Lebanon urged to combat Human trafficking

BEIRUT, 22 Sep 2005 (IRIN) - Lebanon needs to review its domestic laws and policies to conform to international norms in order to combat widespread trafficking in human beings, especially women and children, a United Nations expert said."Lebanon’s victims of trafficking are often invisible because they suffer in places that remain hidden to the public eye such as private homes or hotel rooms," Sigmu Huda, the UN Special Rapporteur on human trafficking told reporters following a fact-finding mission that lasted from 8-15 September. "Much remains to be done for the government to implement Lebanon’s international obligations related to human trafficking. A number of domestic laws procedures and policies have to be brought in conformity with international norms and standards," Huda, who is a human rights activist and lawyer from Bangladesh, said on Friday.

She noted, however, that the Ministry of Labour had indicated they intended to present legislation on domestic migrant workers one month from September. Another project started in July by the Ministries of Justice and Interior with technical cooperation from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the UN Children's Fund, is in the process of assessing the trafficking situation.While no official statistics on the crime exist, experts say thousands of people have been smuggled into Lebanon. Women and children, who often end up as domestic labourers and prostitutes, are particularly prone to abuse."One survey brought to my attention found that at least one out of every three Lebanese employers beats his or her domestic worker," Huda told reporters in the capital, Beirut, on Friday. "Some victims personally related incidents of traumatic sexual abuse to me."Some of the abused workers had arrived in Lebanon from Asia or Africa to find they were bound by a contract with a local employment agency written in Arabic, a language they did not understand, and completely different than the one they signed in their home country. "It is this second contract that is considered valid and binding by the Lebanese authorities," said Huda, who met government officials, diplomats, NGO leaders and visited correction facilities and safe houses for abused workers.

The rights of domestic workers, she added, were practically nonexistent in the Lebanon since they remain excluded from labour protection laws such as the 1946 Labour Code. They also do not have access to labour courts.Apart from physical, sexual and psychological abuse, most of the labourers had to endure 16 hour work days, seven days a week. Sometimes, their wages were withheld.According to UN estimates, between 150,000 and 200,000 domestic workers in Lebanon, mostly from Asia and Africa, have suffered because their employers refused to renew their work permits.Also falling victim to trafficking are Eastern European women who signed contracts to work as dancers in adult clubs or "artistes", only to find themselves coerced into work as prostitutes."Their vulnerability is exacerbated by the fact that the Lebanese Penal Code criminalises prostitution. A woman engaging in acts of prostitution may be subject to prosecution, detention and deportation," Huda said."At the same time, the people who operate the nightclubs, to which the women are brought to find their clients, are operating legally according to administrative rules set by [the authorities]," she added.

Another death in Mosul brings number of journalists killed since 2003 to 72

The death of a journalist with Iraqi radio station Radio Nineveh at the hands of gunmen in Mosul (390 km north of Baghdad) late on 21 September brings the number of journalists and media assistants killed since the start of the war in Iraq to 72, Reporters Without Borders said today.The press freedom organisation also stressed that the correspondent of the TV station Al-Arabiya in Ramadi, Hameed Majeed, has been held for eight days without any explanation being given by the authorities.At the same time, Reuters cameraman Ali Omar Abrahem Al-Mashadani has been held by the US army in Abu Ghraib prison since 8 August. A secret tribunal consisting of Iraqi government officials and US army officers ordered him to be detained for 180 days, without being allowed visits from his lawyers, family or employers for the first 60 days. It is not known what he is accused of doing.At least eight journalists are still being held by the US army in Iraq.

INSUFFICIENT LAWS

The Lebanese Parliament ratified in August the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking but it has yet to introduce new laws or amendments that would clamp down on the crime.According to the US State Department's 2004 report on human trafficking, Lebanese law does not specifically prohibit trafficking in persons. "The Lebanese Penal Code stipulates that, ‘any person who deprives another of freedom either by abduction or any other means shall be sentenced to temporary hard labour’; however, during the year the government did not apply this code to trafficking cases," the report noted.Some of the women who were trafficked, the report added, came to Lebanon voluntarily with legitimate work permits, and an unknown number also entered the country illegally. However, many of those with work permits ended up working illegally in the sex industry.According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, trafficking in human beings has reached epidemic proportions across the world in the past decade. It is fuelled by economic disparity, high unemployment and the disruption of traditional livelihoods; and traffickers face few risks and can earn huge profits.

HP Named Seven Time Winner at the Windows Middle East Awards Ceremony

DUBAI, UAE, 24 September 2005– Seven was the lucky number at yesterday’s ITP Windows Awards ceremony as HP took home multiple awards for their Consumer and SMB divisions. In the Imaging and Printing group division, HP stole the limelight winning the award for BEST SCANNER for their HP Scanjet series as well as the award for BEST PHOTO INKJET PRINTER for their user-friendly HP Photosmart series. For excellent ease of use and top-notch resolution, HP won the award for BEST INKJET in the Multi-functional device category for their PSC series. HP was also named Preferred Brand by Windows Readers, for their commitment to quality, innovation and consumer needs. The Best Customer Support award was also won by HP, according to readers who highlighted HP’s “comprehensive support and well-trained sales and after-sales staff” as one of the key reasons of success in this category. In the SMB sector, HP won the award for BEST BUSINESS HANDHELD. Starring in this category was the iPAQ hw6500 series, the first GPS-enabled GPRS Bluetooth PDA to be launched in the market. HP was also recognized as BEST BUSINESS RUNNER-UP for their HP LaserJet Range. For BEST MARKETING MANAGER, HP’s Sherifa Hady won the award for her contributions to the success of the Imaging and Printing Group’s marketing activities.This ceremony marked another year of fantastic awards in recognition of HP’s leading solutions.

Photo shows the HP team celebrating at the ITP Windows Middle East awards.

Dubai Municipality to Set up Call Centre

Dubai 24 September 2005- Dubai Municipality has embarked on a project to establish a Call Centre in the civic body as part of its keenness to offer the best services to its customers and also to increase its interaction with them for offering the required services. In this respect the Municipality has started gathering young national men and women and qualifying them to work in the Call Centre. A group of 50 nationals have been short-listed, whose level of perfection and skills in English language will be put to test. The test will be conducted in co-operation with a private institute.As a step in this direction, an orientation seminar was held last week at the Municipality Staff Club. Khalid AbdelRahim Abdullah, Assistant Director of Municipality Centres Department conducted the seminar, who gave a presentation on the mission and role of the Call Centre in offering services to the customers of the Municipality.Ahmed Ibrahim Al Zarouni, Acting Head of Human Resources Development Section in the Personnel Department said that at the end of a training course to follow the seminar, the best among the nominees, who show their capabilities during the training, will be selected to be appointed at the proposed Call Centre. They will be groomed to use their skills by qualifying them for undertaking any task given to them in the future.

Yousef Tuqan Tuqan as Account Director of Flip Media.

21st September 2005, Dubai (UAE): Flip Media, the region’s leading, independent interactive marketing agency are delighted to announce the appointment of Yousef Tuqan Tuqan to the team as Account Director.Yousef will be responsible for developing new business opportunities with leading brands and creative agencies and key account management. His main objectives are to ensure that the internet plays a greater role within the integrated marketing plans of clients. With extensive experience gained over eight years in online marketing in the region, Yousef brings a wealth of knowledge and industry insight to the team at Flip Media. In his previous positions with OgilvyOne Middle East and North55, Yousef worked in developing and executing online strategies for some of the biggest regional and international brands including: Majid Al Futtaim Investments, Emirates Airline, the luxury hotel group Jumeirah, American Express and Volvo. Educated at the American Community School in Jordan, Yousef studied Communications at the University of Massachusetts and is also a member of MENSA, the society for people who’s IQ scores within the top 2% of the population.A regular contributor to regional publications and conferences on internet strategy and marketing, Yousef has recently appeared on BBC World, Dubai Eye 103.8FM and INTV discussing the internet and technology in the Middle East.

ESAG TO OFFER COMPLETE LIFESTYLE SOLUTIONS AT MALL OF THE EMIRATES

Integrated retail environment from IDdesign, Better Life and Dulux

Dubai, UAE, September 21, 2005: The retail division of the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group (ESAG) will soon inaugurate a combination store for its IDdesign, Better Life and Dulux brands at Mall of the Emirates. The flagship outlet will cover 35,000 square feet. Customers can now address all their home furnishing needs with including fitting out the kitchen, painting the home, matching and designing curtains and upholstery, accessorising and furnishing living and bedrooms

DICs Business Partners to host Think Tanks during Gitex 2005

DUBAI: Saturday, 24 September, 2005 Dubai Internet City (DIC) has today announced that the DIC Community Zone at Gitex 2005 will play host to a series of “Think Tanks” on various issues facing the ICT industry. The Think Tanks, which are free and open to anyone attending Gitex, will be held every day commencing at 2pm in the DIC presentation area. They will comprise 45 minute open discussions by a panel of experts from a number of DIC Business Partners and industry leaders. Each will be followed by a 15 minute question and answer session.

Varsity Connections -Total Educational Solutions Consultancy

A comprehensive counselling center that offers Career Search Assessments, Career Mapping, Scholarship Information and University Admission Assistance

Dubai 27th September & Abu Dhabi 28th September 2005 Varsity Connections presented a series of seminars titled “An Insight into UK Education” in association with University of Stirling, University of Northampton, London International College of Business & Technology & Brunel University.

The seminars highlighted
• Problems students face when they have to make education choices.
• Importance of following a scientific method for effective career planning.
• Self Evaluation tools to help students and parents arrive at the appropriate career path.
• The immense opportunities available to students, which are untapped due to a lack of awareness.
• Education in UK , the highlights of the system and the unique profile of each participating university
• The role of Varsity Connections in the university admission process

Varsity Connections stressed on the need to follow a scientific methodology in mapping one’s career. ‘Our unique career assessment tests enables students to select the right combination of program, Institution and location’, explained Kalpana Deepak, Managing Partner, Varsity Connections.

Speaking to the students on the Scottish Education system, Mr Neil Christie, International Student Officer, University of Stirling introduced the “Fresh Talent Initiative” that allows a 2 year stayback and work option for international students upon completion of their program of study.

Mr. Tuukka Hinttula, Marketing Manager, London International College of Business & Technology advised students on the alternate pathway to a degree from the prestigious Brunel University. Ms. Isobel James explained how the 2 universities work together to the students’ advantage.

Mr. David Shuttleworth, International Student Officer, University of Northampton spoke about the various scholarship opportunities available for deserving international students.

The well attended seminars elicited keen interest from the audience. The active post seminar Q & A session was highly informative according to Shwetha Pillay a 12th grade student in Dubai.

Varsity Connections is located at:
441, 4th Floor, Al Moosa Tower1
Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai
Tel: 04 3318488
Mob: 050 5954662, 050 4665359

KATRINA, TSUNAMI, EARTHQUAKES – THE NATURAL DISASTERS – LESSONS TO THINK AND ACT

by Shaji T.Daniel Bahrain

KATRINA the so called natural disaster which gripped USA and its peoples is not only a disaster for USA but for the entire world. There are thousands of people homeless, looking for food, water, medicine, clothes, shelter etc. It is the time for the world to come together and extend their support to strengthen the hands of USA to rescue the people on humanitarian ground.We may say or know that USA is a strong country with all infrastructures and financial capabilities to face any situation, but it is not like that. How powerful one may be, no way they can sustain such natural disasters. It is sure that they can overcome the situation of their own over a period of time. However it will be at a cost of many lives.

The first priority is to save people and shift them to a safe location with basic facilities and for that they need the support of all nations.We have seen natural disasters like tsunami, earthquakes, flood, and draught. In many cases we are getting advance information and even government alert people. We, the people find it very difficult to act when they look at their hard earned belongings. By the time they decide, it is too late and comes under the grip of the disaster. Awareness among the people for a quick action can reduce the human loss in the disasters to a great extent.

We should not tie ourselves with our wealth which leads to sufferings and loss of life. One should be ready to move ahead under any circumstances. If we survive, we can make everything once again but not our life.Every now and then we see the condition and pain of the people, when they loss their loved ones. Let it be a natural disaster, organized crime, terrorism or a war. The pain of losing the loved one is same in all the cases. The world is gripped with many natural disasters which itself are irreparable and unaffordable. Every human being needs to think, do we need to create more disasters for any one or any country?

When powerful countries like USA finding it difficult to overcome the situation, how difficult it will be for other countries. For Example Iraq and Afghanistan. Here we find it difficult to extend our support to the suffering innocent local people. In all the cases, we know that the sufferings by the innocent people are for one or a group of people of any country. Do we need to punish the entire country for the fault of one or a group? It is the time for every human being to think positively, none is safe from the natural disasters. Let us not worsen adding more created disasters. Pray to GOD to give us the strength and courage to face the situation and to live sharing our sorrow and happiness among all. Let us see the world as a one country and not many countries in the world.

SHAJI DANIEL
BAHRAIN