IKHLAS Al-HAMROUNI 

Tunisia- The recent increase in gender-based violence has mobilized women's organizations and human rights defenders to fight it. According to recent reports, almost half of Tunisian women have experienced some form of gender-based violence at some point in their lives.

A 2022 social study titled, “Violence against women in Sidi Bouzid Governorate” revealed that the phenomenon of violence is one of the most serious social issues and it becomes a more serious issue due to the patriarchal mindset.

As part of the study, 700 women were interviewed, despite their different educational levels, women are subjected to various forms of violence, according to the study. More than 49% married women were subjected to violence, more than 34 single women were subjected to violence in the province in 2022.

Samah Abdellaoui, a teacher at a middle school in Sidi Bouzid, decided to offer a workshop series on gender equality to her students in order to raise awareness about gender-based violence.

Workshops for students

Stating that the statistics reveal that more women are subjected to violence in the province every day, she said, “This phenomenon also affects children. Therefore, I decided to launch an initiative to fight violence against women and raise awareness among children.”

Samah Abdellaoui helps her students to write articles and prepare posters on gender-based violence. “We also post the stories of survivors of gender-based violence on social media to raise awareness.”

‘Violence negatively affects children’s social and psychological well-being’

Raising children's awareness of gender equality is crucial in preventing violence against women, Samah Abdellaoui stressed.

“I chose the age group 10-15 years because I know that raising awareness of children about the negative effects of violence against women should start at an early age. Teaching children the values such as gender equality, kindness, non-violence, and respecting others at an early age is important because violence against women also negatively affects children’s social and psychological well-being.”

‘The students learn the forms of violence against women’

Detailing the purpose of her initiative, Samah Abdellaoui said, “I taught them that they should help their mothers in doing household chores. Then, we made brochures and banners about why children should help their mothers and published them on social media platforms. At the beginning, children looked for photos showing the victims of violence. As teachers, we told them that women are subjected to not only physical violence but also many forms of violence such as economic, sexual and political violence. Each student chose one of the forms of violence and made banners.”

‘We organize the workshops so that children can understand the seriousness of the issue’

Samah Abdellaoui works with other women teachers at the school to organize the workshops. “We organize the workshops so that children can understand the seriousness of the issue and change their behavior to have an equal society. Such workshops should be organized at every school to have a future without violence.”