UN Authority Figures

UN Commission on the Status of Women: Algeria

In 2016, the police recorded more than 4,000 cases of domestic violence against women, but the majority of victims do not come forward and report the crimes. Photo: Algerian women
Source: Middle East Monitor, April 25, 2017

Mission of the Commission on the Status of Women: "The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women... The CSW is instrumental in promoting women's rights, documenting the reality of women's lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women." (Commission on the Status of Women website, "Overview")

Term of office: 2018-2022

Algeria's Record on Women's rights:
"Women faced violence and discrimination... Rape, both spousal and nonspousal, occurred. The law ... does not address spousal rape... Domestic violence was widespread. The law states that a person claiming domestic abuse must visit a "forensic physician" for an examination to document injuries and that the physician must determine that the victim suffered from injuries that "incapacitated" the person for 15 days... Societal and family pressure restricted women from making independent decisions about their health and reproductive rights... [M]any aspects of the law and traditional social practices discriminated against women. In addition, religious extremists advocated practices that led to restrictions on women's behavior, including freedom of movement. In some rural regions, women faced extreme social pressure to veil as a precondition for freedom of movement and employment... The law affirms the religiously based practice of allowing a man to marry as many as four wives... Women faced discrimination in employment. Leaders of women's organizations reported that discrimination was common..."
(U.S. State Department's Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2016, Algeria)