In 2019, the visibility and participation of women in protests across the Middle East and North Africa challenged male-led political establishments in the region. But with the global health crisis offering regimes some respite from popular mobilization in the streets, and impacting participation in public life, the fragile gains made by women in the region are in danger of being lost.
In this webinar, the panellists will discuss female leadership and women’s rights in a COVID-affected MENA region. Set against difficult political transitions, declining oil prices and protracted regional conflicts, how can women’s economic empowerment be prioritized and promoted in the region? To what extent have efforts to consolidate women’s rights so far reached beyond elites and addressed different women’s experiences in the private and public spheres? How can we move beyond the glamorization of female protesters to institute meaningful gender-focused political change in future? And as COVID-19 accelerates digital transformation, do virtual spaces provide new opportunities for mobilization and inclusion in politics, business, media and civil society? Or do they extend and perpetuate offline inequalities and violence against women?
Participants
Dr Alanoud Alsharekh, Director, Ibtkar Strategic Consultancy
Laury Haytayan, Middle East and North Africa Director, Natural Resource Governance Institute
Azadeh Pourzand, Executive Director, Siamak Pourzand Foundation
Chair: Tim Eaton, Senior Research Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House
