Four ways women can help to end the Middle East’s water crisis

Sally Abi Khalil Gender, Water, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

We know women have to be at the heart of designing and delivering the response to the region’s water problems, says Oxfam MENA’s Sally Abi Khalil. She sets out four principles for a fresh, feminist approach to managing water.

Faced with impossible healthcare costs, unsafe housing and rampant discrimination, Lebanon’s LGBTQIA+ people are in survival mode

May Achour Health, Research, Rights

The price of a single therapy session is now half the monthly minimum wage and most LGBTQIA+ people face violence where they live. In the first in a series of blogs to mark Pride month, May Achour introduces two new Oxfam policy briefs on the state of healthcare and housing

Using technology to enhance youth employment in the Middle East and North Africa

Ahmed Elassal Youth employment, Youth Participation

Challenges in context According to an Oxfam report, half a billion people could be pushed into poverty by COVID-19. The International Labour Organisation (ILO), warned that the crisis is expected to wipe out 6.7%  of working hours globally in the second quarter of 2020. The situation has directly hit the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region. Export, travel, transportation …

A model law to tackle violence against women

Farah Kobaissy Gender, Violence Against Women and Girls

In December Oxfam’s partner in Lebanon, KAFA, launched a ‘Regional Model Law on Violence against Women and Girls in the Arab Countries.’ Here Farah Kobaissy reflects on this historic step for women’s rights in the region. Our region is characterized by gender inequality. Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is largely seen as a private issue – to be dealt …

Now is the time for women’s rights in the Middle East

Farah Kobaissy Active citizenship, Gender, General

The realization of women’s rights and gender justice in the Middle East and North Africa is inseparably entwined with conflict resolution and peace building efforts explains Farah Kobaissy. “No matter where you are, everyone says that now is not the time to talk about these issues. There is no such thing as women’s rights. We are in times of war, …

Moving from individual to collective change for women’s participation in Lebanon, Jordan and Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Julie Diallo Gender

With women making up only 19% of parliament in the Middle East and North Africa region, understanding the factors preventing women from taking part in decision-making processes is vital. Here, Julie Diallo introduces a research report and summary animation that outlines key areas for change. “Thanks to the Lana project, now I can go on my own to Zarqa, but …