Upholding rights at a time of global backlash: Strategies in the Middle East and North Africa

 

Anti-rights actors in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia and Syria are actively working to undermine the progress made by women's rights, feminist and LGBTQI+ movements in the region. These actors employ various strategies, including legal restrictions, violent attacks and smear campaigns to discredit activists and organizations. Such actions not only endanger the safety of activists but also erode hard-won rights and freedoms. There is a pressing need for localized research and evidence to inform strategies to counter backlash and protect marginalized groups' rights. More specifically, there is an urgent need to understand the cultural, economic and political drivers behind these backlash strategies and gender identity-based attacks.

This project focuses on understanding the nature of anti-rights movements, identifying effective tactics to respond to threats, promoting greater equality and inclusion in policy and practice, providing actionable recommendations for policy reform, and building alliances across various social movements. The findings of this research are aimed at informing policy and practice to safeguard the rights and freedoms of marginalized communities and uphold democratic values in the Middle East and North Africa region.