Women in Action in Tunisia

ISSUE BRIEF 06.24.20 Women in Action in Tunisia Khedija Arfaoui, Ph.D., Independent Human Rights Researcher Tunisia has long been recognized for its concern is the status of women in state progressive attitude toward women,1 with institutions, including courts, police stations, feminist organizations emerging as early and gendarmeries. Nine years after the as 1936.2 Moroccan author Tahar Ben 2011 uprisings, Tunisian women have not Jelloun suggests that, “[Tunisia] is the most lost any of their rights, but the move for progressive country in the Arab world.”3 equality is far from over and the need to Caroline Perrot asserts that “Tunisia is seen change societal norms remains a core issue. as a forerunner for women's rights in the Discrimination has persisted in Tunisia and it Arab world.”4 Valentine Moghadam shares seems the freedoms granted to women were the same view, stating, “Legal reforms mostly implemented in order to improve made Tunisia the most liberal country in the country’s reputation in the West. This the Arab world.”5 Women have been able brief aims to further an understanding of the to successfully lobby the government to substantive changes, if any, that women in ratify the Commission on the Elimination of Tunisia have experienced. Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)6 and have demanded action against all forms of discrimination and violence.7 Women RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS AND continued to elevate their status after the SETBACKS IN WOMEN’S EQUALITY 2011 uprising using grassroots mobilization Education efforts, leading to support from politicians. Previously, decisions about women’s The government’s will to decrease gender status were made at the government level inequality has allowed women’s access to and women were not consulted. This was education in Tunisia to continue to expand. the case with the Code of Personal Status Tunisia’s prioritization of female education is (CSP)—a series of progressive laws that admirable and bound for success. Tunisia’s Nine years after aimed to promote gender equality—adopted future looks much more liberal and altruistic the 2011 uprisings, in 1957. The CPS was said to be “a gift on a than many of its regional counterparts, silver tray” to women because, as President though only time will tell if this leads to Tunisian women have Habib Bourguiba argued, it was created genuine change for the country.10 not lost any of their without any demands from women.8 Nearly 100% of the country’s girls rights, but the move for The shift toward women’s autonomy are educated — a higher percentage than equality is far from over boys.11 According to UNESCO figures , the and the power to enact change was quite and the need to change an achievement, as the Tunisian Association education rate between young men and of Democratic Women (ATFD)9 experienced women in Tunisia is almost equal; in 2007, societal norms remains difficulties denouncing matrimonial violence 96.7% of girls and 95.5% of boys were a core issue. and marital rape under the repressive enrolled in primary education.12 Sexual regime of President Zine el-Abidine Ben health education has also increased after Ali (1987-2011). Now, a growing area of a backlash regarding a teacher who raped over 20 children in a small city in southern RICE UNIVERSITY’S BAKER INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY // ISSUE BRIEF // 06.24.20 Tunisia. In 2018, Yamina Zoghlami, a Following Essebsi’s death in July 2019, conservative member of parliament and of conservative politicians were elected to the Islamic Ennahdha party, unexpectedly the position of president (Kais Said) and supported this move, saying, “There are head of parliament (Rached Ghannouchi, young Tunisians who consider the body the head of Ennahdha). President Said was to be haram [forbidden in Islam]. The elected with 72.8% of the vote, despite his ministry of education is very outdated on lack of political experience. He promised this subject; young people must be taught to “make the most of his popularity to bring scientific sex education so that they can about substantial changes."16 After several 13 Despite its modern protect themselves and others.” months of debate, a new cabinet was Women would not have been able to finally proposed in February 2020, which— approach to many move forward in their struggle for equality unfortunately—contains too few women. issues, Tunisia has without an education, though many in poor Despite its modern approach to many not been able to bring and rural areas still face major barriers, such issues, Tunisia has not been able to bring about needed changes, as a lack of public transport or a shortage of about needed changes, partly as a result water. In these rural regions, primary and of the number of extreme Islamists and partly as a result of the secondary school children may still have Shari’a proponents who are increasingly number of extreme to walk kilometers to school, facing many found in parliament. There are a total of 74 Islamists and Shari’a risks. In 2019, a young girl named Maya Islamists in Tunisia’s parliament out of 217 proponents who are had to walk through a flooded river to get members, one third of whom are women.17 increasingly found home from school. She died, resulting in In March 2020, Mohamed Affes, the deputy substantial media attention. Maya was the from the Al-Karama coalition, proudly in parliament. daughter of a poor couple who lived in utter and vociferously defended takfir-ism—or poverty. They viewed her education as a accusing non-believers of being infidels— path to stable employment and to helping when he proposed that security agents her parents lead more comfortable lives. should cut off the hands of thieves, as is While this incident led to demands that done in more religiously conservative states the government spend more on educational such as Saudi Arabia. Such pronouncements institutions and hospitals, rather than indicate that extreme Islamist government mosques, such requests inevitably provoke officials would like to see a move away from the ire of Islamists who consider them to a secular state and a return to Shari’a law.18 be blasphemy. Additionally, there are several restrictive laws impeding progress on women’s rights. Government Bochra BelHmida, a lawyer, former president Tunisia owes much of its success in the area of ATFD, a former member of parliament, of women’s rights to former President Habib and chair of the special commission created Bourguiba, “who introduced the concept by former President Essebsi for the defense of modernity with a secular spirit and of individual rights (COLIBE), has noted respecting female rights” and dared to speak several violations of human rights in existing 19 about equal rights to inheritance.14 Women’s laws. For example, a couple caught kissing demands also led the late President Beji in a car in the northern suburb of Tunis Caied Essebsi—a follower of Bourguiba who resulted in the man—who was a foreigner— was very supportive of women’s equality— being jailed for days. There was also the to appoint a commission dedicated to case of a woman who was refused service women’s rights. Kemal Daoud, an Algerian at a courthouse because a female public writer, wrote of Essebsi, “The president of servant said she was dressed indecently. Tunisia has become the leading figure of These are just some of the tactics currently reformism in the Arab world by advocating used by Islamists to change the fabric of life equal inheritance rights for Muslim women in Tunisia. and their right to marry non-Muslim foreigners.”15 2 WOMEN IN ACTION IN TUNISIA Activism Against Sexual Harassment Aswat Nissa took part in this defensive Tunisian feminists have followed the global feminist wave against sexual harassment. “#MeToo” movement. Headed by Aswat They organized an event and created a Nissa (Women’s Voices) and other feminist corresponding app called the 2019 Electric NGOs, “Me Too” became “EnaZeda ” in Dunes, which they used to denounce sexual Tunisia. The aim was to encourage female harassment through various slogans and and male victims of sexual violence to break methods of storytelling. Slogans they used their silence.20 Aswat Nissa now comprises included: “Don’t tell me how to dress, 32,648 members who share their stories and tell them not to rape,” and “Have your experiences on a daily basis via organized whistle on you in order to denounce.” A meetings, seminars, press conferences, and former Ennahdha minister and member of radio interviews. parliament also spoke out as part of this movement by reporting her own sexual In 2019, a Tunisian schoolgirl accused 24 one of her teachers of sexual harassment, harassment at age 12. which he denied. The parents removed their Other recent mobilizations include a daughter from that school, but when no sit-in organized by the Tunisian Association action was taken against the teacher, the of Democratic Women (ATFD) on January father sued and the teacher was jailed. In 23, 2020, at the Tunis Tribunal. It was mid-January 2020, the teacher’s colleagues organized in support of Rachida Kouki, who went on strike on his behalf with the support experienced workplace violence. On January of the Tunisian Workers’ Union (UGTT). 28, 2020, human rights activist Lina Ben However, there has also been solid support Mhenni was carried to the El Jellaz cemetery of the school girl. On January 29, 2020, and buried by women instead of men, even Aswat Nissa organized a press conference on though this is against a strict tradition in her behalf, with witnesses who are currently Muslim communities. receiving death threats for speaking up.

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