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

Financial Inclusion: A Powerful Tool for Powerful Women

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
Financial Inclusion: A Powerful Tool for Powerful Women

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
Financial Inclusion: A Powerful Tool for Powerful Women

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.

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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

Apr 20, 2018

Financial Inclusion: A Powerful Tool for Powerful Women

By Global Business & Economics Program

On April 20, the Atlantic Council’s Global Business and Economics Program hosted a panel discussion on financial inclusion of women, featuring The Hon. Siv Jensen, Minister of Finance of Sweden; The Hon. Dana Reizniece-Ozola, Minister of Finance of Latvia; and Mr. Yannick Glenmarec, the Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Executive Director for Policy at UN Women. The event was moderated by Laura Lane, President of Global Affairs at UPS.

Economy & Business Women

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Mar 8, 2018

Gulf’s energy sector in the diversity driver’s seat

By Bina Hussein

March 8 is international women’s day. This year, the theme is to “press for progress” and one area women have been seeking—and making—progress is in representation in the workplace. Nowhere is this more in focus than in the Gulf countries, where the inclusion of women in the workforce is part of overall efforts to diversify […]

Energy & Environment The Gulf

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Mar 8, 2018

How legal reform can drive social change for women in Tunisia

By Andrea Taylor and Elissa Miller

Many anticipate that a proposed new bill that would enable Tunisian women to receive equal inheritance with men will cement Tunisia’s place as a leader on women’s rights in the Arab world. Yet broad support within Tunisia for the inheritance bill remains lacking.

North Africa Political Reform

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Oct 12, 2017

Women’s rights in Morocco: Balancing domestic and international law

By Leila Hanafi and Danielle Hites

Despite Morocco’s many legal advances in women’s rights, its lack of effective implementation and the existence of legislative loopholes undermines its reputation as an open, tolerant, and progressive country. In recent months, Morocco’s human rights record has come under the scrutiny of international organizations, notably the UN Human Rights Council latest UPR. Morocco’s questionable human […]

Human Rights Morocco

Report

May 31, 2017

Women’s Leadership in Latin America

By Laura Albornoz Pollman

Latin America, with its history of female heads of state, seems to be a rising global leader in terms of notable women in top-level leadership roles. What is the region’s secret sauce? Does this phenomenon translate to the empowerment of women throughout Latin American societies? And are women rising to the top across sectors? Find […]

Latin America Women

New Atlanticist

Mar 7, 2017

Women’s Ascension in Latin America

By Capricia Penavic Marshall

When former US secretary of state and then-presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton visited the Atlantic Council in November 2015, she spoke of Latin America’s strides to achieve gender equity at the highest levels. “It may be predictable for me to say this, but there’s a lot we can learn from Latin America’s success at electing […]

Latin America Women

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Nov 1, 2016

Brooks in Modern War Institute: Women in War, Lessons from History

By Max Brooks

Read the full article here.

Security & Defense Women

Defense Industrialist

Feb 12, 2016

End draft registration

By James Hasik

Rather than mandating that women register, just terminate that useless practice. Should women be registered for the draft? Now that Defense Secretary Carter has removed the exclusion of women from all combat jobs, the Army chief of staff, the Marine Corps commandant, and Senator McCaskill of Missouri want all women registered. The secretary himself says that’s […]

Defense Policy Politics & Diplomacy

Webcasts

Nov 30, 2015

Politics, Government, and Women in Latin America: Better Than You Think?

By Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

The Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center launched its Women’s Leadership in Latin America Initiative featuring remarks by former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. The event took place on Monday, November 30, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Latin America Women

Report

Feb 12, 2014

The state of Arab transitions: Hope resilient despite many unmet demands

By Mirette F. Mabrouk and Stefanie A. Hausheer

Report authors Mirette F. Mabrouk, deputy director for regional programs, and Stefanie A. Hausheer, assistant director, examine the progress in achieving the original demands of protestors and contend that local actors would embrace greater international support to help facilitate genuine transitions. By examining six key themes—political polarization, constitution-drafting processes, transitional justice, economic progress, civil society […]

Civil Society Democratic Transitions

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
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