Women

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

Protests are a permanent feature of Iran

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

Protests are a permanent feature of Iran

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

Protests are a permanent feature of Iran

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

Feb 4, 2019

Protests are a permanent feature of Iran

By Nazila Fathi

July 15, 2009 was a historic day in Iran’s recent history. Some three million people marched in silence on Enghelab (Revolution) Street in the capital of Tehran to convey their anger at the Islamic Republic in the most peaceful manner. The regime had disconnected cell phone services in a failed effort to prevent the march, […]

Civil Society Human Rights

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Sep 5, 2018

The Islamic tradition and the human rights discourse

By Atlantic Council

The report sheds light on new methods for the exploration and engagement of the Islamic tradition and the rights discourse, featuring theoretical and practical accounts by Muslim scholars, academics, and human rights practitioners.

Human Rights Middle East

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
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Experts

Advisory Council member

Capricia Penavic Marshall

Ambassador-in-Residence; Vice Chair, Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center Advisory Council

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Latin America Politics & Diplomacy

Staff

Emilia Pierce

Deputy Director, Operations and Finance

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Civil Society Conflict

Fellow

Amany Qaddour 

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Civil Society

Fellow

Roya Rahmani

Senior Advisor

South Asia Center

Afghanistan Dari

Fellow

Julie Recinos

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

English Human Rights

Staff

Valentina Sader

Director, Strategy and Programs

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Brazil Corruption
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