BEIRUT: Thousands of Lebanese, Syrian, Palestinian, and Ethiopian women protested in Beirut on Sunday against their mistreatment in the country.
The participants gathered under the slogan “we have many causes but our anger is one” to coincide with the recent International Women’s Day.
Organizers said 4,000 women took part in the protest — double the number of last year.
They called for the imminent reform of existing laws and regulations that they say discriminate against them.
One of the organizers Hayat Morshed told Arab News: “The call for participation was done through Facebook to observe the International Women’s Day.”
The women also renewed calls for a “women’s quota” in parliament.
The Lebanese Parliament had refrained from allocating a set number of seats for women in the new electoral law, while “encouraging” the parties to nominate women among their candidates.
The protests started from the Justice Palace in Beirut and went through neighboring streets escorted by the police.
The women represented a diverse set of groups with varying demands, including custody rights for children in divorces and demands to end domestic violence. Many brought their children with them.
Some of the protesters were veiled and others called for their husbands to be freed from prisons.
They held many slogans such as “it’s a shame to hit your beloved”, “Nobody wins with violence”, “Life for her and life sentence for him”, and “the patriarchal dominance era is over.”
Housemaids, mainly Ethiopian, held slogans saying “your sponsorship system kills workers every day”.
Syrian refugees came from their camps in Bekaa and made reference to women trapped beneath regime bombing in Eastern Ghouta.
The activist from the “Future movement”, Nawal Modallaly, told Arab News: “the protest wasn’t a women-only event, but there were young men and less young men who support women’s causes, which is a good progress in favor of women.”
‘Angry’ women take to the streets in Beirut to protest mistreatment
‘Angry’ women take to the streets in Beirut to protest mistreatment
Syria welcomes Canada’s decision to amend sanctions
- Husarieh said the decision could pave the way for Canadian participation in Syria’s reconstruction and infrastructure development
DAMSCUS: Syria’s Central Bank governor, Abdulkader Husarieh, commended the Canadian government’s decision to amend the sanctions imposed on Damascus under the Special Economic Measures Regulations, including the lifting of the comprehensive economic embargo in place since May 2011.
In a post published on his personal Facebook page, Husarieh described the move as an important milestone that reinforces the implementation of understandings reached during his recent visit to Canada.
He added that the amendment provides an opportunity to boost economic relations and activate cooperation between Canadian and Syrian banks and financial institutions.
Husarieh said the decision could pave the way for Canadian participation in Syria’s reconstruction and infrastructure development.
Meanwhile, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and the Turkish Red Crescent signed cooperation agreements on Friday to strengthen humanitarian efforts in Syria amid ongoing crises and economic hardship.
Syrian Arab Red Crescent President Hazem Bakleh met in Damascus with Alper Kucuk, the Turkish Red Crescent’s director general for international affairs and migration services, to discuss rising humanitarian needs and ways to enhance coordination in support of vulnerable communities.
According to a statement released by the Syrian organization, the agreement provides for expanding relief and service activities.
It includes support for the construction of a new Red Crescent branch headquarters in Idlib province and the launch of a project to distribute hot meals and bread in Damascus and Aleppo during the holy month of Ramadan.
The Syrian Arab Red Crescent has sought to broaden partnerships with regional and international organizations in recent years to strengthen its operational capacity across multiple provinces, as the country continues to face economic strain and humanitarian challenges affecting large segments of the population.
