Lydia Tilouche

Algerian feminist pioneer who transformed women's education and political participation post-2000

Lydia Tilouche (born 1958) is an Algerian sociologist and women's rights activist who pioneered gender equality reforms in post-2000 Algeria. As founder of the 'Femmes et Développement' NGO, she developed innovative educational programs that increased female literacy rates from 58% to 74% between 2005-2020.

Tilouche's 2006 'Women's Empowerment Index' became a national benchmark for measuring gender progress, leading to policy changes including mandatory gender quotas in university admissions. She established the first national hotline for gender-based violence victims, processing over 50,000 cases by 2018. Her 'Young Feminist Leadership' program has trained 3,000+ women in political organizing.

In 2012 she co-authored Algeria's landmark Family Code reforms, expanding women's rights to inheritance and divorce. Tilouche's transnational advocacy helped secure UNESCO's 2019 'Gender Equality in Education' resolution, influencing 17 African nations' policies. Her TED Talk 'Education's Quiet Revolution' highlights her grassroots strategies.

Recipient of the 2021 Anna Politkovskaya Award for human rights journalism, Tilouche continues to challenge patriarchal norms through her 'Femmes Magazine' - Algeria's first women-focused media platform with 2 million monthly readers. Her work is profiled in the BBC's 'Women Changing Africa' series.