Feminist Activism During the COVID Pandemic : Zooming in on the MENA Region

Abstract

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the multifaceted and gendered impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable groups in the Arab region and places a specific emphasis on feminist perspectives, drawing from findings in five country reports—namely, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia. It builds on preliminary documents and findings collected by Nazra for Feminist Studies (Egypt),Takatoat (Jordan), Marsa Sexual Health Center (Lebanon), and Mawjoudin (Tunisia).These reports explored the dynamic responses initiated by actors within the feminist movement in the online and offline spheres. This report aims to contribute to a nuanced understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable groups and the proactive measures taken by feminist movements to address them in the context of the pandemic.

This report was produced by the Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship at the American University of Beirut as part of the project entitled “Arab Feminist Activism in Times of COVID-19: Challenges, Opportunities, and Transformations”, supported by the Open Society Foundations.