ZUHÛR EL-MEŞRIQÎ

Tunisia – Violence against women has been increasing in Tunisia, like all around the world. We spoke to Monia Ben Jemia, a Tunisian law professor, academic, feminist, and president of the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women (ATFD), about the increasing violence against women in Tunisia. She stressed that the discriminatory laws in the country should be abolished.

What are your thoughts about the recent alarming rates of violence against women in Tunisia?

As everybody knows, violence against women has been increasing in Tunisia is due to the economic, security, political and social crises that the country has struggled with since the start of the democratic transition after the Arab uprisings of 2011. The economic crisis deepening poverty and unemployment rates are some of the reasons for this increase.

“Awareness-raising campaigns should be launched”

Do you think the campaigns launched for a short time are enough to reduce the rate of violence?

We all know that the campaigns launched for a short time solve nothing. In order to prevent violence against women, long-term awareness-raising campaigns should be launched to determine the reasons for violence against women and gender discrimination, namely political and economic inequality against women. In addition, all discriminatory laws in the country should be abolished. Young people should receive gender-based education to prevent violence against women. All people should make efforts to change the patriarchal mentality of society. This will take time but the feminist movement can achieve it.

“Comprehensive mechanisms are needed”

Some laws remain only on paper. What is the reason for this?

Unfortunately, the Law on Eliminating Violence against Women is not implemented. I think more comprehensive mechanisms are needed to prevent violence against women. Law No. 58 has failed to abolish discriminatory laws, and we still have a long way to go. The Code of Personal Status was a revolution when it was issued but today it becomes the most discriminatory code. The code considers man the head of the family. The code limits daughters’ inheritance rights and provides that any sons inherit twice as much as daughters. There is a patriarchal mentality in the Tunisian Code of Personal Status. The Individual Freedoms and Equality Committee was created in 2017. Some amendments were proposed when the 2018 report of the committee revealed the discrimination against women. But no step has been taken until now.

“The struggle will continue until the equality law is passed”

Is it difficult to achieve equality of inheritance in Tunisia or is it just used in the electoral campaigns to take the votes of women?

Tunisian Feminist Movement plays an important role in fighting for women’s rights. That's why I think its fight is strong. It still wages the fight for women’s inheritance rights. Feminists have launched campaigns to raise awareness of the public about this issue. The struggle of the feminist movement will continue until the equality law is passed.

In your opinion, has the Feminist Movement succeeded in influencing and changing politics and laws?

The Feminist Movement aims to remove the patriarchal mentality all around the world. The Feminist Movement existed in Arab countries from the end of the 8th century to the beginning of the 19th century. In many countries, identities and religions have been used to normalize masculinity. However, the duty of the Feminist Movements is to reveal this shameful reality.

“Women should unite”

What is needed to advance women's rights?

Women should unite and be in solidarity with each other. Especially, women should unite to end violence against them.

Do you have any messages for Tunisian women?

You are the soul of Tunisia and the key to saving the country from any deficiency, discrimination, and corruption. We still have a long way to go; there is no other way but to fight.