GBV in the MENA Region: A Crisis Beyond the Private Sphere

Each year on March 8, the world marks International Women’s Day, yet gender-based violence (GBV) continues to devastate women across the MENA region. According to UN Women, one woman is killed every ten minutes by a partner or family member. In MENA, around 35-37% of women experience violence, but few report it. Legal reforms in countries like Algeria, Morocco, and Bahrain show progress, yet weak enforcement persists. Turkey’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention underscores declining political commitment. This CARPO Pulse, written by CARPO’s Associate Fellow Kahina Bouagache, analyzes the implications of GBV across the MENA region for women, social resilience and political stability and argues that GBV is a public safety, economic, and human rights crisis demanding urgent systemic action.