Algeria: Situation of single or divorced women living alone, particularly in Algiers; whether they can find work and housing; support services available to them

In 26 May 2011 correspondence with the Research Directorate, the Chairperson of SOS Women in Distress (SOS femmes en détresse), a non-governmental organization (NGO) that defends the rights of Algerian women (SOS femmes en détresse n.d.), stated that [translation] "single, widowed or divorced women may live alone in Algeria." She added that this happens [translation] "regularly" but that "it all depends on the context, the environment and the factors that have led these women to live alone" (ibid. 26 May 2011). According to the Chairperson, [translation] "the ability to live alone depends entirely on economic independence, having a house and a good job, in short, having financial resources …" (ibid.).

In 29 May 2011 correspondence with the Research Directorate, the Director of the Information and Documentation Centre for Children's and Women's Rights (Centre d'information et de documentation sur les droits de l'enfant et de la femme, CIDDEF), an NGO based in Algiers, explained that [translation] "for social and sometimes economic reasons, most single women still live in their parents' home." She did add the following, however:

[translation]

Algerian society is evolving and the family is changing from an extended family to a nuclear family. Women are called upon to live alone and to work for a living. They have to leave their home towns to find work and housing with all the risks that this entails. In the large cities, women rent apartments, their employers often assign them housing in their name, they buy their homes, or they build their houses-this situation has become commonplace in large cities. The way society looks at these women has changed. However, it is true that in terms of safety, they may be targeted by thieves, but not because they live alone (CIDDEF 29 May 2011).

The Director of CIDDEF also noted that it is [translation] "easier" for a woman to live alone, whether by choice or necessity, in a city rather than in a rural area. A woman in a rural area cannot live alone unless by necessity, notably in case of a death (ibid.). Nevertheless, according to the Director,

[translation]

you need to have resources to … live alone, regardless of your [education] level or marital situation. Single women who have a university degree and a job can do it, but they have to have the courage to free themselves from their family's onerous guardianship and make their own choices. If they do it without their family's approval, they are headed toward a breakup with the family. Very few women do it. They prefer to leave Algeria to do it and the parents accept and allow it (CIDDEF 29 May 2011).

Sources consulted by the Research Directorate indicate that, although Algerian women have equal rights under the law, in practice they may be victims of discrimination (US 8 Apr. 2011, 28-30; Freedom House 3 Mar. 2010, 4; United Nations 13 Feb. 2008, 2). Moreover, according to the Chairperson of SOS Women in Distress and Freedom House, the Family Code apparently contains provisions that are considered to be inequitable toward women (Freedom House 3 Mar. 2010, 2; SOS femmes en détresse 26 May 2011). However, these sources do not specify to which provisions they are referring. Women are nevertheless authorized to open a bank account on their own (ibid.; CIDDEF 29 May 2011). The Director of CIDDEF pointed out, however, that a person needs to have income or a job in order to open a bank account (ibid.). Moreover, according to the Chairperson of SOS Women in Distress, a residency certificate is needed to open a bank account, [translation] "which is not always obvious because the property owner must agree to go through the process at city hall and there must be a duly signed rental contract" (26 May 2011).

According to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women, [United Nations English version] "sexual violence and sexual harassment in the public sphere most commonly occur at work and in places of education and training" (United Nations 13 Feb. 2008, para.74). She added that [United Nations English version] "divorced women in particular are often regarded as easy prey for unwanted sexual advances, since the perpetrators consider that they lack male protection and have ‘nothing more to lose'" (ibid.). According to the Chairperson of SOS Women in Distress, [translation] "the more a woman is alone, without support from family or others (friends, acquaintances), the greater the risk of sexual exploitation and aggression" (26 May 2011).

According to several sources, in March and April 2010, women were attacked in the town of Hassi Messaoud, in the south of the country (AI 22 Apr. 2010; Le Monde diplomatique June 2010; AFP 25 Apr. 2010). Two sources point out that several of the women who were attacked lived alone (ibid.; AI 22 Apr. 2010). Amnesty International (AI) states that the aggressors broke into their victims' homes, stole valuables, and physically and sexually attacked some of these women (ibid.). According to an article in the Monde diplomatique, the aggressors considered these women to be a threat to the jobs of male workers (June 2010).

Similar attacks occurred in Hassi Messaoud in the summer of 2001 (Le Monde diplomatique June 2010; AFP 25 Apr. 2010; Le Temps 27 Feb. 2010). Hundreds of men attacked women living alone (Le Monde diplomatique June 2010; Le Temps 27 Feb. 2010). According to an article in the Swiss daily Le Temps (ibid.), some fifty women were attacked. According to the article, the author of a book on the 2001 events said that [translation] "for certain religious figures, a woman living alone and providing for her own needs is the devil's daughter" (27 Feb. 2010).

Employment

According to the United States Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2010, "in urban areas, there was social encouragement for women to pursue higher education and/or a career," which led to girls finishing high school more frequently than boys (US 8 Apr. 2011, 29-30). According to a report published by Freedom House on women's rights in the Middle East and North Africa, "women are present in all sectors of employment, and some even work as taxi drivers, policewomen, or members of the military" (3 Mar. 2010, 17). Algerian women represent more than 50 percent of workers in the health sector and more than 30 percent of judges. They also make up more than 60 percent of the education profession (US 8 Apr. 2011, 30). The Chairperson of the CIDDEF also stated that women make up more than 49 percent of the public service (29 May 2011).

However, sources state that, in practice, women are subject to discrimination in the labour market (US 8 Apr. 2011, 29; United Nations 13 Feb. 2008, 2). According to a joint report by the International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme, FIDH), the Algerian league for human rights (Ligue algérienne pour la défense des droits de l'homme, LADDH) and the collective of families of the disappeared in Algeria (Collectif des familles de disparu(e)s en Algérie, CFDA), [translation] "although women are represented in many sectors of the economy and the public service, it is often in very small numbers" (FIDH et al. 17 June 2010, 30). The joint report also notes that the women [translation] "are represented in small numbers in positions of responsibility" in the sectors in which they work and, according to the unions, are paid less than men (ibid.). Moreover, according to an article in NAQD, an Algerian journal of social criticism (Eurozine n.d.), cited by Freedom House, "it is socially acceptable for female civil servants to move within Algeria for work-related reasons because the government is considered a reliable guardian" (Freedom House 3 Mar. 2010, 17).

However, according to the Freedom House report,

divorced or single women who migrate inside the country to work in the private sector often suffer from patriarchal prejudices, which label them as immoral. These stereotypes, combined with the resentment toward female employment that comes with the high rate of unemployment among men, limits the actual freedom of movement of women in search of economic opportunity (Freedom House 3 Mar. 2010, 17).

Housing

Sources note that it is difficult to obtain housing in Algeria, particularly for women, mainly because of a lack of housing (CIDDEF 29 May 2011; SOS femmes en détresse 26 May 2011; Freedom House 3 Mar. 2010, 3). Rents are also high (ibid.; SOS femmes en détresse 26 May 2011). Moreover, rents have to be paid one year in advance (ibid.; CIDDEF 29 May 2011). According to Freedom House, the housing crisis is "a major obstacle to women's emancipation, particularly for divorced or single women" (3 Mar. 2010, 3).

According to the Chairperson of SOS Women in Distress, women who want to live alone [translation] "must face multiple barriers. Single women almost never get to rent. No real estate agency or owner will agree to rent to a single woman regardless of her [education] level" (26 May 2010). According to the Chairperson, if a single woman succeeds in finding housing, [translation] "she faces an inquisition, sexual harassment, and physical and moral aggression" (26 May 2011). She added the following:

[translation]

Even if, in rare cases, the family accepts it, the neighbours and society in general have difficulty accepting this independence. The inquisition starts as soon as a certain freedom is detected-going out in the evening, inviting male friends in-and these may become factors in accusations against her of being a loose woman or of easy virtue, and reprisals come in many forms (ibid.)

The Director of CIDDEF explained that [translation] "single women from the interior of the country get together in threes or fours to rent an apartment in a large city" (29 May 2011). The Director of CIDDEF and the Chairperson of SOS Women in Distress agree that it is easier for a single woman to live in Algiers (CIDDEF 29 May 2011; SOS femmes en détresse 26 May 2011). According to the Chairperson,

[translation]

Algiers is different because it is the capital and people can live in new neighbourhoods where neighbours do not know each other very well, and where the offer of rental accommodation is greater than elsewhere and job opportunities are better than in other cities (ibid.).

According to Article 72 of the Algerian Family Code,

[translation]

in case of divorce, it is the father's responsibility, in the exercise of custody, to provide a decent home or, failing that, money for rent to the person who has custody. A woman with custody is maintained in the family home until the execution by the father of the judicial decision regarding housing (Algeria 2007. Art. 72).

According to Country Reports, in case of divorce, Algerian law allows the wife to keep the family home until her children reach the age of 18 (US 8 Apr. 2011, 29). The Country Reports adds that "in practice, more women retained the family's home if they had custody of the children" (ibid.). However, according to the joint report by the FIDH, the LADDH and the CFDA, in reality, this does not ensure that the wife is able to live in the house alone since the Code also allows [translation] "the husband, who has not obtained custody of the children, to continue to live with his ex-wife and children in the family home" (FIDH et al. 17 June 2010, 29). According to the Director of CIDDEF and the Chairperson of SOS Women in Distress, divorced women often go back to their parents' home (CIDDEF 29 May 2011; SOS Women in Distress 26 May 2011). However, the Director noted that when women [translation] "are still living with their parents and their father dies, they are once again deprived of the paternal home and cannot always find refuge with their brothers, if they have any, and even less often with their cousins" (29 May 2011).

Support services

The Chairperson of SOS Women in Distress and the Director of CIDDEF state that the Algerian government does not provide support services for women living alone (SOS Women in Distress 26 May 2011; CIDDEF 29 May 2011). However, the Director notes that women over 60 and single mothers are entitled to social assistance benefits (ibid.). She also adds that,

[translation]

if the father is working, his single daughter is covered by his social security until she marries. If the father dies and she is still single and unemployed, she is covered by the joint and survivor pension due to his beneficiaries. If she marries or works, she loses this right (ibid.)

The Director added that there are two shelters managed by NGOs in Algiers and that the government manages four more in major cities; she did not specify their names (ibid.). According to her, these resources are [translation] "pathetic." According to the Chairperson of SOS Women in Distress, [translation] "the few associations that exist provide aid and support for victims of violence and advocate for equal and civil laws," but the organizations that work in the field and promote human rights do not receive funding from the government (26 May 2011). Freedom House notes that the number of organizations fighting for women's rights has increased since 2004, but "none of these approaches can be entirely successful as long as the government continues to exercise tight controls on the activities in the public sphere" (3 Mar. 2010, 4).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Agence France-Presse (AFP). 25 April 2010. "Algérie: création d'un collectif de solidarité aux femmes de Hassi Messaoud." (Factiva)

Algeria. 2007. Family Code. [Accessed: 30 June 2011]

Amnesty International (AI). 22 April 2010. "Algérie. Une enquête doit être menée et les responsables présumés d'attaques contre des femmes doivent être traduits en justice." (MDE 28/002/2010) [Accessed: 16 May 2011]

Centre d'information et de documentation sur les droits de l'enfant et de la femme (CIDDEF). 29 May 2011. Correspondence sent to the Research Directorate by the Director.

Eurozine. N.d. "NAQD." [Accessed: 30 June 2011]

Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme (FIDH), Ligue algérienne pour la défense des droits de l'homme (LADDH) and Collectif des familles de disparu(e)s en Algérie (CFDA). 17 June 2010. La "mal-vie": rapport sur la situation des droits économiques, sociaux et culturels en Algérie. [Accessed: 17 May 2011]

Freedom House. 3 March 2010. Nadia Marzouki. "Algeria." Women's Rights in the Middle East and North Africa: Progress Amid Resistance. [Accessed: 13 May 2011]

Le Monde diplomatique [Paris]. June 2010. Ghania Mouffok. "Un afflux de main-d'œuvre féminine sur fond de chômage: femmes émancipées dans le piège de Hassi Messaoud." [Accessed: 26 May 2011]

SOS femmes en détresse. 26 May 2011. Correspondence sent to the Research Directorate by the Chairperson.

_____. N.d. "SOS femmes en détresse." [Accessed: 17 May 2011]

Le Temps [Switzerland]. 27 February 2010. Christian Lecomte. "La dignité rétablie des femmes de Hassi Messaoud." (Factiva)

United Nations. 13 February 2008. Human Rights Council. Rapport de la Rapporteuse spéciale sur la violence contre les femmes, ses causes et ses conséquences, Mme Yakin Ertürk. Additif : Mission en Algérie. (A/HRC/7/6/Add.2) [Accessed: 17 May 2011]

United States (US). 8 April 2011. Department of State. "Algeria." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2010. [Accessed: 16 May 2011]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Attempts made to contact representatives of the Ligue algérienne pour la défense des droits de l'homme, the Femmes algériennes revendiquant leurs droits, the Commission nationale des femmes travailleuses, the Association de défense et promotion des droits des femmes and the Association Mains de femmes were unsuccessful.

Internet sites, including: Algeria - Centre national du registre du commerce, Office National des statistiques; Algeria-Watch; Femmes méditerranéennes; Femmes sous lois musulmanes; Human Rights Watch; Magrehbia; Portail de la Société Civile Maghreb; United Kingdom - Home Office; United Nations - Refworld, Integrated Regional Information Networks.