Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 09/2013

Common Strategies for Women in Transition Countries

Steven E. Steiner

September 2013

United States Institute of Peace

Abstract

Ongoing dialogues and forums on nations in transition reinforce the commonality of challenges related to women’s rights and roles in society, especially leadership in government. Women leaders in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Arab Spring countries face major challenges, including heightened insecurity and the risk of women’s rights being rolled back significantly. Steps to address these challenges are to build coalitions across internal divides, engage male religious leaders and other men to support women’s rights, reach out to youth, develop gender-based budgeting, and underscore the importance of women’s economic empowerment.