Democracy in Development » Female Leaders in North Africa

Female Leaders in North Africa

by Isobel Coleman
October 26, 2012

Moroccans attend a women's rights rally while holding placards reading "Stop abusing girls" in Rabat on February 20, 2012 (Youssef Boudlal/Courtesy Reuters).

Women have played an important role in spurring reform throughout the Middle East and North Africa. But as elections take place and constitutions are drafted, their rights are at risk of being sidelined.

This morning, I had the opportunity to host at the Council on Foreign Relations (audio available) two civil society leaders who are working to ensure that women’s rights have a central place in the new Middle East: Marianne Ibrahim from Egypt and Souad Slaoui from Morocco. They discussed initiatives in their home countries to empower women and girls, improve interfaith dialogues, and encourage positive policy changes to support human rights and international development. (CONTINUED)

FOR THE FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE: Democracy in Development » Female Leaders in North Africa