Aspects of Supporting the Legal Status of Women in Algerian Family Law

Through Ordinance No. 05-02, which amends and supplements Family Law No. 84-11, the Algerian legislator intended to strengthen the legal status of women. This is manifested on several levels, notably the provisions relating to the conclusion and dissolution of marriage. The legislator enhanced the woman’s role in concluding the marriage contract by amending rules regarding legal capacity, guardianship, and other related provisions, in addition to financial and non-financial consequences of marriage. The legal status of women was also reinforced in cases of marital dissolution, whether by divorce or khula (unilateral divorce initiated by the wife), including the resulting rights such as custody and guardianship of children.