The present brief highlights the status of older women in the Arab region 30 years after the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, based on national reviews submitted in 2025 by 19 Arab countries. It presents progress in legislation, strategies and measures, grounded in the pillars of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, namely participating in development, advancing health and well-being, and ensuring enabling and supportive environments. The findings show varying levels of legislative and institutional progress across countries, including the enactment of national legislation on the rights of older persons, the adoption of strategies to improve their quality of life, and the use of digital tools to facilitate access to essential services. However, this progress remains insufficient to address the discrimination faced by older women. Significant gaps persist in social protection, access to comprehensive healthcare, participation in development processes, and protection against violence and abuse.
The brief concludes that prevailing approaches still tend towards a service-oriented rather than a rights-based approach, limiting the effectiveness of responses. It emphasizes the need for comprehensive, rights-based and life-cycle policies to empower older women, protect them from discrimination, and ensure their sustainable well-being.
To read the full article: click here
Disclaimer: Except for articles published on Blog Tadamon and the content of the resource pages, all materials on this website, including their respective photographs, are indexed from their original sources. All rights remain with the respective copyright holders.