while there are variations among countries in protecting women s rights the overall trend in the region reveals that discrimination and violence against women are not diminishing which is often supported by references to religion and cultural background this trend is due to many factors including legal barriers lack of law enforcement economic and social crises of the countries and the rise in radical religious movements which call for reversal in achievements in women rights particularly in the family domain in particular countries that experienced political changes and revolutions in the past years have been witnessing a rise in religious discourse and backward trends which tend to threaten women s rights