Women's rights activists in Tunisia have scored some major successes since the Jasmine Revolution that ousted President Ben Ali in January 2011.
Just a few months later, in April 2011, Tunisia's electoral commission adopted a gender parity law that requires each party to run an equal number of male and female candidates in the upcoming Constituent Assembly elections, slated for October 23.The assembly will have the critically important task of re-writing Tunisia's next constitution.
The increased representation of women is not a guarantee that a new constitution will protect women's rights and advance gender equality. But on the surface the gender parity law recognizes the importance of fair representation in politics and in the decision-making processes that will help shape Tunisia's future.
Women's rights activists in Tunisia have scored some major successes since the Jasmine Revolution that ousted President Ben Ali in January 2011.
Just a few months later, in April 2011, Tunisia's electoral commission adopted a gender parity law that requires each party to run an equal number of male and female candidates in the upcoming Constituent Assembly elections, slated for October 23.The assembly will have the critically important task of re-writing Tunisia's next constitution.
The increased representation of women is not a guarantee that a new constitution will protect women's rights and advance gender equality. But on the surface the gender parity law recognizes the importance of fair representation in politics and in the decision-making processes that will help shape Tunisia's future.