North Africa and Middle East

In partnership with Karama, the Libyan Women’s Platform for Peace (LWPP) organized an urgent two-day consultation in Tripoli starting 6 June to address the recently-issued electoral law which will govern the selection process for the

BAHRAINI women are the most empowered women in the Middle East, according to a study by Mastercard.

The research last year covered education, employment opportunities and involvement in government.

Women accounted for 15 per cent of Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry members and 37pc of all Bahrainis employed by financial institutions.

However, last week it emerged that women in the workplace - particularly in the banking sector - continue to be dismally represented, especially in more senior roles.

The current political scene in Iraq is appearing to encourage Iraqi women in the Anbar and Ninawa provinces to participate more than before in the political process.

Members of the body-baring feminist group Femen are on trial in Tunisia for indecency and violating public morality in their bid to launch a "feminist spring" in Muslim countries.

The UN has called for rules to be put in place to ensure that a sufficient number of women are elected to the 60-member Constitutional Commission.There needs to be a “meaningful participation of women” in the Commission, says the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).