Naziha Bussaidi

Tunis_ Like all Tunisians, Tunisians Women aspired to change for the better after the outsing of Ben Ali,with work and dignity among the most prominent demands,followed by rights and freedoms that had been severely restricted at the time.Despite the pivotal role women played in the revolution and the democratic transition, there is now broad consensus that while women’s conditions improved in certain areas, they have since witnessed systematic regression in many fields, particularly regarding rights and freedoms.

In this context, human rights activist Najat Zammouri, Vice President of the Tunisian League for the Defense of Human Rights, stated: “Fifteen years after the January 14, 2011 revolution or uprising—during which Tunisians demanded freedom, dignity, and social justice, and women were at the heart of the movement in streets, working-class neighborhoods, and villages, and on the front lines of struggle in Sidi Bouzid, Kasserine, Tala, and other marginalized regions—the current situation calls for an honest and critical assessment of women’s rights in Tunisia.”

She explained that women’s rights have witnessed alarming regression instead of consolidation fifteen years after the revolution. While significant gains were achieved following 2011—most notably the 2014 Constitution, which enshrined equality and non-discrimination, and Law No. 58 on combating violence against women adopted in 2017 after long struggles—these achievements were not adequately safeguarded nor translated into sustainable public policies, rendering them increasingly vulnerable amid the absence of political will and the deterioration of the human rights framework.

Crisis&Challenges

It can be said that the situation of Tunisian women after 2011 has been marked by a clear duality, as certain legal gains were achieved while women simultaneously faced challenges imposed by political and economic crises and profound social transformations.

Hajar Nasser, a feminist activist and member of the Equality and Women’s Rights Front, stated that following the 2011 revolution, Tunisia experienced an unprecedented openness regarding women’s rights, with Tunisian women strongly present in public space as well as in social and political movements.

She stressed that women’s presence and continued struggle enabled the achievement of significant gains in women’s rights, most notably the 2014 Constitution, which affirmed the principle of equality between male and female citizens, committed the state to protecting women’s acquired rights, and established parity in elected councils. This was reflected in the 2014 Parliament, where women’s representation reached 30 percent—the highest rate in the Arab region at the time.

Among the most significant achievements after the 2011 revolution was the adoption of Law No. 58 of 2017 on the elimination of violence against women, which constituted a landmark legislative step. For the first time, the law recognized all forms of violence—economic, psychological, sexual, and physical—and placed responsibility on the state for prevention, protection, and support for survivors.

However, legal texts have largely remained without effective implementation. Statistics reveal that eight out of ten women experience violence at least once in their lifetime. According to the National Institute of Statistics, most cases occur within the family, despite the existence of Law No. 58, due to weak and limited enforcement mechanisms. The lack of adequate training for security personnel and judges, combined with the shortage of shelters and difficulties in accessing them—especially in interior regions—further exacerbates women’s social and economic vulnerability

In concluding her remarks, Hajar Nasser stated: “Tunisia has important laws that must be defended and preserved. However, we must shed light on the social and political reality we live in. We exist within a society that normalizes violence against women, and we must recognize that the erosion of women’s rights represents a regression of the rule of law. Defending women’s rights and democracy is, ultimately, a defense of the rule of law and social justice.”