf

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The MENA Gender and Development e-Brief receives material from various sources for its publication. Should you wish to refer to these sources/ sites directly, the list includes publications from: AVIVA, www.aviva.org, AWID: www.awid.org, Democracy Digest: www.freedomhouse.org, Development Gateway: www.developmentgatway.org, Dignity: www.dignity.org, e-Civicus: www.civicus.org, Eldis:www.eldis.org, ESCWA: www.escwa.org.lb, GDB: www.developmentex.com, Global Knowledge Partnership: www.globalknowledge.org, IGTN: www.IGTN.org, ILO: www.ilo.org One World: www.oneworld.net,Siyanda: www.siyanda.org, The Daily Star: www.dailystar.com.lb, The Drum Beat: www.comminit.com, The Soul Beat: www.comminit.com, The World Bank: www.worldbank.org, UNDP: www.undp.org, Wicejilist:www.wicej.addr.com, WLP: www.learningpartnership.org; WIDE: www.wide-network.org; IRIN News: www.irinnews.org, Women’s UN Report Network: www.wunrn.com, Women Living Under Muslim Laws:www.wluml.org
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The MENA Gender And Development E-Brief is published by CRTD.A.

To get all previous GAD e-brief issues please log on to: http://crtda.org.lb/newsletter/82

For more information about CRTD.A please visit: http://crtda.org.lb

You are receiving this newsletter because you are a member of CRTD.A / IRIS.

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All the available links were accessible during the preparation process

Please accept our apologies if your subscribe / unsubscribe needs are not being met to your satisfaction, as errors will inevitably occur

Opinions and views expressed in this GAD E-Brief relate to their respective authors and do not necessarily reflect those of CRTD.A

Information presented in this GAD E-Brief is considered public information and may be distributed or copied. Use of appropriate credit is requested. While CRTD.A makes every effort to provide accurate and complete information, various data such as contacts, weblinks, dates, etc. may change.

CRTD.A provides no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of the data and information harvested from other public sources.

Some of the information in this GAD E-Brief may contain references to information created and maintained by other organizations. Please note that CRTD.A does not control and cannot guarantee the timeliness, or accuracy of these outside materials

 

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Dear Readers,

Kindly find below the latest issue of the Middle East & North Africa Gender and Development e-Brief (No 120)

Please note that the MENA Gender and Development e-Brief is posted on line on the following URLM: http://crtda.org.lb/node/14292

Best regards,
CRTD.A / IRIS

 

The Middle East &North Africa 
“Gender and Development E-Brief”
Issue #120
May 2012

NEWS & ARTICLES

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GENDER ACTIVISM
Women Continue to Show Power in Protests in Egypt

Stop Lowering Minimum Age of Girls for Marriage in Egypt Campaign

‘Women’s NGO takes pro-FGM Parliamentarian to court’ also in Egypt

Muslim Woman Defends Burqa at European Court


GENDER BASED VIOLENCE
Women Harassed for Not Wearing Full Face Veil in Yemen

Kurdish Female Migrants Find Isolation in Istanbul

Media’s treatment of women damages self-esteem

GENDER & HUMAN RIGHTS
Women See Worrisome Shift in Turkey

Saudi Feminism: Between Mama Amreeka and Baba Abdullah

In Yemen, eating is a luxury millions struggle to afford


RESOURCES & CALLS

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

CRTD.A launches its improved website

G8 – Women’s Human Rights Agenda


BOOKS and REPORTS
Rural Women & Migration

ILO World of Work Report 2012 – Crisis Impacts on Women

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The MENA Gender and Development e-Brief receives material from various sources for its publication. Should you wish to refer to these sources/ sites directly, the list includes publications from: AVIVA, www.aviva.org, AWID: www.awid.org, Democracy Digest: www.freedomhouse.org, Development Gateway: www.developmentgatway.org, Dignity: www.dignity.org, e-Civicus: www.civicus.org, Eldis: www.eldis.org, ESCWA: www.escwa.org.lb, GDB: www.developmentex.com, Global Knowledge Partnership: www.globalknowledge.org, IGTN: www.IGTN.org, ILO: www.ilo.org One World: www.oneworld.net, Siyanda: www.siyanda.org, The Daily Star: www.dailystar.com.lb, The Drum Beat: www.comminit.com, The Soul Beat: www.comminit.com, The World Bank: www.worldbank.org, UNDP: www.undp.org, Wicejilist: www.wicej.addr.com, WLP: www.learningpartnership.org; WIDE: www.wide-network.org; IRIN News: www.irinnews.org, Women’s UN Report Network: www.wunrn.com, Women Living Under Muslim Laws: www.wluml.org
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The MENA Gender And Development E-Brief is published by CRTD.A.

To get all previous GAD e-brief issues please log on to: http://crtda.org.lb/newsletter/82

For more information about CRTD.A please visit: http://crtda.org.lb

You are receiving this newsletter because you are a member of CRTD.A / IRIS.

Please direct any comments to rchemaly@crtda.org.lb

If you choose to unsubscribe please send a blank e-mail from the e-mail in which you receive the e-Brief from, with the heading unsubscribe to

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If you wish to subscribe please send a blank e-mail, with subscribe as a heading to subscribee_brief@crtda.org.lb

All the available links were accessible during the preparation process

Please accept our apologies if your subscribe / unsubscribe needs are not being met to your satisfaction, as errors will inevitably occur

Opinions and views expressed in this GAD E-Brief relate to their respective authors and do not necessarily reflect those of CRTD.A

Information presented in this GAD E-Brief is considered public information and may be distributed or copied. Use of appropriate credit is requested. While CRTD.A makes every effort to provide accurate and complete information, various data such as contacts, weblinks, dates, etc. may change.

CRTD.A provides no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of the data and information harvested from other public sources.

Some of the information in this GAD E-Brief may contain references to information created and maintained by other organizations. Please note that CRTD.A does not control and cannot guarantee the timeliness, or accuracy of these outside materials

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I watched the first show of Lil Nasher, I usually like to watch the show, but 2 weeks ago, Tony Khalifeh had angered me big time.

He was “Fulminating” against a movie he didn’t even watch.

he was “protecting” a religion in a way that made me say ” kaffarratouni“;

directly after watching the show of Tony, and hearing priests asking to ban the movie, that has sexual content, and sexual “iihaa2”,

we went to watch the movie… I liked the pictures, the colors, I felt I was watching an “arte” movie… and for me it was a “nice movie”… with some great “jeu d’acteurs”!

During the entire show I was waiting to see what the “hell” made this big “polemique” against the movie, me a “religious person” couldn’t find anything to say… the priest in the Khalifeh show, said, “I stayed more than 3 minutes because of Tony”, euh….  the first 3 minutes and more of the movie are about a family going to the south in a car, hearing on the radio the war news of Lebanon…. are those 3 minutes offending ya priest??

the priest was asking “reclaiming” from the biggest authority in Lebanon to stop the movie, this priest, I am sorry he is a priest, was outraged, angry,

Dear sir, for me you are not a priest, you are a “pathetic pantin” who is frustrated sexually, you can’t even see a women dressed in “hafer ” way….

this “pathetic pantin” even dragged with tony khalifeh the other priest, Pere Fady Tabet, to say that the movie is “mousi2” for the church dogma… even though another priest abou kasm or abdo kasm or something… said, it contains harmful pictures, but it is not “mousi2 for the church dogma”…. cool hein??? they havent watched the movie and they want to CENSOR IT!?!!!! sorry to say what the F…!?!!??!

No to CENSORSHIP!!! Yes for the freedom of expression!! yes for the freedom of artistic expression!!!!

you could have asked for a special mention, such as the ones E begins its program with ” no for sensitive viewers” or “16 years old” … but asking for BANNING IT?!!!! we are LEBANON, the country of artistic creation, production!!! not the country of censorship and Banning!!!!

I am outraged by the “Church” reaction, I am sorry for the “small minds” of those who didnt even watch the movie and talk about him that way.

a fellow blogger , Elie, in ” a separate state of mind” a blog that I encourage you to read and follow,  expressed what I feel greatly!

here is a part of what I feel!! “This is pitiful. This is a disgrace. This is an insult to our intelligence and our freedom. This is an insult to Christianity, an insult to the Bible and an insult to anything Jesus Christ stood for.

Christian priests, are you happy? I am a Christian and I’m telling you – you are disgusting. You are so narrow-minded that if I tried to look through the hole that is your mind, the only thing I can see is emptiness. Is that what they teach you at whatever school you go through to become priests? To close in your mind and get offended at anything that touches on your religion in a way you find unfavorable?

How does this reflect on us, Christians, when your narrow-mindedness if the only thing people can see of us? Have you perhaps wondered that if some people decided to convert from Christianity because of a movie like Tannoura Maxi, however unlikely that may be, it’s not the movie’s fault but it’s your own? Or it’s perhaps because you don’t want the reality of having so many people with so little faith on your hands that you are panicking about anything and everything?” Source: Tannoura Maxi is Banned in Lebanon a post by the blog a separate state of mind http://stateofmind13.com/2012/05/21/tannoura-maxi-is-banned-in-lebanon/

dear Church men… do open your mind for the love that is the pilar of our religion.

As the great priest (I think Catholique) at ste Rita Church said yesterday evening during his “homelie”, God do not need us to “ternish” his image, your reaction, is ternishing his image.

Love between a man and a women is NORMAL, stop changing it and transforming it to something people should be guilty for and stop dramatizing it….

for those interested in reading the great reactions written here and there, I luved what Pierre wrote in al Akhbar about the same issue,

and again, bravo for the producer, director and all the crue of the movie, I luved it, especially my old school comrade role, you were astonishing in it, my friend from the church, you played your role magnificently too…

voila!!

Rita Chemaly

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Excellent de Humus Nation

“تخلف” ماكسي

a vous de lire tout l’article ici 

عطفاً على ما تناقلته وسائل الإعلام حول موضوع فيلم “تنورة ماكسي” الذي يعرض في دور السينما وتدور احداثه حول قصة حب بين كاهن وفتاة أبان الحرب الأهلية سنة ١٩٨٢، والهلوسة والإستنكار والشجب وهزة البدن الذي رافقاه بحجة أنه يشوه الديانة المسيحية، يهم وكالة الأنباء الرسمية توضيح التالي:

أولاً، ليس كل فيلم تتداخل في قصته ديانة أياً كانت، بحاجة لصك براءة من الطوائف ال-١٢٥٤٦ المعترف بها رسمياً في البلد حتى يعرض في دور السينما. وعلى فكرة، تلفن القرن الثامن عشر وقال إنو “محاكم التفتيش” خلصت من زمان وترك خبر للذين ما زالوا مؤمنين بها ضرورة “قرص” الذات ليتأكدوا أنهم في القرن ال-٢١.

ثانياً، يا ليت ينتفض ممثلو الطوائف على الفقر والأمية والجهل والبطالة والهجرة المستمرة للشباب والنهب المتواصل لمقومات البلد والرشوة والفساد قبل أن ينتفض عنفوانهم على فيلم. عفواً، إنو ما في شي تاني تعملوا خالو؟! عملوا شي إلو طعمة وشو بدكن بالأفلام! استرو شي عيلة فقيرة مثلاً، بتحسوا حالكن “مليون دولار”! عن جد جربوها ما بتندمو.

Suite sur “تخلف” ماكسي

Tannoura Maxi to be banned in Lebanon?

from the http://news.beiruter.com/node/99739

It was the summer of 82, when a priest, about to be ordered, was exhausted by temptations and an arrogant girl felt passionately in love… A sifted memory and a personal history of a narrator who tells with nostalgia and poetry the meeting of his parents until their marriage. [IMDb]
The Church apparently didn’t like Joe Bou Eid’s movie and saw it offending to priests and Christianity. It’s simple though: If you don’t like it, don’t go watch it because banning it will not get more people to Church.

Excellent de Hachem :

رأي خاص- مجوهرات زغيب تهين وتحتقر ملهمة مصمميها … والمرأة ضحّية من جديد

سنسمح لأنفسنا اليوم بأن نعرض عليكم اعلاناً لمجوهرات زغيب مجاناً مع العلم اننا عادة “ما منعملها” لأي كان مجاناُ الا حين يكون الاعلان لأهداف اجتماعية وانسانية واحياناً ثقافية ، ان كان يستحق الحدث الثقافي دعمنا ،
ولكن لفتني هذا الاعلان كثيراً لأنه يروّج لتصميم جديد لعقد من الماس في حين تظهر المرأة بطلة الاعلان من “الزنّار ونازل” …مع علمنا بأن عقود الماس توضع عادة حول الاعناق وليس حول “السيقان”، الاّ ان كانت الموضة قد تغيّرت وتبدّلت سنة2012،

a vous de lire la suite sur Bisara7a

la zakaran wala ounssa

Pity to read such articles in a medium  intended for youth,

instead of being used as an awareness tool for diversity, respect of human beings, the words used are shameful “pity” “shafaka”, “tachwih”,  “raza2el” bad things, and last but not least comparing homosexuality to drugs! hein!? I still believe in a church (=mass of people) who can truly and without exceptions believe in the image of God… we are all at his image, if “you” like it or not…

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=102728723198926&set=a.102674229871042.3795.100003853956909&type=3&theater

instead of importing diversity, respect, the article use the word “shame”, “pity” and morals to make from homosexuality a sort of “decease” .

Christianity and other religions

this articles is one that in my opinion is nice! in the same issue of Kif Chabab el youm, Previously (booed, and shamed).

rita

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Finally, the draft law aiming to amend the Labor Law articles 28-29,  prepared by the NCLW, and submitted to the Lebanese Parliament by Member of Parliament and director of committees  Gilbert Zwein and Michel Moussa on 26/7/2011, was accepted by the lebanese government as a first step; Usually the Parliamentarian committees should discuss them, and vote the amendments, but as Nabih Berri Said and to foster cooperation between the Lebanese powers, he consulted the Government on that Issue;

the response of the governement was positive, maternity leave of women, needs to be extended to a period of ten weeks;

while waiting for the vote of the general assembly,

we can just applaud this positive step toward equality and women’s rights….

and dream, and act for a Paternity leave too!

Rita Chemaly

for more information please follow the article in al Akhbar

في جلسته الأخيرة، وافق مجلس الوزراء على اقتراحي قانون مقدّمين من النائبين جيلبرت زوين وميشال موسى، يقضيان برفع إجازة الأمومة من أربعين يوماً إلى عشرة أسابيع. قد يكون ما يحصل إنجازاً، لكنه سيبقى منقوصاً ما لم يدرس في اللجان النيابية، ويحُز موافقة المجلس النيابي من بعدها… ثم ينشر في الجريدة الرسمية

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CRTDA has published the February gender and development e-brief!

” Kindly find below the latest issue of the Middle East & North Africa Gender and Development e-Brief (No 117)

Please note that the MENA Gender and Development e-Brief is posted on line on the following”: Gender and Development MENA e-brief february 2012

 

Best regards,
CRTD.A / IRIS

Gender and Development e -Brief / Issue 117

February 2012

 

 

In this issue:

NEWS & ARTICLES

GENDER ACTIVISM

Revolution, Women and Social Media in the Middle East

Lebanese demonstrate for legal protection against domestic violence

‘Something Phenomenal in Women’s Sexual Freedom’ in Lebanon/MENA

‘No Arab Spring without Women’ in Lebanon

Appel à la pratique de l’excision par un imam : les autorités doivent réagir

 

GENDER & HUMAN RIGHTS

Syria frees iconic blogger Ghazzawi: lawyer

 

Why the Question of Palestine is a Feminist Concern

UN Women Completes One Year their Action Plan is to Advance Equality

An Open Letter to Kenneth Roth, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch

Bill Against Prostitution BUYERS Moves Forward

 

GENDER BASED VIOLENCE

Saudi Arabia should ‘End Ban on Women in Sport’

Creating a counter culture to violence: Women Living under Muslim Laws

Kuwait couple gets death for Filipina murder: report

Despite great strides in education and employment, a large gender gap remains in positions of status

Passage of Islamic Penal Code Violates Women Rights in Iran

 

CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS

UAE grants citizenship to 1,117 ‘foreign’ children

 

RESOURCES & CALLS

ANNOUNCEMENTS and EVENTS

CSW 56 Side Events Schedule on UN Premises

 

BOOKS and REPORTS

Gender Statistics & Gender Disaggregation

Yes, the world would be more peaceful with women in charge

The Lessons of January 11, 1992: Remembering the Cancellation of Algeria’s Elections in the Wake of the “Arab Autumn”

 

 

Gender and Development e-Brief receives material from various sources for its publication. Should you wish to refer to these sources/ sites directly, the list includes publications from: AVIVA, www.aviva.org, AWID: www.awid.org, Democracy Digest: www.freedomhouse.org, Development Gateway: www.developmentgatway.org, Dignity: www.dignity.org, e-Civicus: www.civicus.org, Eldis: www.eldis.org, ESCWA: www.escwa.org.lb, GDB: www.developmentex.com, Global Knowledge Partnership: www.globalknowledge.org, IGTN: www.IGTN.org, ILO: www.ilo.org One World: www.oneworld.net, Siyanda: www.siyanda.org, The Daily Star: www.dailystar.com.lb, The Drum Beat: www.comminit.com, The Soul Beat: www.comminit.com, The World Bank: www.worldbank.org, UNDP: www.undp.org, Wicejilist: www.wicej.addr.com, WLP: www.learningpartnership.org; WIDE: www.wide-network.org; IRIN News: www.irinnews.org, Women’s UN Report Network: www.wunrn.com, Women Living Under Muslim Laws: www.wluml.org

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