What are the policies and attitudes that carry the potential for real change in the status of women in Algerian society?

Kept in a status of inferiority in relation to men through family legislation, women are also marginalized on the political level where they more or less do not participate to the decision process and to representation.

In spite of formidable social advances in favour of women at the time of independence (in education, health, access to paid work), and as a result of their mobilization after October 1988, the numerous promises of a revision of family legislation have invariably fallen victim to the power games of political balancing.

The regime has indeed been determined to gain the approval of western powers by appointing women to key posts, but has however kept clear from committing itself to a genuine policy of integration of women into Algerian society and politics.

This content is published in French : L'ambiguïté de l'aventure démocratique des femmes algériennes