THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN PROMOTING DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN NORTH AFRICA: CASE STUDY OF ALGERIA

Abstract

The subject of this paper is women’s involvement in promoting democratic and human rights in North Africa, particularly Algeria. It is specifically concerned with understanding how Algerian women have engaged in democratization processes and promoting and defending human rights. The case and analysis give a particular focus to the Algerian Family Code as a legal document that has helped women’s subjugation, especially in legislation, the political realm, and civil society. To elaborate on these dynamics, this paper aims at analyzing legislative effects on women’s status, which became a point of interest among Algerian women themselves. Employing a qualitative method, the research was conducted through interviews between 2008 and 2009 among men and women of Kabylia origin. The interviews were coded concerning emergent themes of feminist movements, social media impact, and different sociopolitical ideologies categorized under the Arab political and social movements. Algeria was selected as a case study because of its importance for the region as well as the world.

Keywords

• Algeria
• Women’s Rights
• Democratization
• Algerian Family Code

KUZEY AFRİKA’DA DEMOKRASİ VE İNSAN HAKLARININ GELİŞTİRİLMESİNDE KADINLARIN ROLÜ: CEZAYİR ÖRNEĞİ

Abstract

Bu makalenin konusu, Kuzey Afrika’da, özellikle Cezayir’de, kadınların demokrasi ve insan haklarının geliştirilmesindeki rolüdür. Bu bağlamda, çalışma, özellikle Cezayirli kadınların demokratikleşme süreçlerine ve insan haklarının teşviki ve savunulmasına nasıl katıldıklarını anlamaya odaklanmaktadır. Çalışma, Cezayir Aile Yasası’na özel bir vurgu yaparak, bu yasanın, özellikle yasama, siyasi alan ve sivil toplumda kadınların baskı altına alınmalarını nasıl görünür kıldığını analiz etmektedir. Bu dinamikleri detaylandırmak amacıyla, bu makale, kadınların statüsü üzerindeki yasal etkileri incelemeyi hedeflemektedir; bu da Cezayirli kadınlar arasında bir ilgi noktası haline gelmiştir. Nitel araştırma yöntemi kullanılarak, 2008 ve 2009 yılları arasında Kabiliye kökenli erkekler ve kadınlar arasında yapılan görüşmelerle araştırma gerçekleştirilmiştir. Görüşmeler, Arap siyasi ve sosyal hareketleri altında kategorize edilen feminist hareketler, sosyal medyanın etkisi ve farklı sosyo-politik ideolojiler gibi ortaya çıkan temalara göre kodlanmıştır. Cezayir hem bölge hem de dünya için taşıdığı önem nedeniyle bir vaka çalışması olarak seçilmiştir.

Keywords

• Cezayir
• Kadın Hakları
• Demokratikleşme
• Cezayir Aile Yasası

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