there can be no peace without justice it is not only true in areas of this world
is not only true in areas of this world
is not only true in areas of this world with armed conflict it is also true in
with armed conflict it is also true in
with armed conflict it is also true in our society why should we accept in
our society why should we accept in
our society why should we accept in justices ever summon justices are so
justices ever summon justices are so
justices ever summon justices are so rooted in our society we have become
rooted in our society we have become
rooted in our society we have become completely blind to them and tend to
completely blind to them and tend to
completely blind to them and tend to think that there’s nothing that we can
think that there’s nothing that we can
think that there’s nothing that we can do about them and if there were well
do about them and if there were well
do about them and if there were well that somebody else would figure it out
that somebody else would figure it out
that somebody else would figure it out for us well if everyone thinks this way
for us well if everyone thinks this way
for us well if everyone thinks this way how are we ever going to progress I
how are we ever going to progress I
how are we ever going to progress I began my quest for justice at a very
began my quest for justice at a very
began my quest for justice at a very young age when our family circumstances
young age when our family circumstances
young age when our family circumstances changed drastically because of a
changed drastically because of a
changed drastically because of a terrible thing called war it was 1975 I
terrible thing called war it was 1975 I
terrible thing called war it was 1975 I was only seven years old and too young
was only seven years old and too young
was only seven years old and too young to understand how what seemed to be only
to understand how what seemed to be only
to understand how what seemed to be only sectarian tensions turned into a
sectarian tensions turned into a
sectarian tensions turned into a full-scale civil war that lasted more
full-scale civil war that lasted more
full-scale civil war that lasted more than 15 years in Lebanon it is at that
than 15 years in Lebanon it is at that
than 15 years in Lebanon it is at that time that I first realized how a
time that I first realized how a
time that I first realized how a powerful group of individuals could have
powerful group of individuals could have
powerful group of individuals could have a say on the lives of millions of people
a say on the lives of millions of people
a say on the lives of millions of people how they were going to live where they
how they were going to live where they
how they were going to live where they were going to live were they even going
were going to live were they even going
were going to live were they even going to live I will not get into the details
to live I will not get into the details
to live I will not get into the details of one of the most complex conflicts of
of one of the most complex conflicts of
of one of the most complex conflicts of modern history it is also one of the
modern history it is also one of the
modern history it is also one of the most covered by the media worldwide but
most covered by the media worldwide but
most covered by the media worldwide but let’s just say that like in any conflict
let’s just say that like in any conflict
let’s just say that like in any conflict it is the civilian population who
it is the civilian population who
it is the civilian population who suffered the most and had the least to
suffered the most and had the least to
suffered the most and had the least to say a handful of decision-makers had
say a handful of decision-makers had
say a handful of decision-makers had full control and brought the country to
full control and brought the country to
full control and brought the country to its knees we used to hear about
its knees we used to hear about
its knees we used to hear about airstrikes dead wounded invasions
airstrikes dead wounded invasions
airstrikes dead wounded invasions withdrawals change of Allegiance
withdrawals change of Allegiance
withdrawals change of Allegiance betrayals end of a ceasefire these were
betrayals end of a ceasefire these were
betrayals end of a ceasefire these were the words that we heard the most during
the words that we heard the most during
the words that we heard the most during our childhood not amusement parks
our childhood not amusement parks
our childhood not amusement parks picnics or birthday parties the war
picnics or birthday parties the war
picnics or birthday parties the war lasted more than 15 years and ended at
lasted more than 15 years and ended at
lasted more than 15 years and ended at the end of 1990 resulting in massive
the end of 1990 resulting in massive
the end of 1990 resulting in massive loss of human life and infrastructure
loss of human life and infrastructure
loss of human life and infrastructure while devastating the country’s economy
while devastating the country’s economy
while devastating the country’s economy it is estimated that a hundred and fifty
it is estimated that a hundred and fifty
it is estimated that a hundred and fifty thousand people were killed and another
thousand people were killed and another
thousand people were killed and another 200 thousand wounded nearly a million
200 thousand wounded nearly a million
200 thousand wounded nearly a million civilians were displaced by the war and
civilians were displaced by the war and
civilians were displaced by the war and some never returned to this day
some never returned to this day
some never returned to this day Lebanon’s political system continues to
Lebanon’s political system continues to
Lebanon’s political system continues to be divided along sectarian lines during
be divided along sectarian lines during
be divided along sectarian lines during that time the little girl who already
that time the little girl who already
that time the little girl who already had a very strong understanding of the
had a very strong understanding of the
had a very strong understanding of the difference between wrong and right
difference between wrong and right
difference between wrong and right who was forming her own set of beliefs
who was forming her own set of beliefs
who was forming her own set of beliefs and values was beginning to build up
and values was beginning to build up
and values was beginning to build up anger against these adults who were
anger against these adults who were
anger against these adults who were behaving in such disappointing and
behaving in such disappointing and
behaving in such disappointing and erratic ways as I was growing up I
erratic ways as I was growing up I
erratic ways as I was growing up I started observing some injustice around
started observing some injustice around
started observing some injustice around me and some still follow me to this day
me and some still follow me to this day
me and some still follow me to this day the first thing that hit me at the time
the first thing that hit me at the time
the first thing that hit me at the time was the violence and discrimination
was the violence and discrimination
was the violence and discrimination against the hired help
against the hired help
against the hired help in Lebanon most not to say all families
in Lebanon most not to say all families
in Lebanon most not to say all families from middle to upper-class have one or
from middle to upper-class have one or
from middle to upper-class have one or more maids usually from either the
more maids usually from either the
more maids usually from either the Philippines or Sri Lanka women would
Philippines or Sri Lanka women would
Philippines or Sri Lanka women would spend years in Lebanon working every
spend years in Lebanon working every
spend years in Lebanon working every hour of every day they would send most
hour of every day they would send most
hour of every day they would send most of their wages to care for an aging
of their wages to care for an aging
of their wages to care for an aging child a family member in need back home
child a family member in need back home
child a family member in need back home unbelievable sense of sacrifice had
unbelievable sense of sacrifice had
unbelievable sense of sacrifice had about the same magnitude as the selfish
about the same magnitude as the selfish
about the same magnitude as the selfish sense of entitlement that the families
sense of entitlement that the families
sense of entitlement that the families that were working for demonstrated every
that were working for demonstrated every
that were working for demonstrated every family member even the youngest child
family member even the youngest child
family member even the youngest child behaved as if that woman was their
behaved as if that woman was their
behaved as if that woman was their property not a property that you would
property not a property that you would
property not a property that you would cherish her protect no a property that
cherish her protect no a property that
cherish her protect no a property that you would you n abuse some of these
you would you n abuse some of these
you would you n abuse some of these women were raped beaten had their
women were raped beaten had their
women were raped beaten had their passports confiscated and some ended up
passports confiscated and some ended up
passports confiscated and some ended up enrolled in modern-day slavery
enrolled in modern-day slavery
enrolled in modern-day slavery how could these bosses think that any
how could these bosses think that any
how could these bosses think that any human deserved to have their rights
human deserved to have their rights
human deserved to have their rights taken away the right to a decent life to
taken away the right to a decent life to
taken away the right to a decent life to dignity to building a future to getting
dignity to building a future to getting
dignity to building a future to getting a day off once in a while to traveling
a day off once in a while to traveling
a day off once in a while to traveling back home to see those very people they
back home to see those very people they
back home to see those very people they were making all those sacrifices for
were making all those sacrifices for
were making all those sacrifices for instead they were only left serving one
instead they were only left serving one
instead they were only left serving one family
family
family at the cost of their freedom and
at the cost of their freedom and
at the cost of their freedom and physical and mental health as I was
physical and mental health as I was
physical and mental health as I was maturing I continued observing around me
maturing I continued observing around me
maturing I continued observing around me other as misses and what I noticed was
other as misses and what I noticed was
other as misses and what I noticed was that those who were the most
that those who were the most
that those who were the most discriminated against in the society
discriminated against in the society
discriminated against in the society were women a Lebanese woman cannot give
were women a Lebanese woman cannot give
were women a Lebanese woman cannot give the Lebanese citizenship to her foreign
the Lebanese citizenship to her foreign
the Lebanese citizenship to her foreign husband or children but a Lebanese man
husband or children but a Lebanese man
husband or children but a Lebanese man can of course what we arrested and put
can of course what we arrested and put
can of course what we arrested and put in prison for a period ranging between
in prison for a period ranging between
in prison for a period ranging between two months and two years if commits
two months and two years if commits
two months and two years if commits adultery only wants her male partner in
adultery only wants her male partner in
adultery only wants her male partner in the same act is not arrested unless he
the same act is not arrested unless he
the same act is not arrested unless he performs the act in his marital home
performs the act in his marital home
performs the act in his marital home with a woman who is his permanent
with a woman who is his permanent
with a woman who is his permanent mistress and has had written
mistress and has had written
mistress and has had written correspondence with that woman and the
correspondence with that woman and the
correspondence with that woman and the correspondence is found of course now if
correspondence is found of course now if
correspondence is found of course now if all those points are miraculously met
all those points are miraculously met
all those points are miraculously met his imprisonment period will still be
his imprisonment period will still be
his imprisonment period will still be only half of the woman’s these are only
only half of the woman’s these are only
only half of the woman’s these are only some examples while I was pondering what
some examples while I was pondering what
some examples while I was pondering what seemed to be in my opinion nothing but
seemed to be in my opinion nothing but
seemed to be in my opinion nothing but sheer madness I started having a distant
sheer madness I started having a distant
sheer madness I started having a distant dream that in the Western civilization
dream that in the Western civilization
dream that in the Western civilization all motions of unfair treatment of women
all motions of unfair treatment of women
all motions of unfair treatment of women in equality or injustice would be
in equality or injustice would be
in equality or injustice would be banished I was convinced when I arrived
banished I was convinced when I arrived
banished I was convinced when I arrived in a beautiful and peaceful land called
in a beautiful and peaceful land called
in a beautiful and peaceful land called Canada that the young feminists that
Canada that the young feminists that
Canada that the young feminists that were stemming in me would finally be
were stemming in me would finally be
were stemming in me would finally be relieved and have her no more battles to
relieved and have her no more battles to
relieved and have her no more battles to fight
fight
fight I quickly realized that my view is way
I quickly realized that my view is way
I quickly realized that my view is way too idealistic and what was closer to
too idealistic and what was closer to
too idealistic and what was closer to the truth was eight out of ten victims
the truth was eight out of ten victims
the truth was eight out of ten victims of violent crimes are women worldwide
of violent crimes are women worldwide
of violent crimes are women worldwide more than one out of three women have
more than one out of three women have
more than one out of three women have experienced physical or sexual violence
experienced physical or sexual violence
experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime
in their lifetime
in their lifetime those who are supposed to love protect
those who are supposed to love protect
those who are supposed to love protect and cherish these women their intimate
and cherish these women their intimate
and cherish these women their intimate partners commit 38 percent of their
partners commit 38 percent of their
partners commit 38 percent of their murders the United Nations declared that
murders the United Nations declared that
murders the United Nations declared that violence against women and girls is a
violence against women and girls is a
violence against women and girls is a problem of pandemic proportions
problem of pandemic proportions
problem of pandemic proportions I felt once again so helpless but I
I felt once again so helpless but I
I felt once again so helpless but I decided to take the negative energy the
decided to take the negative energy the
decided to take the negative energy the negative feelings and the anger that was
negative feelings and the anger that was
negative feelings and the anger that was bottled up in me during all those years
bottled up in me during all those years
bottled up in me during all those years of war and channeled my energy in a
of war and channeled my energy in a
of war and channeled my energy in a positive fashion to help make a
positive fashion to help make a
positive fashion to help make a difference in the lives of women who had
difference in the lives of women who had
difference in the lives of women who had nothing left but a glimpse of hope for
nothing left but a glimpse of hope for
nothing left but a glimpse of hope for the past 15 years and until this day I
the past 15 years and until this day I
the past 15 years and until this day I have been heavily involved on boards and
have been heavily involved on boards and
have been heavily involved on boards and committees of three different women’s
committees of three different women’s
committees of three different women’s shelters who catered to the needs of
shelters who catered to the needs of
shelters who catered to the needs of women ranging from those battling
women ranging from those battling
women ranging from those battling addictions and homelessness to those who
addictions and homelessness to those who
addictions and homelessness to those who need our support for job hunting skills
need our support for job hunting skills
need our support for job hunting skills and housing many of these women are
and housing many of these women are
and housing many of these women are running away from domestic violence
running away from domestic violence
running away from domestic violence trying to put their life back on track
trying to put their life back on track
trying to put their life back on track rebuilding themselves both physically
rebuilding themselves both physically
rebuilding themselves both physically and emotionally our support allows these
and emotionally our support allows these
and emotionally our support allows these women to come out of their isolation
women to come out of their isolation
women to come out of their isolation regain their children’s custody and find
regain their children’s custody and find
regain their children’s custody and find stability and balance in their lives
stability and balance in their lives
stability and balance in their lives what I have discovered in the process is
what I have discovered in the process is
what I have discovered in the process is that many of these women have actually
that many of these women have actually
that many of these women have actually completed high school some even went to
completed high school some even went to
completed high school some even went to university and all the way to the
university and all the way to the
university and all the way to the master’s level regardless of
master’s level regardless of
master’s level regardless of socioeconomic status nobody is immune in
socioeconomic status nobody is immune in
socioeconomic status nobody is immune in parallel to all this my own insertion in
parallel to all this my own insertion in
parallel to all this my own insertion in the Quebec Society was going wonderfully
the Quebec Society was going wonderfully
the Quebec Society was going wonderfully well I very quickly climbed the ladder
well I very quickly climbed the ladder
well I very quickly climbed the ladder in the corporate world and discovered
in the corporate world and discovered
in the corporate world and discovered that even women who seem to be powerful
that even women who seem to be powerful
that even women who seem to be powerful and have it all we’re also discriminated
and have it all we’re also discriminated
and have it all we’re also discriminated against although they can post 52% of
against although they can post 52% of
against although they can post 52% of the population only 5% of women are CEOs
the population only 5% of women are CEOs
the population only 5% of women are CEOs and only 15.9% sit on boards
and only 15.9% sit on boards
and only 15.9% sit on boards these statistics are alarming and it is
these statistics are alarming and it is
these statistics are alarming and it is everyone’s responsibility both men and
everyone’s responsibility both men and
everyone’s responsibility both men and women to make a change not only because
women to make a change not only because
women to make a change not only because it is the ethical thing to do but
it is the ethical thing to do but
it is the ethical thing to do but because companies with a greater number
because companies with a greater number
because companies with a greater number of women at the executive level around
of women at the executive level around
of women at the executive level around the board’s tend to perform better
the board’s tend to perform better
the board’s tend to perform better financially there’s actually nothing
financially there’s actually nothing
financially there’s actually nothing more powerful than men and women who put
more powerful than men and women who put
more powerful than men and women who put their brains and visions together to
their brains and visions together to
their brains and visions together to achieve results no matter the age origin
achieve results no matter the age origin
achieve results no matter the age origin occupation or education all women are
occupation or education all women are
occupation or education all women are impacted by the gender wage gap and earn
impacted by the gender wage gap and earn
impacted by the gender wage gap and earn an average seventy two cents for every
an average seventy two cents for every
an average seventy two cents for every dollar earned by men in the u.s. the top
dollar earned by men in the u.s. the top
dollar earned by men in the u.s. the top two highest-paid male CEOs make more
two highest-paid male CEOs make more
two highest-paid male CEOs make more than the top 10 highest paid female CEOs
than the top 10 highest paid female CEOs
than the top 10 highest paid female CEOs put together a few people realize the
put together a few people realize the
put together a few people realize the magnitude of the gender wage gap and
magnitude of the gender wage gap and
magnitude of the gender wage gap and many think that at least at the start
many think that at least at the start
many think that at least at the start line everyone is equal
line everyone is equal
line everyone is equal well even that is false male dishwashers
well even that is false male dishwashers
well even that is false male dishwashers make an average 20% more than female
make an average 20% more than female
make an average 20% more than female dishwashers now can someone explain that
dishwashers now can someone explain that
dishwashers now can someone explain that to me
yet I regularly get told that it should
yet I regularly get told that it should stop talking about the gender equality
stop talking about the gender equality
stop talking about the gender equality issue that it’s a waste of time because
issue that it’s a waste of time because
issue that it’s a waste of time because we’ve already reached equality then men
we’ve already reached equality then men
we’ve already reached equality then men and women have the same chances in life
and women have the same chances in life
and women have the same chances in life and that I’m completely outdated these
and that I’m completely outdated these
and that I’m completely outdated these people tell me I should get with the
people tell me I should get with the
people tell me I should get with the program and look around me women are
program and look around me women are
program and look around me women are strong powerful and have made it when I
strong powerful and have made it when I
strong powerful and have made it when I explained the situation to them they’re
explained the situation to them they’re
explained the situation to them they’re surprised as striking as they realized
surprised as striking as they realized
surprised as striking as they realized they had only scratched the surface and
they had only scratched the surface and
they had only scratched the surface and that reality is actually a lot crueler
that reality is actually a lot crueler
that reality is actually a lot crueler towards women than they thought they
towards women than they thought they
towards women than they thought they they quickly become a strong supporter
they quickly become a strong supporter
they quickly become a strong supporter of the cause the current pool of
of the cause the current pool of
of the cause the current pool of talented women in the business force
talented women in the business force
talented women in the business force with business skills experience and
with business skills experience and
with business skills experience and education far exceeds their
education far exceeds their
education far exceeds their representation at the highest levels in
representation at the highest levels in
representation at the highest levels in an attempt to bridge that gap I have
an attempt to bridge that gap I have
an attempt to bridge that gap I have founded in 2010 a not-for-profit to
founded in 2010 a not-for-profit to
founded in 2010 a not-for-profit to encourage women to develop their
encourage women to develop their
encourage women to develop their leadership advance their career and
leadership advance their career and
leadership advance their career and access board seats our team is composed
access board seats our team is composed
access board seats our team is composed of both men and women who strive to
of both men and women who strive to
of both men and women who strive to encourage women to be more empowered
encourage women to be more empowered
encourage women to be more empowered visible and self-confident we sensitize
visible and self-confident we sensitize
visible and self-confident we sensitize corporations to the importance of parity
corporations to the importance of parity
corporations to the importance of parity and the positive impact of parody on
and the positive impact of parody on
and the positive impact of parody on their financial performance under
their financial performance under
their financial performance under branding and on their culture we also
branding and on their culture we also
branding and on their culture we also support them on policies that they need
support them on policies that they need
support them on policies that they need to put in place in order to reach that
to put in place in order to reach that
to put in place in order to reach that parity we encourage male leaders to
parity we encourage male leaders to
parity we encourage male leaders to sponsor these women and accelerate their
sponsor these women and accelerate their
sponsor these women and accelerate their career advancement we collectively
career advancement we collectively
career advancement we collectively reached a level of blatant injustice
reached a level of blatant injustice
reached a level of blatant injustice towards women it’s about time that we
towards women it’s about time that we
towards women it’s about time that we collectively put an end to this absurd
collectively put an end to this absurd
collectively put an end to this absurd situation so that we can be proud of the
situation so that we can be proud of the
situation so that we can be proud of the legacy to our future generations I know
legacy to our future generations I know
legacy to our future generations I know I want to make the little girl who was
I want to make the little girl who was
I want to make the little girl who was angry and disappointed in a bomb shelter
angry and disappointed in a bomb shelter
angry and disappointed in a bomb shelter in Beirut proud of the women that I have
in Beirut proud of the women that I have
in Beirut proud of the women that I have become standing for what she believes in
become standing for what she believes in
become standing for what she believes in and empowering other women to do the
and empowering other women to do the
and empowering other women to do the same together our voices will be
same together our voices will be
same together our voices will be awesome no Watson I told you gbmac
”
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