Yalla Feminists: Arab Rights and Resistance

The Arab region continues to be among the most challenging in the world for the progress of women's rights. Equality remains elusive for women and vulnerable groups in the region due to traditional patriarchal cultures, protracted crises, lack of religious freedom, discriminatory legal frameworks, and chronic insecurity. The strongest indicator of peace in any country is in its treatment of women, but the story of women's rights in the region is one of patchy progress and major regress. Today, women are experiencing a massive backlash against their rights and fundamental freedoms.

And yet, there is hope. Feminists--particularly young feminists--from the Arab region fight tirelessly for their rights and are leading movements around the region pushing for change. This book looks at the last 50 years of Arab feminism with a view to understanding what the next 50 years will hold. Built from hundreds of firsthand accounts with women in the region, this book brings together voices across the 22 Arab states to present new pathways to women's rights and gender equality.

About the Author
Lina AbiRafeh, PhD, is a global women's rights expert with decades of experience. She is an advisor and former aid worker with a long track record in creating positive change for women in over 20 countries around the world. She speaks and publishes frequently on her experiences. She lives in New York. Rebecca O'Keeffe is an author, activist, and researcher specializing in peace with a particular focus on human rights, civil resistance movements, and transitional justice. She lives in Dublin, Ireland.