Building change together across the MENA region: In conversation with Dima Dabbous

EN: What first led you to this work, and to Equality Now?

DD: I grew up here in Lebanon, where I was always aware of women’s rights being secondary, and of discrimination being a part of everyday life. I think that kind of first-hand experience inevitably shapes your sense of what matters.

Professionally, my background is in media and gender, within academia. I spent many years at the Lebanese American University, where I eventually became Director of the Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World. My work focused on how women are represented in media – both as producers and subjects – and that opened up broader questions about power, visibility, and rights.

Over time, my interest evolved from analysis to action. I became increasingly involved in national and regional women’s rights movements, and I found myself wanting to contribute at a larger scale. Joining Equality Now felt like a natural progression – an opportunity to work not just nationally or regionally, but also at the international level, connecting all three.

EN: How do those three layers come together in practice?

DD: They are deeply interconnected – you cannot separate them.

All advocacy needs to be rooted in an understanding of real, lived experiences. You need detailed knowledge of what is happening in specific countries – how laws affect women’s lives, how practices differ, how culture, religion, and politics intersect. Without that grounding, international advocacy risks becoming abstract.

But the relationship also works in reverse. When progress is made internationally – when discrimination is recognised, when standards are reinforced – that creates momentum and legitimacy for activists working on the ground. It reassures them that they are not alone.

And that matters enormously, especially in contexts like the MENA region, where activists often face significant risks. Governments may restrict freedom of expression, target human rights defenders, or fail to protect them from threats and violence. In such environments, solidarity across borders is not just symbolic – it is a source of strength and sometimes even protection.

EN: How important is that solidarity in driving progress?

DD: It is absolutely fundamental. 

One of the most important things we’ve done at Equality Now is build strong regional coalitions, in MENA particularly around family law. These coalitions bring together organisations and activists from across the region, many of whom are facing similar challenges.

There is something very powerful about recognising that shared experience – that the obstacles you face are not isolated, and that others understand them deeply. But also, coalitions allow for practical collaboration. Partners can share strategies, adapt approaches, and support one another in very concrete ways.

Sometimes that support is about amplifying voices. If an organisation in one country is under pressure or facing risks, others can step in – taking on advocacy roles, raising issues internationally, or ensuring that critical work continues without putting individuals in danger.

In more difficult moments, it can even mean protecting partners by removing their visibility – ensuring their safety while continuing the work. That kind of flexibility and collective responsibility is essential.

EN: How would you characterise the path to creating change?

DD: Well, it’s rarely very short. Or straight. And it’s better not to travel alone!

Of course, we would prefer it if change could be quick and easy – that if a goal is clear, you simply work towards it and succeed. But in reality, progress is rarely like that. Because the issues we are dealing with are so deeply entrenched. It requires constant negotiation, adaptation, and persistence. It’s about creating pathways, not just achieving endpoints.

Take child marriage, for example. The ultimate goal is clear: no marriage under 18. That is the international human rights standard. But how you work towards that goal depends entirely on the context. In some countries, there is already partial recognition of the issue. There, you can advocate directly for stronger enforcement, higher penalties, and a complete ban. But in other contexts, where child marriage is widely accepted and even institutionalised, taking that same approach would simply fail – or perhaps even backfire.

So you have to be strategic. You might start by raising the minimum age incrementally, or by introducing limited restrictions that can gain acceptance. It may not be the final outcome you want, but it is a step forward – and it creates space for further change.

EN: Would you say there is a universal approach, or does everything depend on local context?

DD: It’s a balance between the two.

We are always guided by international human rights standards. That is non-negotiable. It defines the direction of travel and the outcomes we’re working towards. But how we get there must be adapted to context. If you try to impose a single approach everywhere, you risk being rejected outright. In some cases, you may even be accused of promoting foreign or ‘alien’ ideas, which can undermine the work entirely.

That’s why trust in local partners is so important – why we can’t afford to travel the path alone. They understand the political, cultural, and social realities of their countries far better than anyone else. They know what’s possible, what’s effective, and what risks need to be managed.

At Equality Now, we don’t impose strategies. We agree on the goal, but we leave space for partners to define the best way to reach it and provide support wherever and however we can. That approach has been critical in building credibility and strong relationships.

EN: How do you maintain those levels of trust and collaboration across such a diverse region?

DD: A big part of it is how we structure our coalitions. For example, when we started discussing forming what would become the Hurra Coalition, we were very intentional about creating a model that is inclusive and democratic. Every member has an equal voice, regardless of size, funding, or role. Even as a secretariat, Equality Now does not have more power than other members – decisions are made collectively.

This matters because it helps to avoid tensions relating to questions of leadership, hierarchy, or control. By keeping the structure flat and transparent, we’ve been able to build something more consistent and cohesive.

It also helps that our team is regionally rooted. Everyone working on MENA at Equality Now is from the region and understands its complexities first-hand. That makes a real difference in how we engage with partners – it’s not external or imposed, it’s collaborative and grounded in shared experience.

EN: Can you share an example of a moment where this approach made a tangible difference?

DD: One example that stands out is our work in Iraq.

When we learned that there were plans to expand religious family laws – which could have significantly increased discrimination against women – we were able to act quickly. That information came from our local partners, which shows how essential those relationships are.

We mobilised at multiple levels, supporting civil society organisations within Iraq, while also engaging international actors to apply pressure. It was very much a ‘top-down’ and ‘bottom-up’ approach.

Given the political context, we knew we couldn’t stop the reform entirely. The forces involved were too strong, and the process was shaped by broader political dynamics. But we were able to achieve an important outcome, ensuring that provisions related to child marriage remained within civil law, rather than being transferred to religious frameworks where the minimum age could have been significantly lower.

It wasn’t a complete victory – but it was a meaningful one. And in many contexts, that is what progress looks like.

EN: With so much instability and uncertainty in the MENA region, and around the world, what’s your outlook for the future?

DD: Oh, very positive. Of course, the situation we face is challenging – even dangerous at times – but I draw so much belief and confidence from the people I work with every day. The women and activists across the region who are so incredibly resilient, creative, and committed. Many of them are working in very difficult circumstances, yet they continue to successfully push for change. Not just for themselves, but for future generations. It’s so inspiring to be a part of what makes that possible.