YOUTH > TUNISIA
Debate as a culture takes root www.enpi-info.eu
What happens when two groups do not share the same opinion? They must learn, if unable to actually convince one another, then at least to listen. On the southern shores of the Mediterranean, one of the biggest challenges is to learn to live with difference. The “Young Arab Voices” project, initiated and steered by the Anna Lindh Foundation and the British Council, is seeking to root the debate culture among young people and to develop their critical faculties. After participating in an “in debate” training, a journalist from the EU Neighbourhood Info Centre shares his impressions. Text by: Kamel Bouaouina Pictures by: AFP © EU/Neighbourhood Info Centre
TUNIS – Should you refuse to tolerate someone who is intolerant? Should he who kills be killed? In a social context in which violence is growing by the day, it is normal to ask questions about its origins. According to the “eye for an eye” code of justice, evil should be combated with evil and injustice with injustice. “I believe Gandhi was perfectly right when he said: ‘An eye for an eye would make the whole world blind,’” says Souad Yakoubi, a student at the Ibn Charaf Institute of Languages. “The primary role of vengeance is to eliminate the criminal, it is a means of social protection to maintain public order and prevent re-offending,” argues Jed Ben Aoun, a student at the IHEC, in response. This passionate debate was held at the British Council in Tunis as part of the “Young Arab Voices” project steered This publication does jointly by the Anna Lindh Foundation for inter-cultural dialogue and the British Council. A unique meeting as not represent the the subject was clearly close to the hearts of the six young Tunisian official view of the EC participants. Throughout the morning an exalting sense of genuine or the EU institutions. EU Neighbourhood Info Centre exchange and dialogue was in the air. Yet the two groups were not of The EC accepts no Feature no. 101 the same opinion. responsibility or This is a series of features on projects liability whatsoever funded by the EU, prepared by with regard to its Arguing your case? It can be learned journalists and photographers on the content. This is the very purpose of the “Young Arab Voices” project that aims ground or the EU Neighbourhood to firmly establish this debate culture and offer young people the best Info Centre. techniques, including oratorical, with which to present a better case © 2013 EU/Neighbourhood Info Centre in defending their opinions on questions central to their interests. As
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n Chamsseddine Abdelhafidh, one of the participants in the Young Arab Voices project
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Hamza Kaabar, project manager
“It is still tense out on the street. One of the biggest challenges facing Tunisia is to learn to live with difference. We are not used to having an exchange of opinions and accepting different ways of life.” project manager Hamza Kaabar explains: “This programme aims to develop critical faculties among our young people, strengthen their knowledge of politics, develop their analytical ability, promote the culture of democratic debate and create a link between young people and the political decision-making bodies.” “It is still tense out on the street,” says Tunisian activist Souhir Chaari, “and one of the biggest challenges facing Tunisia is to learn to live with difference. We are not used to having an exchange of opinions, of accepting different ways of life.” The desire of the British Council and the Anna Lindh Foundation is to see more debates of this kind so that we can have a melting pot of opinions that is ever more enriching. “We must allow young people to have their say so that they can advance in this democratic adventure,” adds Wissem Boudrigua, a student at the Higher Institute of Human Sciences in Tunis. “We must listen to proposals, prepare counter-arguments and when opposing ideas are presented, you must know how to reply and show respect and maturity, because just because somebody has a different viewpoint than yours it does not mean that they are against you. A good debate is a structured argument through which two opposing viewpoints try to win the support of the audience.” This is exactly what is happening in the debate on “an eye for a eye”. The first team that argues in favour of Talion Law, thus has the burden of proof and must prepare a rigorous argument. The second opposes the idea proposed but must also defend its position. The debate is dense, rich, instructive, passionate. And certainly not without its heated moments. Souhir Chaari does a good job of defending the cause. “This Talion Law must be applied on certain occasions. It is one of the oldest laws in the history of humankind. It is legitimate defence.” Basma Ghali, a student at the Ibn Charaf Institute of Languages in Tunis, does not accept this: “This concept refers to a philosophy of justice that is both barbarous and outdated, rooted in personal vengeance rather than justice and by which each act would give rise to another.” This dialogue initiated by Young Arab Voices awakens the mind to new perceptions of reality, adds Soaud Yakoubi: “Tunisian youth,” she says, “played an important role in triggering democratic change and it is vital for these young people to continue to be able to participate and make their voices heard. I am so pleased to see the Anna Lindh Foundation and the British Council support this remarkable initiative.” Youth at the heart of change It is true that young people have been the principal force for change in the events that have swept the Arab countries since 2011, and they will remain an essential component of the new political systems these societies are demanding. They will also be vital to the conception of
“We must allow young people to have their say so that they can advance in this democratic adventure.”
n Souhir Chaari, Tunisian activist
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new development models centred on job creation, local development and sustainability. “These young people,” concludes project manager Hamza Kaabar, “will become the shapers of their own destinies in Tunisia’s political and economic sphere, in which a joint agenda for North-South development is needed to consolidate this partnership and redefine EuroMediterranean cooperation.” Mr Kaabar is convinced that the Anna Lindh Foundation programmes such as Young Arab Voices will be able to help achieve all these goals as they aim to give more weight to the n Wissem Boudrigua, student at the Higher Institute of Human Sciences in Tunis voice of Tunisian youth and a platform from which to be heard. “It is only through dialogue, the coming together of peoples, the mutual opposing of ideas and understanding, that it is possible to combat prejudices and minds closed to diversity,” he concludes. “It is only by bringing down the barriers of ignorance that it is possible to open up a curiosity about others, to new knowledge and a mutual process of enrichment nourished by North-South dialogue.”
“A good debate is a structured argument through which two opposing viewpoints try to win the support of the audience.”
Young Arab Voices http://www.youngarabvoices.org/ The Young Arab Voices programme was launched jointly in 2011 by the Anna Lindh Foundation and the British Council in response to the political and social changes taking place throughout the Arab region. The programme aims to strengthen the debating abilities of young people and facilitate their involvement in the new processes of democratic transition and reform. It has led to the creation of debating societies on a wide range of subjects, at schools and universities as well as at cultural centres and within local NGOs. Young Arab Voices is supported by the European Commission and the Arab League and co-financed by the UK Foreign Office’s Arab Partnership initiative. The Anna Lindh Foundation for inter-cultural dialogue promotes knowledge, mutual respect and intercultural dialogue between the people of the Euro-Mediterranean region, working through a network of over 3,000 civil society organisations in 43 countries. Its budget is co-financed by the EU (7 million euros) and the EU Member States (6 million euros).
To find out more
Anna Lindh Foundation – Topic sheets and news Anna Lindh Foundation – Website EU Neighbourhood Info Centre – topic sheet: YOUTH http://www.enpi-info.eu/thememed.php?subject=13
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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