Lebanon: The 2011 HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL

Under the patronage of the Minister of Interior and Municipalities, Ziyad Baroud and funded by the European Union

COSV, KAFA, CLDH and PPM are pleased to invite you to the:

2011 HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL
Cinema Metropolis Empire Sofil, Beirut
January 27th to 30th, 2011, at 6pm
Free Entrance

ويتم تنظيم مهرجان أفلام حقوق الإنسان برعاية وزير الداخلية والبلديات زياد بارود

تتشرف لجنة تنسيق منظمات الخدمة الطوعية COSV، منظمة كفى عنف واستغلال،

المركز اللبناني لحقوق الانسان، وحركة السلام الدائم بدعوتكم لحضور

مهرجان أفلام حقوق الانسان 2011

في سينما متروبوليس صوفيل، بيروت

من 27 حتى 30 كانون الثاني 2011، يبدأ المهرجان في الساعة 6 مساء

والدخول مجاني

Each day will focus on a specific human rights issue:
·Women’s rights - 27/01/2011

·Refugees’ rights - 28/01/2011

·Migrants’ rights and discrimination - 29/01/2011

·Detainees’ rights and enforced disappearance - 30/01/2011

في كل يوم سوف يتم تناول قضية محددة من قضايا حقوق الانسان :

- حقوق المرأة 27/01/2011

- حقوق اللاجئين 28/01/2011

- حقوق المهاجرين و التعصب 29/01/2011

- حقوق المعتقلين والاختفاء القسري 30/01/2011

For more information on the Festival, please check http://humanrightsfilmfestival.com/ or call (+961) 01-240023

- program at http://humanrights-lb.org/filmfestival/program.htm
- fllm synopsis at http://humanrights-lb.org/filmfestival/film.htm
- our guests at http://humanrights-lb.org/filmfestival/guests.htm

Festival Line-up:

Thursday 27th January – WOMEN’S RIGHTS

18.00: OPENING- Lawyer Ziad Baroud - Minister of Interior and Municipalities / Head of Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon / Mr Fateh Azzam - OHCHR Regional Representative for the Middle East / Representative of COSV

18.40: My Nationality is a Right for me and My Family by CRTD.A (14 min – 2007)

19.00: About Latifa and Others… by Farah Sami Fayed, Kafa (Enough) Violence & Exploitation (54:20 min -2010)

19.55: Survivor by Kafa (Enough) Violence & Exploitation (06:25 min - 2008)

20.05: For you by Multimedia Virtual Space for Human Rights (6min - 2010)

20.10: Poetry "I got flowers today” by Carmen Lebbos

20.20: Speaker presentation on Women's rights in Lebanon and open discussion with Ms Zoya Rouhana – Director of Kafa (Enough) Violence & Exploitation / Ms Mona Oufeich - Minister of State

21.00: Buffet

21.45: The Adventures of Salwa by Nasawiya (01:30 min- 2010)

21.50: CEDAW by Multimedia Virtual Space for Human Rights (8min - 2010)

22.00: A House Among Many Houses by Sana Atrissi (15min - 2010)

22.20: Empty talk by Amanda Abou Abdallah (11min - 2009)
PHOTO EXIBITION “Behind the Doors" by Dalia Khamissy, Kafa (Enough) Violence & Exploitation

Friday 28th January – REFUGEES’ RIGHTS

18.30: I Come from a Beautiful Place by Carol Mansour (34min - 2010)

19.10: Testimonies from representatives of the Iraqi and Sudanese communities

19.35: Improvisational music performance by Ashraf el-Chouli and Tarek Bashasha

20.00: Speaker presentation on Refugees' rights in Lebanon and open discussion with Mr Wadih Asmar – Secretary General of C.L.D.H. / Lawyer Nizar Saghieh / Ms Ninette Kelly - Representative UNHCR

20.40: Break

21.00: Gaza Hospital by Marco Pasquini (84min- 2009)

22.25: Till when by Multimedia Virtual Space for Human Rights (08:50 min- 2010)

22.35: Life from the BBC (Bourj al Barajneh Camp) by Jackson Allers (16:21min - 2010)

22.50: 60 Units of Time - 3ounef - Welcome to Shatila - Leaflets by Studio Camps (12min - 2006)

23.05: Dream of Return by Multimedia Virtual Space for Human Rights (10min - 2010)

23.15: The Kingdom of Women by Dahna Abou Rahme (54min - 2010), PHOTO EXIBITION "MA BAAD AL LAHZA" photographs from the workshops in Beirut, Baalbak, Tripoli, Saida, Tyre by Zakira

Saturday 29th January – MIGRANTS’ RIGHTS and DISCRIMINATION

18.00: Sayda by Michael Abi Khalil (18min- 2010)

18.20: Les Femmes Bonnes by Corine Shawi (62min - 2006)

19.25: Jadayel by Multimedia Virtual Space for Human Rights (5min - 2010)

19.30: Being a Domestic Worker: Sri Lankiete Libnanieh by Wissam Saliby (4min - 2010)

19.35: Merci Madame Najem by Toni Oyry & Maha Taki (4:50 min - 2010)

19.45: Forum Theatre about Migrant Workers by "Live Lactic Culture – Laban"

20.15: Speaker presentation on Migrant domestic workers in Lebanon and open discussion with Dr Ray Jureidini – Professor at the LAU and human rights activist / Mr Nadim Houry – Director of Human Rights Watch / Dr Boutros Harb - Minister of Labour

21.00: Break

21.20: Zourouni koulli sana marra (Visit me once a year) by Eli Alexandre Habib ( 21min - 2010)

21.40: How Bitter My Sweet by Mohamed Soueid (90min - 2009)

23.10: Fabraka by Eli Alexandre Habib (18min - 2008), PHOTO EXIBITION "Unseen lives: Migrant Domestic Workers in Lebanon" by Matthew Cassel, Kafa (Enough) Violence & Exploitation

Sunday 30th January –DETAINEES’ RIGHTS and ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCE

18.00: Waiting for justice by Multimedia Virtual Space for Human Rights (5:13min - 2010)

18.05: Prisoner=Human by Multimedia Virtual Space for Human Rights (3:11min - 2010)

18.10: 12 Angry Lebanese - the Documentary by Zeina Daccache, presented by Catharsis-LCDT (78min - 2010)

19.30: Music performance from the soundtrack of "12 Angry Lebanese" by Hussein Nouri, presented by Catharsis-LCDT

19.45: Launching the DVD of the documentary “12 Angry Lebanese” in presence of some of the ex-inmates actors, presented by Catharsis-LCDT

20.20: Testimony of Youssef Chaabane

20.35: Speaker presentation on Detainees’ rights in Lebanon and open discussion with Mr Wadih al-Asmar – Secretary General of C.L.D.H. / Dr Omar Nashabi - Specialist in criminal justice and researcher on prison conditions

21.15: Khiam by Joana Hadjitomas and Khalil Joreige (52min - 2000)

22.10: Women Beyond Borders by Jean Chamoun and Mai Masri (60min -2004)

23.10: Ya Waladi: My Son by Lina Ghaibeh (5min - 2006)

23.15: Here and Perhaps Elsewhere by Lamia Joreige (54min - 2003), PHOTO EXIBITION from Catharsis theatre work in Roumieh Prison (Lebanon) by Dalia Khamissy, PHOTO EXIBITION from Compagnia della Fortezza theatre work in Volterra Prison (Italy) by Stefano Vaja

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Article in Daily Star-Lebanon: Ministry launches complaints office for migrant workers

June 2, 2010

BEIRUT: Labor Minister Butros Harb announced Tuesday the opening of a complaints office in his ministry along with issuing a guide to inform migrant workers about their rights and obligations.

“I am pleased to tell you that I launched my reform program that will target the administration along with initiating different projects,” the labor minister told reporters.

Harb made his announcement during a news conference he held at the headquarters of the Labor Ministry in the Beirut suburb of Shiyyah.

Among the attendants were representatives of states that have migrant workers in Lebanon along with civil society committees.

Harb disclosed that he launched two initiatives.

“The first one is related to reforming the administration and eradicating corruption along with a quicker processing of citizen’s formalities,” said Harb, as he vowed to support “principled” employees who rejected bribery.

Harb said the second initiative aimed at restoring the reputation of Lebanon at the international level as a state that respected the rights of migrant workers after some media outlets claimed the contrary.

But Harb explained that it was impossible for his ministry to accomplish its social goals and to “enhance the social protection network” of migrant workers if the state did not protect the rights of those workers regardless of their nationality or race.

“I decided today to address the situation in the administration which citizens complained about by opening a complaint office in the ministry that can be contacted via a hotline,” he said.

The minister said that applications to be filled by citizens with complaints would be distributed at all branches and sections of the Labor Ministry.

“They will be asked to file the applications if they encountered a misbehavior, a delay in their formalities or if they were asked to pay a bribe,” said Harb, adding that the form would be mailed to the complaints office.

Harb voiced readiness to receive “oral complaints” through the hotline as well.

He stressed that he would devote extra time every day to examine the forwarded complaints and refer them to the concerned judiciary.

Concerning the guide for migrant workers, Harb said it would be translated into 14 languages and distributed at all airports, seaports and border posts.

“The guide aims to introduce the migrant worker to their rights and obligations along with respecting agreements and international treaties signed by Lebanon,” said Harb.

While many domestic workers in Lebanon are treated with respect, others find themselves trapped in abusive circumstances. Many complain of having their passports confiscated, salaries withheld, or of psychological, sexual or verbal abuse.

“Our people are kind and they respect human rights, but the situation of domestic workers still lacks complementary measures” Harb added.

Also, Harb underlined his ministry’s keenness on protecting the Lebanese from any potential assault by their domestic workers.

“This will take place by checking migrant workers’ mental state, moral credentials and health,” said Harb.

In late April of 2010, an Egyptian national stabbed to death four members from the same family in the Iqleem al-Kharoub village of Ketermaya in Mount Lebanon. The man was later lynched by an angry crowd from the village. –The Daily Star

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Article in Now Lebanon: From domestic abuse to rape: The story of Nahla

By: Hayeon Lee

Photo by: European Parliament

At the age of 42, Nahla (whose name has been changed to conceal her identity) has been through a lot. The lawyer, who comes from a conservative Christian family, grew up being abused, along with her five sisters and three brothers, by a violent father.

When she was younger, Nahla says, she did not know that what she was experiencing was violence, and that the strict obedience enforced by her father shaped how she dealt with the later brutality – three attempted rapes – against her.

While the cabinet’s decision on Tuesday criminalizing domestic violence might help women like Nahla to be aware of their right to a peaceful life, there is a deep-rooted way of thinking that must also be overcome if violence against women is to disappear in this country.

Nahla says her father used to always tell her, “A woman’s honor is between her legs. If the girl loses her honor, it means I can kill her, cut her in pieces and bury her.” He did not stop with verbal threats either; whenever Nahla spoke with a male neighbor or wore a skirt above her knees, for example, he would beat her. Even after her father died, her brothers took on his role – with the approval of Nahla’s mother – and would habitually beat their sisters.

Nevertheless, Nahla tried to remain strong and hopeful. “My peace was only in praying,” she told NOW Lebanon and said she even considered for a while becoming a nun.

But the trauma did not end with her childhood, as on three separate occasions, Nahla was a victim of attempted rape.

The first time it happened was on Nahla’s second date with a neighbor in 1998. He invited her up to watch a World Cup game. Knowing that he lived with his family, she accepted, but when she realized that he was the only one home and was trying to lure her into his bedroom, she refused. “In one second, he took me in his arms and bit me [on my breast] in a violent way. All his teeth were in my flesh and I was bleeding. He did this to make me submit to him,” she said. She escaped when his sister rang the interphone before he could penetrate her. “And at the time, I was very weak to do [anything] against [the neighbor] because I have three brothers who are very traditional. They wouldn’t understand,” Nahla said. For over a decade, she only told a few people she trusted what had happened, but even to this day, she sees the neighbor on the streets. “He’s a criminal. Soon, I will sue him. Now I am strong and I can do this, but not at the time,” she said.

The second instance was seven years ago, when Nahla and a screenwriter met at Starbuck’s in Achrafieh with a group of friends. The two hit it off and talked until midnight, when the man asked Nahla for a ride home. Nahla drove him to his house, but when she refused to go upstairs for a cup of tea once they arrived, he started banging her head on the steering wheel and told her to get out of the car. He forced her to perform oral sex on him before he let her go. She only secretly told a few people this time, again, because she was afraid of her brothers.

The third time happened last year on Christmas day, when Nahla was jogging in a small park next to her house. A Syrian man in his 20s held a knife to her back and took her toward a small valley near the park. Fortunately, she was having her period, and the man did not penetrate her, as menstruation is considered “impure”. This time, she did report the incident to her family right away. “I told my family, ‘I want you to help me. This can happen to you or your child.’ My brothers went to the police station with me and were very nervous because now, they are thinking about their children. They don’t project on me,” she said.

While Nahla has slowly begun to come to terms with her past, there is still society to deal with. Many men, she says, are raised to see women as lesser human beings to simply control and dominate, so that there is a lack of respect. “Even girls sometimes judge me because I’ve been raped. They said, ‘It’s your clothes,’ because these girls are taught that girls must not be open-minded; they learn to be ‘good girls.’ And the other girls who are not following the rules are ‘bad girls’,” she said. “Some of my ex-girlfriends, they judge me because they think I am behind the rapes.”

Nahla says that growing up with violence made her blame herself for what happened. “All the time I have been blaming myself. I suffered for 10 years. I am always choosing the wrong men. Too many men tried to rape me. I felt I was doing the wrong things for 10 years,” Nahla says. But through psychotherapy, she hopes to stop the vicious cycle of self-blame. “[My psychotherapist] said that I’m reacting to my father’s education. I am not choosing. I’m reacting to my childhood.” And by finding a “deep, deep cure” for her psychological wounds, Nahla is sure that she will find her way.

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