WOMEN > TUNISIA
Fighting for women’s rights at university n Tunisian women in the streets of Tunis
www.enpi-info.eu Learning to safeguard equality in terms of rights and to advocate a cause or a draft law when addressing public decision-makers and officials. That is the aim of a training workshop entitled ‘Advocacy strategy and mobilisation of Tunisian civil society’ organised at the feminist university of Tunis by the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women and supported by the European Union. A journalist from the European Neighbourhood Information Centre took part in the training session, met the participants and sent us this report. Text by: Kamel Bouaouina Photos by: Photos by AFP © EU / Neighbourhood Info Centre
TUNIS – “We need to give women the chance to speak out, to allow them to differentiate themselves and set themselves apart from others and in particular to move forward in this democratic adventure,” says Inès Chihaoui, a student in fine arts and a participant in the training workshop entitled ‘Advocacy strategy and mobilisation of Tunisian civil society’ organised at the feminist university of Tunis. There about twenty of them, mostly working within the association, take part in the initiative led by Karim Bouzouita, a doctor in anthropology and an advocate addressing NGOs and international organisations. During the workshop, the idea is to let the participants express themselves with more confidence whilst improving their capacity to argue a case. The workshop is therefore part of the current mobilisation in favour of women’s rights. This publication does not represent the An area to engage with a cause official view of the EC The feminist university, which was set up on 9 March 2009, is open to or the EU institutions. EU Neighbourhood Info Centre militants and young people. It is named after the much missed Ilhem The EC accepts no Feature no. 127 Marzouki, a sociologist and founder of the ‘Club Tahar Haddad 1978’ responsibility or This is a series of features on projects study club on the situation facing women, and from which the liability whatsoever funded by the EU, prepared by Tunisian feminist movement emerged. Far from being an academic with regard to its journalists and photographers on the content. area, this university sees itself as a place for engagement with the ground or the EU Neighbourhood female cause, marrying action and reflection with the aim of Info Centre. recreating an intergenerational cultural place. Its objectives revolve © 2014 EU/Neighbourhood Info Centre around the dissemination of universal values, equality and non-
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n Tunisian police working in the streets of Tunis
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discrimination towards women. “Since it was created,” says Souad Ben Rejeb, the Executive Director of the feminist university, “our university has been fighting against sexism in schools, for compulsory schooling and against the disparities at school which penalise girls more than boys.” “Equality is a matter for democracy and fundamental rights,” says Emma Hsairi. “It concerns us all.” The university’s actions include defending young Meriem, who was a victim of rape; events with young people; launching a campaign to promulgate a framework law against violence against women. And of course, activities such as training workshops on advocacy, which is part of the ‘A Spring forward for women’ project.
“We need to give women the chance to speak out to allow them to differentiate themselves and set themselves apart from others and in particular to move forward in this democratic adventure.”
For lasting change The feminist university joined this project to empower women politically and economically in the southern Mediterranean region. The project aims to promote the access and effective participation of marginalised women in economic and public life by removing the barriers that prevent them from taking part in these areas. Funded by the European Union (seven million euro) and UN Women (1.2 million euro), its aim is to develop the capacities of civil society organisations, NGOs and associations, to incorporate the gender dimension into their structures and to defend women’s interests. “The training on advocacy is part of a programme of strengthening democratic dialogue and the citizen’s participation of women in the management of development policies,” says Souad Ben Rejeb. “It is not enough to have leaders,” says Khaoula Yahyaoui. “You need to have the requirement for power to be shared, which means less men in power. Equality is first of all a mindset and a culture that is worth putting in place and not a rule imposed by law.” Advocacy to defend rights The programme aims to embed a culture of advocacy and to offer women good techniques so that they have better advocacy to defend their rights. Tunisian women have been on the front line of revolutions. They now have a key role to play in fashioning the evolution of Tunisian society. So this programme comes at a crucial time given the transformations underway in numerous countries and women’s stated wish for long-term change. Souad Ben Rejeb asserts that participating in this workshop represents an important step that will allow women to consolidate their presence in all spheres of society. “The ‘One spring forward’ programme will give participants the chance to develop certain skills so that they can achieve more equality.” “Feminism is an essential and daily struggle for the whole of society. n A young Tunisian journalist working for Echourouk, a newspaper in Arabic People listen to us occa-
“Equality is a matter for democracy and fundamental rights. It concerns us all.”
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“We need to recognise the influence of women and consider them as agents of change within their family, their community and their country.”
sionally but that’s not it,” adds Zohra Mchirgui. “You can’t get to an emancipated society without equality.” Emna Chihaoui, an activist at the university, explains that, by applying the concept of advocacy, women are motivated to adhere to values of equality and we increase their capacity to mobilise to defend these universal values. “Women are too often seen only n Souad Ben Rejeb, on the left, and Karim Bouzouita talking to women as part of the ‘One spring forward for women’ project as vulnerable victims,” she says. “We need to recognise their influence and consider them as agents of change within their family, their community and their country.” The debates at the feminist university are an essential place for reflection, for meeting, for openness and for tolerance in a debating culture that has been traditionally nurtured by this university. “We would need to become aware of the capacity of women to give political life fresh momentum,” adds Khaoula Yahyaoui. They have a role to play in terms of polarising feminine skills because change is inevitable. Through advocacy, we can obtain change at the local, regional and international levels.”
A spring forward for women This project to empower women in the southern Mediterranean politically and economically aims to promote the effective access to and participation of marginalised women in economic and public life by removing the obstacles that hamper their participation in these areas.
Countries taking part: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Tunisia Timeline: 2012-2016 Budget: Seven million euro (EU contribution) + 1.2 million euro (UN Women budget)
To find out more EU Neighbourhood Info centre: project fact sheet http://www.enpi-info.eu/mainmed.php?id=475&id_type=10&lang_id=450 Strengthening the role of women in the neighbourhood: Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9LJp_cdm6k&list=PLaGaqba06xphL_RIi2wU_g-gU5krxU_jR&feature=c4overview-vl EU Neighbourhood Info Centre – information by theme: WOMEN http://www.enpi-info.eu/thememed.php?subject=12&lang_id=450 UN Women http://www.unwomen.org/en
EU Neighbourhood Info Centre An ENPI project The EU Neighbourhood Info Centre is an EU-funded Regional Information and Communication project highlighting the partnership between the EU and Neighbouring countries. The project is managed by Action Global Communications.
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