Women’s Citizenship and Rights in the MENA Region following the “Arab Spring”: The Challenge of Constitutional Implementation

The constitutional reforms adopted in several Northern African and Middle Eastern countries following the Arab uprisings have significantly strengthened the provisions on women’s rights and gender equality. These new constitutional provisions represent significant novelties compared to the past, and can contribute to the promotion of full citizenship for women in the Arab world. However, in order to measure the sincerity of these innovations, the process of constitutional implementation will be decisive. This paper addresses some of the most relevant factors that may influence this process, i.e. a) the nature of Arab constitutions, b) the possibility for individuals to apply to constitutional courts, c) the independence of the judiciary and of constitutional courts; d) implementing legislation and the “limitation clauses”, e) the status of international treaties on human rights, f) women’s representation in elected institutions, and g) the social, cultural and religious context.