In a recent interview to the “Arabies” Press Group (“Arabies” in French, “Arabies Trends” in English and “Saneou Al Hadath” in Arabic) Tunisia’s First Lady, Mrs Leila Ben Ali evoked Tunisia’s Chairmanship from 2009 to 2011 of the Arab Women’s Organisation (AWO).
Mrs Leila Ben Ali said that Tunisia’s chairmanship reflects the trust placed in Tunisia’s capacity to improve the status of Arab women.
“Tunisia wishes to actively take part in empowering women in Arab societies, be it within AWO or throughout regional and international organizations,” she added.
Mrs Ben Ali also said that Tunisia’s main goal was to improve the image of Arab women and that she will deploy “all necessary efforts so that the Tunisian chairmanship of the organisation achieves new breakthroughs.”
Since the country’s independence and the promulgation of the Code pf Personal Status in 1956 and after the November 7, 1987 Change the promotion of women’s rights in Tunisia “has become an essential dimension of human rights,” she said.
To a question on the quota system and its impact on the development of political participation by Arab women, Tunisia’s First Lady said that positive discrimination for women through “the quota system is but factor and not the sole one” for the empowerment of Arab women. “In the near future, when Tunisian women will have proven their competence, Tunisia will no longer need the quota system”, she added.
Evoking her commitment to humanitarian and charity work, Mrs Leila Ben Ali announced that the Basma charity organisation for the promotion of employment among the disabled which she is chairing, will soon inaugurate a new centre to provide the disabled from all age groups and social classes with the possibility of attending workshops, training in computers sciences and in various sectors of handicrafts such as embroidery, carpentry, theatre and music.
The centre will also offer the disabled the possibility to practise sports activities, thanks to the building of a swimming pool and a health track, she said.
In this interview, Mrs. Leila Ben Ali spoke, in particular, about Tunisia’s chairmanship of the Arab Women Organisation and the objectives she aspires to achieve in this tenure.
This interview, which has made the cover of these magazines, with photos of Mrs. Leila Ben Ali, focused on changes in Tunisian women’s conditions and the consolidation of their participation in political life and various other fields, and ways to allow Arab women to draw on the Tunisian experience.
In part of this interview which was reserved a large space illustrated by photos of the First Lady showing various aspects of her activities, Mrs. Leila Ben Ali spoke of the civil society’s contribution to improve women’s conditions, and her social and humanitarian activities.
Here is the full text of this interview :
Question: What do you think of Tunisia’s chairmanship of the Arab Women Organisation ?
Answer: The chairmanship of the AWO is first and foremost the expression of the Arab countries’ deep respect for Tunisia as a pioneering country when it comes to promoting the cause of women and their rights system.
It reflects the trust placed in Tunisia’s capability of strengthening co-operation to better conceive Arab women’s status.
Tunisia wishes to actively take part in empowering women in the Arab societies, and thanks to this trust in promoting their roles, be it at the heart of the AWO or throughout regional and international organisations.
Our country has in fact played a key role in founding this organisation. It has been one of the first Arab countries to sign and ratify the Organisation’s founding convention. It has submitted various proposals and approaches for its action programmes and objectives.
We have contributed as well to the elaboration of mechanisms to increase the organisation’s capacities in promoting the Arab women’s causes. Solidarity among Arab women is a pillar of Arab solidarity in general.
Question: Which fields will you focus on during your chairmanship?
Answer: Since the inception of this organisation, its chairmanship has been competently and brilliantly fulfilled by the Arab First Ladies. Their Majesties and Highnesses took part in establishing the organisation’s foundations and achieving its objectives.
We will put all efforts to go forward in the same direction for Arab women to be equal to men in public life, in their political choices and in achieving the dreams of Arab societies for further progress.
Question: Do you have specific plans as chair?
Answer: We will attempt to finalise the current projects and implement other strategies and programmes answering the expectations of Arab women.
We will focus in particular on innovative activities granting sufficient attention to the economic, social, educational and cultural fields, as well as media and sports.
Our main target here is to better the Arab women’s image. We will deploy the necessary efforts so the Tunisian chairmanship witness new breakthroughs.
We will try to assess the inter-twinning and complementarity aspects of sustainable development and mainly focus on the importance of Arab women’s participation in the process of sustainable development. In fact, this is the topic I have personally chosen for the next meeting of the High Council next June. The future of our planet lies in sustainable development.
Question: How do you see the evolution of Tunisian women?
Answer: The path of progress that the Tunisian women have gone through so far is continuous, in constant improvement, and always seeking better living conditions.
The Civil Status Code that was adopted in 1956 during the mandate of the late Habib Bourguiba was the backbone for empowering Tunisian women in all sectors and fields, and a strong symbol of the commitment to women issues and rights.
Since Nov. 7, 1987, the change in favour of the reforms introduced by President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and his profound and global initiatives, a quantum leap has taken place.
Through the president’s will, the process of change made women’s rights, and promoting their acquired rights, an essential dimension in human rights.
These economic, political, social and cultural changes have consolidated the assets of the Tunisian family and supported women’s status as being active partners in society. Tunisian women have gone today beyond the phase of defending their own rights, and started defending their acquired assets.
Question: The progress made in different fields, in particular in education, has increased women’s participation rates. Could you elaborate on that?
Answer: Women represent today 30% of the active population, i.e. more than 2000 businesswomen. Women represent 33% of the total judges, 31% of lawyers, one third of university professors, and even 23 % are senior government officials.
In fact, President Ben Ali himself says that female participation in our societies is a must, as it drives progress and democratisation.
In Tunisia, and ever since women were granted the right to education, teaching and training, we note that the percentage of female students in higher education has reached promising levels: 60% of total students, 60% of graduates of other faculties. In our country, the schooling rate has reached 99%.
Question: What’s the best way to foster more active participation of civil society to promote the status of women?
Answer: The inclusive role is a pillar of civil society, it is but a part of development, progress and modernisation. It is one mechanism for strengthening harmony between individuals and communities. If we wish to root the concept of partnership between state institutions and associations, we ought to believe in the necessary promotion of mutual aid, solidarity and co-operation between the components of civil society.
We have to revive the partnership between the AWO, female unions and national associations to deepen peoples’ consciousness and develop their vision.
The main aim here is to promote women’s role in achieving full fledged development and facing some relics from the past that still cast a shadow over our Arab societies.
I am deeply convinced that the Tunisian presence at the AWO will be a good opportunity for us to install a true partnership with a myriad of NGOs working for women causes, in order to make the organisation’s actions all the more efficient.
Question: What’s your opinion of the quota system and its impact on the development of political participation by Arab women?
Answer: Positive discrimination stokes controversy on most countries, even if the main objective was to better women’s participation to public life. Some believe that the quota system is a non-democratic approach that goes against the equal chances principle.
Anyhow, women’s political participation remains a need imposed by the comprehensive development needs and requirements sought by our societies. And such a development shall only take place when women are part thereof, and effective gender equality prevails in rights and duties.
I think the quota system is one factor - and not the unique factor - that allows Arab women to assume their responsibility in fostering progress. In the near future, Tunisia will no longer need the quota system, when Tunisian women will have proven their competence.
Question: You are well known for your commitment to humanitarian and charity work. You devote a lot of your time to the Basma association, that you have founded and preside over. What are your current projects?
Answer: Basma has just celebrated its ninth anniversary. It is a charity organisation whose sole aim is to promote the employment of the disabled and to help them towards better social integration. We have multiplied our initiatives for the recruitment of the disabled in both the public and private sectors.
We support those who wish to set up their own ventures. We have built a centre in a convenient environment, close to the sea, and which is soon to be inaugurated, to welcome the disabled of all age groups, social classes and with different disabilities.
We provide them with various activities such as protected workshops, art clubs, a swimming pool, meeting rooms, a library, sports fields, play grounds, a health track and mainly an important training structure: learning workshops, training in computer sciences, arts and craftsmanship namely embroidery and carpentry, theatre and music.