The association Search for Common Ground - Lebanon (SFCG-Lebanon), in partnership with ALEF (ALEF-Act for Human Rights), is launching an awareness-raising campaign to improve the rights of working women in relation to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), with the goal of amending the NSSF articles that currently discriminate against women.
The campaign takes place within the framework of the project "Everyone gains: socio-economic emancipation of women in Lebanon," financed by the US Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), and in collaboration with nine Lebanese organizations: Institute of Progressive Women, Smart Center for Media and Advocacy, Nahar el Chabab, ABAAD, Amel Association International, Caritas Lebanon Migrant Center, National Committee for the Follow-Up on Women's Issues, Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training and Union of Working Women in the North.
The campaign launch press conference took place at the Habtoor Hotel, on Thursday November 12, with the slogan "Hakkik Damanik". The event was held under the patronage of H.E. the Minister of Health, Mr. Wael Abou Faour, who was represented by Mr. Bahige Arbidi, and in the presence of representatives of the Ministry of Labor, Their Excellencies the ambassadors of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to Lebanon, and representatives of the Spanish and Italian embassies in Lebanon. Also notably present were representatives of MEPI in Beirut, legal professionals and religious figures, as well as members of local and international associations.
Mrs. Randa Yassir, director of the SMART Centre for Media and Advocacy, acted as conference facilitator for the event.
In her speech, Elisa Dari, director of SFCG-Lebanon, underlined the importance of the campaign, not only for women, but equally for its positive impact on the family and society as a whole.
In a speech from Dr. Paul Morcos, president of the Justicia association, he emphasized that it is imperative to reform the existing CNSS laws and regulations relating to women and to work towards obtaining equality between men and women and as a result better family protection generally.
He summarized the necessary reforms in 4 main points:
- Salaried women should have the right to insure their husband for social security if he does not benefit from any social cover, and they should have the right to benefit from the same family allowance as men when their partner is out of work.
- Employed women should have the right to benefit from maternity indemnity three months after their subscription to the NSSF.
- The NSSF must cover the entire salary of working women during the 10 weeks of maternity leave to which they are entitled.
- Parents should be given the choice to decide which of them is the beneficiary for their children's family allowance.
The representative of the Ministry of Health also stressed on the importance of amending these laws in order to strengthen the protection of female employees and thereby their families.
The campaign will take place over a two-month period, with actions led by nine partner associations taking place in tandem.
For a fairer society, demand the reform of the CNSS laws! "Secure your family and your rights!"
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