Regression or Progress? Barriers to euqality of economic opportunity and the Arab transitions

This paper was commissioned by the International Labour Organization (ILO) as a background paper for the Expert Group Meeting convened from 21 to 22 May 2013 on Women and Economic Empowerment in the Arab Transitions, and revised with comments from the meeting. The research for this paper was completed in May 2013 but it has, to the extent possible, been updated to reflect current events up until July 2013. The purpose of the paper is to provide an overview of the existing barriers to equality of opportunity in the Arab region, setting a baseline against which future progress and regression can be measured and identifying entry points to promote progress and avoid regression.