By Zohour Al-Mashraqi

Tunis - Hanen Al-Mahjoubi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Socialist Party, affirmed that women’s participation in political life in Tunisia has declined due to both legal and social barriers. She calls for empowering women through awareness, gender-responsive budgeting, and strict application of laws to protect them from violence and marginalization.

Al-Mahjoubi stated that Tunisia has always been a pioneer in presenting competent women leaders in politics, civil society, and various pioneering fields. However, she noted a clear decline in women’s presence in political parties and public affairs. “In the years following the revolution, women’s participation was massive and remarkable, especially in elections. The revolution gave them space to express their potential and serve their country with competence — as if it unleashed all their hidden energy. Women participated strongly in the 2011 and 2014 elections before their presence began to decline in recent years, particularly in leadership positions.”

A Call to Deepen Women’s Leadership in Parties and Society

As for the causes of this decline, Al-Mahjoubi explained that there has also been a regression in mindsets — with patriarchal and reactionary thinking returning, and women once again being stereotyped as “lacking reason and religion.” Society has reverted to traditional gender roles, seeing women as belonging in the home and raising children. Moreover, women have been subjected to violence both inside and outside parliament, as well as defamation and moral shaming. “In a patriarchal society, when a woman is judged, her morals are targeted — not her work or activism,” she said.

She added that the current electoral law has also become an obstacle for women’s candidacy. After the achievement of gender parity, it was abolished, undoing gains that were achieved through years of feminist struggle. “The latest elections resulted in a parliament where women are almost absent. Some parties even refuse to include women in their executive or central committees.”

To strengthen women’s participation in politics and public life, Al-Mahjoubi emphasized the need for political awareness about the importance of women’s roles — seeing it as a priority, not a secondary issue. “Women alone can defend their rights,” she said. “Although the Socialist Party I belong to does not have a separate women’s organization, this stems from a collective vision that sees women as an integral — not exceptional — part of society.”

She stressed the importance of enhancing women’s leadership opportunities through awareness and gender-responsive budgeting, since the lack of funding and support remains a major barrier to their active participation.

She further noted that the government has a duty to support women by adopting gender-responsive budgets to combat patriarchal thinking and ensure that women are protected in public spaces. She also called for laws that shield women from defamation and online harassment — “since in patriarchal societies, a woman’s morals are the easiest weapon used against her.”

Law 58 and the Fight Against Violence

Regarding Law No. 58 of 2017, which combats violence against women — including political violence — Al-Mahjoubi said the legislation was the result of a powerful feminist movement over many years. “This pioneering movement is an example of how rights and achievements were gained. However, the law has failed to curb violence because it is not being properly enforced,” she stated, calling for its full implementation as it addresses all forms of violence — including political — at a time when femicides are alarmingly rising.

Socialism as a Path to Equality

When asked if socialism can achieve equality for women, she responded:

“Socialism is not only about owning the means of production — it is a comprehensive system that includes women and men side by side in all fields, with full and practical equality and without gender-based discrimination. It is a system that brings justice to women. If it is applied, we will see women playing a leading and remarkable role — not just in slogans.”

“They Experience Double Violence Because They Are Women”

Commenting on the suffering of women in Syria, Sudan, Gaza, and Yemen, who endure atrocities, killings, and oppression, Al-Mahjoubi said that they experience “double violence” — because they are women and because they live in war zones, which constitute political violence. She emphasized the moral duty to amplify their silenced voices and expose the violations committed against them.

“These women often have no access to the internet to speak about the horrific abuses they endure — as seen in Afghanistan, parts of Syria, and in Al-Fashir in Sudan,” she said. “Our humanitarian and feminist responsibility requires constant solidarity and raising awareness about these violations through digital platforms and women-supportive media. There are other media outlets that serve biased agendas, but we must be their voices until peace returns. We cannot stop supporting them — we must continue to expose the crimes, demand the implementation of international treaties, and ensure the protection of women and children during wars and conflicts.”

From Slogans to Real Leadership

Regarding recent events in Gaza and the detention of the “Fleet of Resilience,” which included women from different countries, Al-Mahjoubi stated that the detention was illegal, as it occurred in international waters. She praised the activists — men and women — who risked everything to break the siege on a region where “humanity is being annihilated before the world’s eyes.”

“What happened was not an accidental event,” she said. “It was an organized act of piracy — another face of the colonial and racist project practiced by the occupying entity for decades against free peoples, foremost among them the Palestinian people.”

She stressed that the issue goes beyond violating maritime freedom or international law — it is a direct attack on Tunisia’s national sovereignty. “The same entity previously targeted ships of the Freedom Flotilla docked at Sidi Bou Said port in Tunisia with incendiary projectiles launched by drones. Today, it continues its violations by kidnapping activists — including Tunisians — who sacrificed their families to break the siege on Gaza. This is an act of aggression, an insult to our nation’s dignity, and a violation of our right to protect our citizens.”

Al-Mahjoubi expressed her party’s absolute condemnation of this act, calling it a “crime committed by a rogue state that tramples international law.” She demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees, holding Israeli forces fully responsible for their physical and psychological safety. She also urged Tunisia’s political leadership to take urgent diplomatic and legal action through the UN Security Council, the General Assembly, and international courts to expose and prosecute those responsible.

Finally, she called on the Tunisian people and all free nations to unite their voices and intensify their collective struggle through public protests, boycott campaigns, labor solidarity, and student and youth movements — to expose the occupation and hold it politically and morally accountable for its crimes. “This is not only the battle of Palestinians,” she concluded. “It is the battle of all free people against colonialism, racism, and fascism.”