Algeria —Algeria is one of the most populous countries in North Africa. Despite having a more secular social structure compared to other Arab states, its model of governance remains closed and tightly controlled, maintaining a façade of “democratic” appearance.

Its long and bloody struggle for independence from France earned it a distinguished position as a “symbol of resistance” in the Arab world. This historical legacy places Algeria in a prominent role due to its opposition to colonialism in Africa and the Arab region.

Algeria’s influence and social structure in the region—combined with its historical weight and current political approaches—form a unique framework. The country adopts a balanced diplomacy in the Middle East, securing its place within the regional equation without provoking serious tensions with any side. While carefully protecting its sovereignty, Algeria prefers a cautious and measured foreign policy.

Algeria also has one of the highest proportions of youth globally. Domestically, it maintains the same cautious and balanced approach it applies in foreign policy; however, this closed approach often translates into repressive practices. The state’s harsh policies in dealing with economic and social problems—particularly the high unemployment rate, women’s limited access to the job market, and the failure to view women as political and social subjects—are driving the country into a profound crisis.

Class divisions, the imbalance of power between men and women, and the suppression of female identity manifest clearly in gender discrimination. Although Algeria is rich in religious and cultural diversity, the area in which equality is most tested is in women’s treatment—making this issue one of the weakest points within Algeria’s social structure.

The State of Hidden Oppression

In Algeria, state policies largely shape the social structure. In an attempt to preserve its regional status, the state treats its internal issues with a similar logic. Consequently, it adopts a tightly controlled and rigid approach, imposing repressive and exploitative practices on society, often through discriminatory laws based on gender and religion. This system creates a structure that does not question the root causes of violence. This dynamic becomes especially visible in the interaction between women and society, as well as in relationships between men and women.

Although recent awareness among women has led to some progress, the system’s fundamental foundations remain built on a political logic that suppresses and exploits women, denying them recognition as autonomous individuals with free will.

A primary cause of violence against women is the entrenched patriarchal mentality embedded within state policies. This influence is most evident within the family institution. As in most Middle Eastern and North African states, the family model in Algeria is marked by overt patriarchy.

Women face various forms of discrimination across all social, political, economic, and cultural spheres. Additionally, traditions and customs infused with gendered norms constitute a distinct mechanism for suppressing women. The most powerful factor driving violence against women is the state’s role in reinforcing male dominance. Policies and laws deepen gender inequality, while biased application of legal mechanisms, especially regarding domestic violence, grants actual legitimacy to all forms of abuse. Thus, the state becomes an active contributor to a system that reinforces the social foundations of male dominance, indirectly—yet powerfully—intensifying violence against women.

Although Algeria claims constitutional recognition of gender equality and has recently passed laws criminalizing domestic violence, enforcement is often weak. Gaps in implementation result in significant failures to prosecute domestic violence and harassment cases.

Despite ongoing reform rhetoric, many provisions within the Family Code still favor men. This contradictory stance appears across state policies concerning women. The structure of the Family Code, combined with social pressure and deeply rooted patriarchal norms, produces strong backlash against women. This environment facilitates the acquittal of perpetrators of violence against women; legal procedures are slow, and the system creates intentional distraction.

 

Femicide as a Public Concern

Femicide has become a central topic of public debate in Algeria. While the media and civil society organizations work hard to shed light on violence against women, many women refrain from reporting abuse due to social pressure, economic dependency, and lack of trust in state institutions.

Violence against women is an old and deeply rooted phenomenon in Algeria, fueled by traditional social structures and a patriarchal system in which women are viewed as inferior to men. This system—still present in the family and public sphere—diminishes the role of women, often reducing them to “bodies without agency.”

Women’s energy and dignity have been squandered. Their worth, identity, and rights have frequently been ignored. This is reflected in family and social upbringing patterns that place sons in a superior and more privileged status than daughters. Exclusion of women begins at birth; sons are preferred over daughters. Patriarchal attitudes appear clearly in Algerian proverbs—such as “He who has many daughters has many troubles”—a saying that reflects the ongoing dominance of male-centered values in society.

Despite the existence of laws, patriarchal authority remains firmly rooted. These laws often function merely as “decorative texts,” allowing violence to persist in new forms—economic violence, social exclusion, harassment, and rape.

According to data from Halte Féminicides Algérie, 315 women were killed between 2019 and 2024, most due to domestic violence. Currently, around 500 cases of violence against women are reported monthly, marking a 12.39% increase compared to 2023. Yet these figures do not fully reflect reality. This year, 1,630 cases of psychological and physical violence have been documented, including humiliation, marginalization, exploitation, mental pressure, and physical assault. Women subjected to violence are often stigmatized with degrading and immoral labels—either within their families or in public spaces—causing severe psychological harm.

Additionally, at least 96 harassment-related assaults have been recorded in public spaces, rendering streets unsafe for women. Harassment, rape, and other assaults intensify women’s oppression. Violence is most severe in public spaces, and the state frequently turns a blind eye, often imposing secrecy on court cases, preventing public access to information.

In this context, the role of Algerian authorities becomes crucial. Simply enacting laws is insufficient; they must be enforced effectively, and perpetrators must be punished. The absence of rigorous monitoring and preventive mechanisms exacerbates violence and deepens women’s distrust of a patriarchal state.

Statistics Are Not Updated Regularly

Institutions and organizations have not provided recent official statistics on violence, leaving existing numbers inaccurate and outdated. One older but comprehensive survey—the 2006 national survey—revealed that around half a million women in Algeria were subjected to regular or even daily physical abuse