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Restrictions on Women’s Travel Rights Persist in Middle East & North Africa

Restrictions on Women’s Travel Rights Persist in Middle East & North Africa
Credit: UNHCR/Saad Sawas

Middle East and North Africa (Washington Insider Magazine) –  In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), women’s mobility rights remain restricted, with many countries enforcing male guardianship rules. A recent report from Human Rights Watch, titled Trapped: How Male Guardianship Policies Restrict Women’s Travel and Mobility in the Middle East and North Africa, exposes the breadth of these restrictions. Despite activist-led reforms in some countries, policies still prevent women from moving freely or obtaining passports without permission from male guardians, typically a father, brother, or husband.

In a number of MENA nations, laws require women to gain guardian consent for domestic and international travel, curbing their independence. Some states extend these controls to travel with children, meaning women may need permission from a child’s father to journey abroad. Such policies have deep historical roots, influenced by regional traditions and foreign legal practices that traditionally subordinate women’s rights to male oversight.

Saudi Arabia, for instance, enacted a codified Personal Status Law in 2022 that formalizes many traditional restrictions, obligating women to “obey” their husbands or risk loss of spousal support. Additionally, in countries facing conflict, such as Yemen, local authorities impose rigid travel limitations, compelling women to have a mahram, or male relative, accompany them. This has led many women, including those employed with NGOs, to quit their jobs, impacting family income and welfare.

While there have been positive developments — Saudi women gained the right to drive in 2018 and now can obtain passports without guardian consent — challenges persist. In Iran and Qatar, women still require male permission to secure passports. Further, Hamas authorities in Gaza impose court-ordered travel bans on unmarried women, limiting their right to leave the region.

The fight for mobility freedom is ongoing. As restrictions evolve, activists continue to press for comprehensive reforms to end discriminatory policies, aiming to secure women’s autonomy and broader societal equality across the region.

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