The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), together with ESCWA, UN Women, and UNFPA, launched the 2025 annual update of the Gender Justice and the Law Matrix during a virtual meeting on 18 December 2025. The event brought together representatives from national women’s machineries, human rights institutions, and civil society organizations across the Arab region to discuss legislative progress and challenges in promoting gender equality under the law.
The Gender Justice and the Law initiative monitors legal frameworks across 17 Arab countries, evaluating 73 indicators in six areas: the general framework of the State, legal capacity and public life, protection from violence against women, employment and economic benefits, family and personal status, and sexual and reproductive health and rights. The initiative collaborates closely with national stakeholders to assess alignment with international human rights standards.
In 2025, the initiative tracked the adoption or amendment of 32 legal texts across 12 countries, strengthening women’s legal status. As a result, 23 indicators across seven countries were upgraded in the regional matrix, reflecting improved alignment with international standards. Key legislative advancements highlighted included protections against violence, non-discrimination and equal pay in the workplace, protections for domestic workers, and reproductive health rights.
The launch also introduced an upgraded Gender Justice and the Law Portal, offering enhanced content, user experience, and access to regional comparisons, country profiles, and the tracking of legal progress. This digital tool aims to facilitate the work of policymakers and regional stakeholders in reviewing legislation and planning reforms.
Participants discussed the importance of linking legislation with implementation and removing social and economic barriers that hinder women’s access to justice. A panel discussion addressed the role of national legislation in tackling technology-facilitated violence against women, reflecting regional priorities and the global campaign against such abuse.
The event underscored the Matrix’s role as a platform for regional dialogue, experience-sharing, and decision-making support. Organizers emphasized the importance of sustaining cooperation and ensuring the continuity of annual updates to advance gender justice and legal equality in the Arab region.
