Status of Arab women report access to justice for women and girls in the Arab region: From ratification to implementation of international instruments

Access to justice is not only a right in and of itself, applicable in all contexts and for all people; it is also a requisite for the achievement of equality and human rights. The present study examines women’s right of access to justice in the Arab region. Focusing on women in the 17 countries covered by the ESCWA mandate – namely, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen – the study examines the ability of women in these countries, both citizens and non-citizens, to access judicial processes and gain just remedy for violations of their rights. Assessing the legal, institutional and structural impediments and challenges facing women’s access to justice in the region, this study analyses the extent to which national legal frameworks meet the requirements set forth in ratified international human rights treaties; reviews the measures currently taken by Arab Governments to improve the availability, accessibility, adaptability and affordability of women’s access to justice; and provides policy recommendations aimed at improving women’s access to justice and thereby translating internationally guaranteed rights into practice.

For Full study: https://www.unescwa.org/sites/www.unescwa.org/files/publications/files/e_escwa_ecw_15_1_e.pdf