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

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.

Events

Content

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Mar 10, 2020

Colombia ¿Cómo vamos?: Women’s political and economic empowerment

By Camila Hernandez

Closing gender gaps in economic and political empowerment will move Colombia forward in its path toward sustainable development. Greater female participation in the economy and in politics will not only boost the country’s economy (by increasing productivity, diversifying the economy, reducing income inequality, increasing organizational effectiveness, among others), but will also contribute to more inclusive, democratic, and sustainable policies.

Colombia Women

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Mar 8, 2020

Nia quoted in Elle (Italian) on women’s rights in Iran

By Atlantic Council

Human Rights Iran

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Mar 8, 2020

Younus in his podcast “Pakistonomy,” episode 8: Women, Feminism, and the Aurat March

By Atlantic Council

Economy & Business Human Rights

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Mar 5, 2020

Venezuelan women: The unseen victims of the humanitarian crisis

By Angela Chavez

Although gender inequality is not a novel issue in Latin America and especially not in Venezuela, the current humanitarian crisis has made women more vulnerable financially, politically, and socially, and made sexual violence and discrimination commonplace. According to a recent report by Venezuelan non-profit organization Center for Peace and Justice (CEPAZ), the crisis has increased women’s vulnerability through the lack of governance and weakened institutions, impoverishment, lack of access to food and medicine, and the rising forced migration, among other factors.

Migration Venezuela

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Mar 4, 2020

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Hearing: Citizenship Laws and Religious Freedom

By Atlantic Council

On March 4th, 2020, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) held a hearing to discuss how citizenship laws can be used to deny religious minorities rights guaranteed by their citizenship, making them disproportionately vulnerable to exploitation and mass atrocities.

Human Rights India

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Feb 24, 2020

Women protest for their lives: Fighting femicide in Latin America

By Isabel Kennon and Grace Valdevitt

Femicide continues to claim the lives of Latin American women on a daily basis. In Mexico, they are standing up to say something about it.

Civil Society Human Rights

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Jan 27, 2020

Arbit in Foreign Policy: In Israel’s endless elections, female candidates have been the biggest losers

By Atlantic Council

Israel Political Reform

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Jan 23, 2020

Younus in his podcast “Pakistonomy,” Episode 2: Mehvish Arifeen

By Atlantic Council

Economy & Business Entrepreneurship

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Nov 26, 2019

How the exclusion of women has cost Libya

By Emily Burchfield

Libya experts frequently call for greater inclusion of civil society and local governance leaders in peace-building efforts in order for the peace process to be more representative of ordinary Libyans. And yet, Libyan women’s powerful role in civil society and the fact that they make up half of the population of “ordinary Libyans” is often overlooked.

Libya Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Oct 21, 2019

Invisible in an invisible war

By Lauren Van Metre and Steven Steiner

Despite the nod to the critical role women play in the war with Russia, representatives of the Ukraine Women’s Veterans Movement note that discrimination has increased.

Civil Society Conflict

Experts