Violence against women (VAW) exists in all countries and across all socio-economic groups, with around one in three women experiencing sexual and physical violence in their lifetime worldwide. This situation has worsened since the outbreak of COVID-19, intensifying the need for major efforts to eradicate VAW and to build societies that prioritise the safety and well-being of all individuals.
This report offers an overview of MENA countries’ efforts to establish comprehensive, whole-of-government responses to VAW, particularly amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It assesses gaps that impede the realisation of a society free from violence for all women and girls. Drawing on the OECD reports (2022) Eliminating Gender-based Violence: Governance and Survivor/Victim-centred Approaches, (2023) Breaking the Cycle of Gender-based Violence: Translating Evidence into Action for Victim/Survivor-centred Governance, and on international good practices, it provides recommendations to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of policy and institutional frameworks addressing VAW in MENA countries.
The report presents findings from responses to the OECD 2022 Survey on Strengthening Governance and Victim/survivor-centric Approaches to end Violence Against Women (VAW) in MENA Countries of the public administrations of Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, and Tunisia, complemented by data from the Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) 2023 and desk-based research.
This report is part of a long-standing strategic partnership between MENA and OECD countries under the MENA-OECD Governance Programme and its MENA-OECD Platform on Gender Mainstreaming, Governance and Leadership. Since 2009, the Platform has focused, among other objectives, on supporting MENA governments in strengthening institutions, regulatory frameworks and co-ordination capacities to prevent and tackle VAW and advance gender equality.
The report is delivered in the context of the project “COVID-19 Response and Recovery in the MENA Region”. Implemented by the OECD Development Centre, the MENA-OECD Governance Programme in the OECD Public Governance Directorate, and the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration, the project supports MENA governments in their efforts to respond and recover from the COVID-19 crisis and to enhance their resilience to future shocks, with a focus on young people and women. The project is financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Italy.
Preliminary findings of this report were shared during the meeting of the MENA-OECD Platform on Gender Mainstreaming, Governance and Leadership in September 2022, during which MENA stakeholders provided additional valuable inputs.