Constitution

Grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, UN Women works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

Tunisian laws protect women’s equality more than the laws of most other countries of the Arab world. The law on personal status, promulgated in 1956 by then-President Habib Bourguiba, greatly reduced gender inequality in many facets of family life, including marriage and divorce. However, Tunisian law continues to discriminate against women in inheritance, in child custody, and in other aspects of the life.

June 12, 2014 became a landmark date in the history of El Salvador and marked a victory for Betty Pérez, coordinator of the Salvadoran National Indigenous Coordinating Council (CCNIS). The indigenous community of this Central American country succeeded in getting the Legislative Assembly to approve an amendment to Article 63 of the Constitution of the Republic. With this amendment, the indigenous community’s rights become expressed in the Constitution, forcing the State to create public policies that develop and protect the community.

“I do not think that the constitution will improve or encourage women to participate in politics. In terms of the population we are more than men. Women are the ones who are voting men into power. We have women who are in Parliament who managed to beat their male counterparts [in elections]. We do not need the constitution to tell us to campaign for political office. We need courage, confidence and learn to support each other as women.” said a Bulawayo-based female journalist.