Arab Women's Legal Network

AWLN's Profile:

The Arab Women’s Legal Network (AWLN) is a non-profit and non-governmental regional entity that aims to facilitate the advancement of Arab women working in the legal profession. The Network provides a forum for the exchange of expertise, the provision of specialized training and professional development programs, and the publication of materials aimed at strengthening Arab women in the law. The idea of the Network emerged in February 2004, at a meeting of a group of women legal professionals representing fifteen Arab countries. The women gathered in Jordan to discuss issues facing women working in the legal field, as well as the legal rights of women from a broader perspective. The fifteen-member Steering Committee, formed after the 2004 conference, met the following year to begin the process of formulating a strategic plan that would outline the Network's goals and structure. The Network was registered as a non-governmental organization on July 10, 2005. Under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, the AWLN was formally launched on July 16 at the Network’s first annual General Assembly, which also served as the Network’s first training program. More than 90 women from sixteen countries in the Middle East and North Africa - Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, KSA, Syria, Tunisia, UAE and Yemen – attended the conference in Amman, Jordan. The training program, entitled "Pioneering Women in Law," featured eleven workshops addressing various legal topics and skills. In addition to building knowledge, the program allowed participants to interact with their counterparts throughout the region. AWLN membership is open to women who have obtained a degree in law, are currently working as a legal professional in an Arab country (as defined by the Arab League), maintain a high professional stature, and support the AWLN's goals. Honorary membership can be granted to distinguished individuals who meet at least one of the AWLN's membership conditions.

 AWLN Objectives:

The objectives of the ِNetwork are to:
- Improve the capabilities of Arab women working in the legal profession and enhance their legal knowledge.
- Strengthen the status of women working in the legal profession.
- Develop cooperation among women working in the legal profession.
- Support future generations of women working in the legal profession.
- Increase awareness regarding women’s rights at all levels.
- Support efforts to guarantee women’s rights through international agreements and national laws.
- Participate in law reform at the regional and national level.

AWLN Structure: