ESCWA Publication: E/ESCWA/CL2.GPID/2025/Policy brief.3
Country: People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, Kingdom of Bahrain, Union of the Comoros, Republic of Djibouti, Arab Republic of Egypt, Republic of Iraq, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Lebanese Republic, State of Libya, Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Kingdom of Morocco, Sultanate of Oman, State of Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Federal Republic of Somalia, Syrian Arab Republic, Republic of Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Republic of Yemen
Publication Type: Policy briefs
Cluster: Gender Justice, Population and Inclusive Development
Focus Area: Gender equality, Inclusive development
Initiatives: Gender Justice and the Law, Reducing inequalities, Women’s rights and gender mainstreaming
SDGs: Goal 5: Gender Equality, Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
Keywords: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Decision-making, Djibouti, Egypt, Gender discrimination, Gender equality, Iraq, Jordan, Law reform, Lebanon, Legal aspects, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Political leaders, Political participation, Qatar, Saudi arabia, Somalia, Syrian arab republic, Tunisia, United arab emirates, Yemen
Women’s participation in political life in the Arab region: closing gaps to increase women’s participation in decision-making processes
April 2025
The present policy brief examines three main barriers to women's political participation in the Arab region, namely the limited application of temporary special measures, discriminatory laws and practices against women in the private and public spheres, and institutional attitudes towards women such as negative views and stereotypes about women's capabilities in leadership roles.
The brief presents best policy practices from Arab countries and globally that have contributed to closing the gaps across these three main dimensions related to women's political participation. It also offers policy options for Arab Governments using specific country examples from the region to address existing barriers to increasing women’s political participation. It illustrates how these policy options can support countries in improving their performance on international developmental and gender equality indices.
This policy brief is the third in a policy briefs series on “the contribution of development indices in closing the gender gap and advancing social and economic development”.
Read more:
Related content
Gender equality, Inclusive development
The present policy brief examines three main barriers to women's political participation in the Arab region, namely the limited application of temporary special measures, discriminatory laws and practices against women in the private and public spheres, and institutional attitudes towards women such as negative views and stereotypes about women's capabilities in leadership roles.
The brief presents best policy practices from Arab countries and globally that have contributed to closing the gaps across these three main dimensions related to women's political participation. It also offers policy options for Arab Governments using specific country examples from the region to address existing barriers to increasing women’s political participation. It illustrates how these policy options can support countries in improving their performance on international developmental and gender equality indices.
This policy brief is the third in a policy briefs series on “the contribution of development indices in closing the gender gap and advancing social and economic development”.
Read more:
