Humanizing Journalism & Media With Dalal Mawad What helped shape the woman you are today? I think Lebanon itself played a big role in the path I took as a journalist and as a woman. I lived my life witnessing all sorts of injustices and conflicts, it pushed me to use my voice to empower others. I also owe it to my father who was my role model growing up, he was always at the service of others as a surgeon and later as a politician, he showed me what it takes to achieve your dreams and what it was like to fight for what you believed in. What is the best advice you received, both personally and professionally? Accepting things I cannot change and changing those I have the power to change. Can you talk about a woman who has greatly influenced your life? As a journalist, can you name one person in the field whom you highly regard and admire? I am a huge fan of Frida Kahlo and I see a lot of myself in her. I admire her rebellious spirit, her feminism, her passionate love, and how she managed to transform her pain into beauty. I look up to a lot of women in journalism, such as Lyse Doucet from the BBC, Clarissa Ward from CNN, Giselle Khoury – now with Skynews Arabia. What are your thoughts on Women Empowerment? I think it starts with women first. Women should stop expecting others to empower them, namely men. Our journey starts within first. What are your proudest accomplishments in life in general, in your field as a journalist in particular? My career for sure, having been able to give a voice to a lot of marginalized communities through my stories. I am also proud to be the laureate of the Samir Kassir Award for the Freedom of the Press in 2020. How has motherhood affected your professional journey? It has made it even more difficult to seek a balance between personal and professional life. In many ways, it also increased my guilt, leaving my daughter all day for work, traveling, not being around all the time, that is not easy. It has also made me even more sensitive when reporting on children and vulnerable people. I also think that having a daughter makes me want to be an even better journalist, setting an example to her, showing her that her dreams can come true, that she should pursue them no matter what they are. What are your thoughts on the ethics of Media in Lebanon and internationally? Unfortunately, media ethics is very low in Lebanon if not absent. Our media outlets still prioritize getting a scoop, rushing with publishing information without proper fact-checking and validation, exposing vulnerable people without any consideration of protecting them, and following political money and agendas. Women and men can both get exposed to sexual harassment and abuse. In your opinion, which gender is more exposed to such actions? Who is responsible for prosecuting the perpetrator and protecting the victims from all forms of abuse? Women are definitely more vulnerable, we live in a patriarchal world, everywhere. Women are still objectified; our bodies are still seen as means for men to get pleasure, as baby making machines, as something that needs to look good for others. Perpetrators should be prosecuted by law and survivors protected by law and by state institutions, but unfortunately, we rarely see that. Women often lack the tools to report abuse and the legal protection. Where does the responsibility of journalists lie in raising awareness on these issues, while safeguarding the victims from any risk or threat? I think the journalists play an important role in raising awareness on gender-based violence through the stories they tell, by exposing the violence and the injustice but also by seeking to protect the survivors and helping them if possible. What is the importance of raising awareness on the role of Media in defending Human rights? And do you believe we should push for more collaborations between the Media and NGOs to pave the way for a better society? The media is powerful and can impact public opinion and policy makers. It has played an important role in the past in lobbying for certain laws and exposing abuses and it should continue doing that. It should give its platforms to any entities working on advancing human rights. How can a journalist separate their emotions and personal preferences from their duty? This is one of the first things you learn as a journalist, especially if you go to journalism school in the west, but it is really difficult to apply on a daily basis. You strive to keep your emotions aside but we are humans at the end of the day before being journalists. I always say one should speak from their heart and with passion, that is not wrong, as long as you uphold the truth. Then one should try as much as possible to delay processing their feelings when on assignment, but that does not mean we don’t process them. There is a time and place for that. What experience did you gain through covering conflicts on an international level? What was the highlight of this experience? I gained experience covering mainly displacement resulting from wars and conflicts. I was a regional video producer with the United Nations for about four years. I covered more than 10 countries. The highlight was the war of Mosul in Iraq which I covered during and after the conflict. This experience taught me how to navigate a warzone, implement what I learnt in my security training as a journalist, tell stories of conflict and displacement with a focus on the human stories. It taught me how to recognize the limits of what I can and cannot do in similar tough environments. What makes a good journalist in your opinion? His or her ability to know what a good story is and how to best
On Fashion & Innovation At IFWD With Cheryle Dias
You launched the International Fashion Week Dubai (IFWD) in May 2015. Tell us about this event and what was your role in supporting designers worldwide? International Fashion Week Dubai (IFWD) is an establishment that was created to further aid the rapid growth of the Fashion industry in Dubai. We are a company with a foresight of growth, building healthy business relationships, exploration and profitability for all. International Fashion Week Dubai is a platform that brings together existing and new talents in the Fashion Industry from all parts of the world making Dubai a meeting place for showcasing their talents, establishing new business connections and exploring the next big Fashion City. We have created a successful track record of 10 seasons with various multi-talented Fashion Designers and production team from all around the world especially the fashion capital itself – Paris and Milan; we also have the support of the Dubai government as they never fail to grace our event when it’s being held. Furthermore, quite a number of media outfits that help in creating exposure for our clients are regularly present at our events. It is safe to say that International Fashion Week Dubai is the best platform through which you can establish a long-term Fashion business opportunity in Dubai. What was the significance of launching this yearly event for you, on both personal and professional levels? The significance for me was the fact that I get to bring together new and old talents with similar interests from around the world under one roof. On a personal level, it was my ultimate passion as a fashion designer to always be on Fashion shows and display my designs, IFWD was completely inspired by my passion for fashion. How has your participation in different global events in Dubai contributed to the development of your Business? I’ve gained a lot of support. My participation in different global events in Dubai has brought about the support of the participants and organizers of these global events for my events as well. Which brands did you collaborate with on both local and international levels? What added value did they bring to the IFWD? Up until now, and since the launch of the event, almost 80 designers from different countries have participated in IFWD, including France, Italy, Spain, USA, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Poland, England, and so on. To us, it does not matter if the designer is an emerging or an established one, we focus on what is presented on the ramp to give them value and get value by their creative presentations, as long as the brand itself brings an added value for the show. How were you able to cope with the current pandemic while keeping the yearly show running? In what ways were you able to step up to the challenge? I have always said that nothing is impossible so I knew the show had to go on someway, somehow, and thank GOD we were able to pull through whilst following the necessary preventive measures to ensure the safety of everyone that participated. Frankly speaking, it was quite challenging to take this step, but I knew we will surely make it happen, even though many participants kept postponing their participation at some point, which was demotivating for us. But then, I saw that Paris and Milan Fashion weeks were already taking place – physically – with proper measures for Covid-19, which gave me a big boost to keep moving forward with the show in a more organized manner. Designers joined from Paris, Poland, Milan, Lebanon, Jordan, India, and in fact, there was a huge exhibition this season and the Polish government joined us to promote their fashion brands for expo2020, where they brought almost 40 Fashion brands with them! Are you looking to expand to other regions and/or countries? Most definitely, we will expand to other regions, while it’s already continuing in Milan, and soon, Paris too. The International Fashion Awards is our own way of motivating and expressing our sincere appreciation to all participants of the International Fashion Week. In what ways did the experience that you acquired in Milan and Paris boost your know-how and visibility within the Fashion Industry? As everyone is aware, Paris and Milan are the main Fashion capitals and indeed not very easy to establish any business or create such big events in such huge cities, but we have successfully achieved it, and frankly speaking it really gave us a boost in the Fashion industry as people came to know that we are determined and can reach any part of the world to make our dreams come true and to support our designers in exploring other destinations than Dubai. What was the highlight of your visit to Paris and Milan? Our celebrity designers, such as Andres Aquino from USA and top models who joined from all over the world. The event attracted a lot of people in both Paris and Milan, even the general public were very enthusiastic to see the show! How did your marketing skills contribute to the success of your business? In what ways were you able to merge being an Artist, Marketer and a Designer to create a bigger impact? My marketing skills played a huge role towards the success of my business as it helps in the appropriate/constant branding and strategic positioning of my business in the regularly flooded market. My designing skills and esthetic sense played a major role to give this kind of perfect impact in the market, while providing perfect solutions to Business Development, in a transparent and straightforward way. What are your proudest accomplishments in your field as a fashion designer? My proudest accomplishment would be INTERNATIONAL FASHION WEEK as it is a project that has become globally recognized and it has been a blessing to so many upcoming and existing fashion brands. What is your favorite styling tip? Whatever you choose for yourself, make sure it suits your personality. Can you talk about a woman who has
Superheroes, CEOs, and Miracles
Superheroes, CEOs, and Miracles As a kid, I always looked for heroes as role models to inspire me, for someone or something that is extraordinary to bring the best in me. So, naturally, I was fascinated by comic books and fairy tales. So many superheroes with superpowers, and fairy creatures were created. Some are caped, some drive cool vehicles, use great gadgets to fight villains or magic wands to grant wishes. They all had great valor, and always seemed to save us from unthinkable threats and dangers. But these are only in comic books, and fairy tales. They were very entertaining, tickled my imagination, but I was not inspired. Outside comic books and in real life, we have specialized saints and deities to grant us every orison we ask, help us with every real day-to-day life issue like health, money, peace of mind, emotional fulfillment, better life, family, protection, love, the list just goes on. We pray, plead, ask, and look-up to them for grace, solace, and inspiration. And they have granted, saved and fulfilled thousands of wishes. They are real, they walked the earth long time ago, and now they are dead. I find post-mortem efforts and assistance of saints and deities less inspiring: It takes long years of devotion and recital of holy scriptures and prayers. And even though, they are scrutinizingly selective on whom to answer, and what wish to grant. Maybe it was not their goal to help us after all, and it was just a personal quest, hence the not so inspiring hermit life they lived on earth. So, I moved my spotlight to high-profile executives, and people with impact. They have themselves reached goals most people have set to themselves but still haven’t gotten remotely close to achieving. They live the life and own the things we all aspire to have. We follow them, read their news, know details about their lives, but they are oblivious to us, and our daily struggles. They are solving their problems, and occasionally give us advice here and there and what was the major contributor to their success. Am I drifting hero-less on this planet? Uninspired? Far from it. Away from superpowers, magic wands, mystical entities, and high profile executives, I found that – “extra” – ordinary people are the most marvelous, intriguing, and inspiring role models to follow. Among the few ordinary people that inspire me, I consider Dan Price, CEO of Gravity Payments, my super hero. In a speed of a thought, Dan increased the minimum wage of his 176 employees to USD 70,000, allowing them to live in dignity. Dan succeeded, in one quick decision, to do what world most powerful organizations funded by multiple governments aspire to do in 30 years, while devoting titanic efforts to the matter. It took Dan a salary cut of 1 million dollars to make this miracle possible. He didn’t hesitate to be part of the solution, challenge the status quo, and operate from a higher consciousness. This little stunt inspired a lot of people, but also infuriated some. It has defied the rules and mathematical equations of brilliant economists, and financial geniuses. A lot of capitalists are betting on Dan’s failure. Because for them, huff all you want, that is the way things need to happen on this planet: to financially struggle all your life is the norm. I am inspired by people like Dan, who put the well-being of everybody at equal length, who quickly create encompassing solutions and don’t wait around for someone else to implement them. I am inspired by the people of “here and now’, everyday people who use whatever power they have to act mindfully, and impact the lives of others on a large scale. I love people who don’t linger, who act, and make a change happen. These people have the super power of being HUMAN. Why can’t we operate our business from a higher consciousness? How much will it affect the executives of Microsoft, Walmart, Amazon and the likes out there, to take a salary cut and raise the minimum wage of their employees? To live in dignity and abundance is the birth right of every human being on this planet. Not having to worry about daily futile worries – like paying bills – is the most crucial milestone that we as human beings should strive for. I consider a super hero, every decision-maker, or person in power on this planet that shatters the dams of abundance created by the villains and create abundant opportunities for themselves, others and their economy. It can be done, it has been done. Our aspiration should not be to overcome lack and need, but to grow, develop, and thrive. By Aline Kayrouz, Chief Marketing Officer At Pyliser Group To know more about the author, visit this link.
Rethinking Strategies to Achieve the SDGs
Rethinking Strategies to Achieve the SDGs We currently find ourselves a third of the way through the Sustainable Development Goals timeline. Recently, ‘The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2020’ painted a disturbing picture of the stagnant progress towards achieving the SDGs by their 2030 deadline. The report also highlighted the damaging impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on SDGs progress. The strides towards sustainable and inclusive economic growth, energy provision, and infrastructure development were all falling short before COVID-19 even existed. Now, in the wake of a global pandemic, insufficient progress of achieving the SDGs has been amplified. Across the globe, 190 countries and territories have planned, introduced, or adapted social protection measures in response to COVID-19. The reactionary measures are in place to address the pandemic’s socioeconomic impacts. However, it has created a unique opportunity to reinforce attempts to build a more sustainable and fair system and achieve the SDGs commitments. Each country will attempt bespoke solutions to overcome their social, economic, and environmental impacts of the pandemic, where local level recovery efforts will need to be reinforced and supported. Meanwhile, the collective responses must equate to coordinated action that matches the global scale of COVID-19 to counter the universal risk of falling short on the SDGs. These specific priorities that must be addressed to enable the world to build back sustainably in a unified manner with the multilateral system being crucial to supporting their implementation include: (1) Maintaining past progress made towards eradicating basic deprivations Regressing on the existing progress towards the SDGs not only endangers the opportunity to eradicate basic deprivations, but also reduces the ability to respond to future shocks, especially for the most vulnerable global populations. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to ensure that the progress that has already been achieved continues by supporting those at immediate risk of poverty, hunger, or disease, while facilitating their safe return to work or education and access to health care. (2) Accelerating the universal provision of quality essential services Ensuring universal access to services such as quality healthcare, education, and basic income security, coupled with access to clean water and sanitation, clean energy, and the internet must become core to strategies of recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. Meanwhile, by guaranteeing the delivery of such core services and continuing the support to marginalized groups including women will create an environment which promotes economic empowerment. These measures will also ensure COVID-19 responses to redress the long-standing inequalities intentionally, strongly and permanently. (3) Strengthening official development assistance The International Development (Official Development Assistance ODA) is still a core component of the financial responsibility to achieve the SDGs. Leaders in the donor community must maintain their efforts to encourage other nations to fulfill and strengthen their ODA commitments. (4) Encouraging private investment Incentivizing the private sector to achieve SDGs progress, support job creation, and increase incomes into developing nations and those with fragile state systems should be considered a priority. Therefore, a nation should only select the investments that will contribute towards the progression of the Goals. (5) Empowering and building the capacity of civil society organizations Civil society organizations have a major role in accelerating the progress toward the SDGs, by communicating and implementing the goals and holding governments to account. Governments should work alongside civil society organizations (CSOs) and the global community to progress towards SDGs and create an opportunity for a universal cooperation that ensures no one will be left out. A focus on civil society funding mechanisms is needed to ensure that civil society organization particularly small ones in the Global South have the needed knowledge and skills to align their initiatives with the SDGs. (6) Encouraging private sector involvement Governments and civil society organizations should take on leading roles to communicate the SDGs to a wide private sector audience. 2030 agenda is relevant to all business, from large cooperation to SMEs, and there is still a long way to go to get all companies engaged. Governments should encourage the private sector to incorporate the goals into their strategic business plans and their usual practices. We need impact-focused models involving all stakeholders. New Impact-based business models can be developed where the delivery of positive impacts is a driver of business success. This model can play a major role in bridging the financing gap for the SDGs, while their digital components can help reduce costs. (7) Domestic implementation of the SDGs There must be a strategic and comprehensive policy approach and commitment to ensure proper implementation of the SDGs. Governments must ensure that all their departments engage with the SDGs and fully understand the implications of the Goals on their department’s policies and programming to insure domestic implementation is on track. (8) Data for development Data plays a vital role in enabling national governments to track progress against the SDGs, and for citizens and civil society to hold government to account on areas where they are falling short. Additionally, it is essential that gender data remain a priority commitment of the global community, to enable the design of gender-fair bailouts, subsidies and other economic recovery measures. (9) Reporting against the SDGs Governments should report annually on their contribution to SDG progress. This would be a helpful internal process for governments, to assess where they are successful and where their efforts are falling short. Thus, it can be used as an insightful indicator to plan and take further action(s) or reprioritization(s) of efforts. There is no magical solution to overcome all challenges at once, but there are a number of strategies that must be taken immediately to get us back on track. Achieving the transformative vision of the SDGs by 2030 requires a major realignment of most countries’ national priorities toward long-term, cooperative, and drastically accelerated action, design a ‘human-centered COVID-19 response and recovery that tackle these challenges and build a ‘better normal’. By Dr. Hanaa Al Banna, Judge At CSR Accreditation UK, Senior Researcher To know more about the author, visit this link.