Nationality laws determine the ability to acquire, change, or retain citizenship, and the ability to confer citizenship to one’s child or spouse. Despite commitments by governments to uphold women’s equal rights, over forty countries worldwide, including 19 in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region, have nationality laws that discriminate against women. Globally, 24 countries deny women the right to confer nationality on their child on an equal basis with men; over 40 countries have nationality laws that deny women equal rights with men to confer nationality on a noncitizen spouse or to acquire, change, or retain their nationality.
Women’s unequal nationality rights result in the exclusion and marginalization of women, men, and children, thereby inhibiting sustainable development. 9 of the 17 SDGs are significantly impeded in countries where discriminatory nationality laws persist.
This Arabic edition publication provides an overview of the why gender discrimination in nationality laws inhibits sustainable development in the MENA region and why reforms to uphold women’s equal nationality rights are essential to achieving the sustainable development goals. Click here to view the English version.