Lebanon
Leader of Arab International Women’s Forum named Woman of the Year
Haifa Al Kaylani, founding chairperson of the Arab International Women’s Forum (AIWF) and board member of LAU’s Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World (lWSAW) was named ‘Muslim Woman of the Year’ at the British Muslim Awards.
Read more at Lebanese American University's homepage.
U.N. and Arab Women TV launch new program
The United Nations and Arab Women TV “Heya TV” launched a new television program focusing on improving women’s role in politics Tuesday. The show will focus on Lebanese women’s role in politics, where they have been notably underrepresented in the Arab world.
Read more at dailystar.com
A frank discussion from woman to man
“The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women,” Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network and former Baptist minister once said.“It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism, and become lesbians.”
Unfortunately, Robertson is not alone in his negative view of feminism. The word “feminist,” which used to be associated with the bravery of the suffrage movement, these days seems to appear more often used as a pejorative than a positive term.
The passage is from the newly launched book “De Femme à Homme,” (From Woman to Man) by Lebanese sculptor, writer and businesswoman Nadine Abou Zaki. The author has worked with women for the past 10 years, both as the editor-in-chief of Al-Hasnaa, a monthly Arabic women’s magazine established in 1909, and as the founder of the Arab Women’s Forum. The book is her third and deals with gender issues and what it means to be a woman in the 21st century.
Women leaders meet to tackle gender inequality
A workshop Thursday brought together young women leaders from Lebanon and the region to discuss the importance of gender equality in the Arab world. Arab International Women’s Forum held the conference in partnership with PwC and the Institute of Women’s Studies in the Arab World at the Lebanese American University.
Lebanese Mothers: Missing Their Babies
A draft law addressing maternity leave is set to be presented in the upcoming fall Parliamentary session, aiming to lengthen time off work for new mothers. However, mothers, doctors and activists are saying it’s still not enough.
Read more at al-akhbar.com
Lebanese cabinet ignores women citizenship rights
The campaign for equal citizenship rights for women is being neglected by politicians, according to the coordinator of the campaign. Lina Abou-Habib says a member of the ministerial committee tasked with debating the issue has openly admitted the establishment of the panel was merely a placatory move.
Read more at dailystar.com.lb
KVINFO Partnership Conference
KVINFO's Partnership Conference - Denmark - The Middle East - North Africa
Arab Women Forum: For Struggle or for Show?
A conference held earlier this week in Beirut on women and the Arab uprisings was marred by controversy over its attendance and sexist remarks by an invited speaker.
Sleiman encourages greater role for women in politics
Lebanese President Michel Sleiman encouraged women Wednesday to play a greater role in their country’s politics and expressed hope that Arab women would be able to gain their full rights as citizens.
Lebanese ‘Caramel’ filmmaker challenges gender stereotypes with new, humorous film
Lebanese filmmaker Nadine Labaki stands behind a new $5.5 million budget film that is to spur reflection and change in our perception of women in the Middle East. The instructor made her entry to the international film scene with the movie 'Caramel' from 2007. Her new film, "Where Do We Go Now?" is about a group of women determined to prevent the men in their village from becoming involved in a religious war. The viewpoint is that of a mother, and the prevailing means to confront and explore pre-fixed ideas in the audience is humour.