Country Context

PRESS RELEASE Cairo – April 10, 2025 – UNFPA– The situation in Gaza has become unbearable for women and girls. What was once a fragile ceasefire—a faint beacon of hope for peace and recovery—has now vanished. As Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid extends into its second month, the crisis has spiraled into catastrophe. Women and families are simply fighting to survive. Since the resumption of hostilities on 18 March, more than 500 children and 270 women have been killed, a devastating testament to the indiscriminate brutality of this war. Nearly two-thirds of Gaza is now a declared ‘no-go zone.’ As women-led organizations reported to UN Women, "nowhere is safe". Uprooted...

PRESS RELEASECairo – March 25, 2025 – UNFPA – The ongoing aid blockade on Gaza is severely undermining access to essential health care for women and girls, as supplies run dry and hospitals once again come under attack. This marks the longest suspension of aid to Gaza since 7 October 2023.In March 2025, the Ministry of Health reported critical shortages of three essential maternal health drugs: medicines used to induce or augment labour; blood plasma to treat women who are hemorrhaging, and medicine to treat pre-eclampsia- all vital to preventing maternal deaths and complications.Meanwhile, 54 ultrasounds to monitor fetal health; nine incubators that keep premature and low-birth-weight newborns alive; and...

Mediterranean countries have a long way to go when it comes to achieving gender justice. The region’s sunny corner is no exception, as it is infected by the same long-lasting pandemic of gender-based violence, discrimination and femicides. An ongoing #MeTooGr movement, which started around 2020, reignited the feminist movement in Greece. The social justice warriors are now fighting to change sexist narratives and systemic inequalities.

A stronghold of the Catholic Church, the small Mediterranean island nation of Malta’s culture and norms are firmly rooted in religious tradition. Despite the country progressing in civil freedoms, such as the introduction of the right to divorce in 2011 and a marked increase in female participation within the workforce, the fight for reproductive rights and against violence directed at women continues.

Since the 2011 uprising, the ongoing reality proves that 10 years on, Libyan women are still in the same place in terms of their rights, fighting every day for their basic rights but without achieving any notable results or impact.

Since the 2000s, the status of women in Morocco has seen encouraging progress. Democratic openness has fostered the emergence of the movement of women, just as it has, conversely, contributed to the democratic transition. However, while progress is undeniable, gender parity has not been achieved and remains a major challenge for the country.

According to the Gender Equality Index of European Institute for Gender Equality, with 57.9 out of 100 points, Croatia ranks 20th in the EU on the Gender Equality Index. Croatia’s score is 10.0 points below the EU’s score...

In Lebanon, unlike most Arab countries, the state follows no religion. While equality between citizens is a principle enshrined in the constitution, it is not reflected in many of the legislations, measures and practices impacting different aspects of citizens’ lives, especially the personal status sectarian laws which govern most personal family affairs in the country.

When it comes to gender equality in Montenegro, the key legislations are the “Law on Gender Equality” adopted in 2007 (and amended in 2015) and the “Law on the Prohibition of Discrimination” adopted in 2011. However, the implementation of laws in Montenegro remains weak.

In return for their heroic role and their partnership with men in all areas of the liberation struggle, women are 'rewarded' with a worrying quality of life and rights situation.