Women

Women’s ability to participate fully and equally in political, social, economic, and cultural life can help spur economic growth, drive innovation, and ensure greater equity. Female representation in the highest levels of political and business leadership is still poor in many world democracies. Women across all segments of society face significant barriers to success. Removing these obstacles and empowering women entrepreneurs and leaders can have a transformative impact on economies and societies. 

Recent analysis

Younus in Dawn: Toxic masculinity is a problem. So what are men going to do about it?

MENASource Apr 8, 2025

Legalizing child marriage in Iraq: Stepping back from the brink

By Sareta Ashraph

While there have been some elements of relief that the Iraq parliament has pulled back from legalizing child marriage, the situation remains dynamic.
Iraq Middle East
Younus in Dawn: Toxic masculinity is a problem. So what are men going to do about it?

AfricaSource Mar 17, 2025

This Women’s History Month, focus on African women’s achievements, not just their challenges

By Rama Yade

African women deserve recognition not just for the indignities they face, but for the heights they achieve.
Africa Resilience & Society
Younus in Dawn: Toxic masculinity is a problem. So what are men going to do about it?

MENASource Mar 10, 2025

Syria’s women face a new chapter. Here’s how to amplify their voices.

By Diana Rayes , Hind Kabawat

It is critical for women to be involved in transitional justice and constitutional reform processes in Syria.
Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding Syria

Programs

The MENA Futures Lab at the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East is shaping solutions to empower entrepreneurs, women, and youth and building coalitions of public and private partnerships to drive regional economic integration, prosperity, and job creation.

Learn more

Events

Public Event Mon, April 14, 2025 • 4:00 pm ET

Book launch of “Night Train to Odesa: Covering the Human Cost of Russia’s War”
Human Rights Nationalism Resilience Resilience & Society
Public Event Tue, February 18, 2025 • 11:00 am ET

The role of AI in transforming Saudi Arabia’s economic landscape
Economy & Business Entrepreneurship Middle East Technology & Innovation
Online Event Tue, January 28, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

Innovating for good: Jordan’s impact-driven startups
Artificial Intelligence Civil Society Economy & Business Entrepreneurship

Content

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Oct 22, 2020

Younus in Dawn: Toxic masculinity is a problem. So what are men going to do about it?

By Atlantic Council

Civil Society Pakistan

Distinguished Leadership Awards

Oct 14, 2020

Transcript: The 2020 Atlantic Council Distinguished Leadership Awards

By Atlantic Council

At the 2020 Distinguished Leadership Awards, the Atlantic Council honored global leaders and unsung heroes responding to the political, humanitarian, and economic crises of today.

Civil Society Resilience

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Oct 14, 2020

Listen to women

By Lisa Aronsson

Twenty years after its creation, NATO should affirm the strategic significance of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda and define what it means for an era of great power competition.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

New Atlanticist

Sep 15, 2020

Women must be meaningfully included in the Afghan peace negotiations

By Atlantic Council

The long-awaited Afghan peace process finally began on September 12, and Afghanistan’s women must have a seat at the table. While crucial issues such as disarmament, power-sharing, the presence of foreign troops, human rights abuses, and territorial disputes will likely take center stage, leaders from around the world have issued a call to uphold the right of Afghan women to be included in the talks.

Afghanistan Women

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Sep 14, 2020

COVID-19 has revealed the cost of disrupted education and child care inequality

By Nicole Goldin

Out of this COVID-19 crisis comes the opportunity to reimagine education to better supply today’s young generation with the skills to meet the demands of an even more rapidly changing economy; and to recognize and mitigate the burdens of care, disproportionately faced by women, to increase productivity and facilitate economic participation.

Coronavirus Women

New Atlanticist

Aug 31, 2020

How to improve Afghanistan’s devastated maternal healthcare system amid COVID-19 and the peace process

By Shariq Farooqi

Developing a sustainable maternal healthcare system is an integral step to achieving transformative justice for Afghan women and for the development of Afghanistan’s social institutions amid the ongoing peace process.

Afghanistan Conflict

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Aug 15, 2020

Haring and Viačorka in the Washington Post on women’s leading role in Belarus protests

By Atlantic Council

Democratic Transitions Women

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Aug 15, 2020

Haring and Viačorka in The Washington Post on women’s leading role in Belarus protests

By Atlantic Council

Ha

Democratic Transitions Women

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Jul 14, 2020

The National: Middle East faces ‘scary’ rise in COVID-19 deaths, expert says
Civil Society Coronavirus
refugee resilience

Report

Jul 13, 2020

Turkey’s Refugee Resilience: Expanding and Improving Solutions for the Economic Inclusion of Syrians in Turkey

By Bastien Revel

Since 2014, Turkey has not only hosted the world’s largest refugee population but has also modeled a best practice for the global refugee policy discussion. Turkey’s experience on the key issues such as jobs and employment should be examined as lessons for both refugee hosting countries and donor countries alike.

Conflict Crisis Management
Load More

Experts

Executive Leadership Intensive participant

Mika Abdullaeva

Senior Advisor, Department of State

Central Asia Resilience & Society

Fellow

Gbemisola Abudu

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Economy & Business

Fellow

Hanaa Almoaibed

Nonresident senior fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East

Arabic Economy & Business

Fellow

Shahira Amin

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Arabic Economy & Business
Ana Arriagada

Staff

Ana Arriagada

Assistant Director, Latin America

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Brazil Civil Society

Staff

Jenna Ben-Yehuda

Executive Vice President

Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense
Load More