ZOUHOUR MECHRGUI

Tunisia- Since the independence of Tunisia in 1956, the country has focused on education and health. For years, it has been allocating the largest amount of its budget to education and vocational training to be one of the leaders in the Arab region and the African continent. Tunisian women have played a prominent role in the development and specialization of the country in many areas such as medicine, engineering, and science. According to the statistics of the Tunisia Electoral Commission, 57 of 217 (26%) seats in the Assembly of the People's Representatives are held by women.

Women should be active

Sociology researcher Dr. Maryam Khalil believes that after Tunisia's independence from French colonialism, Tunisian women have begun to be seen as a member of society who must shoulder their responsibilities and go out to work to play an active role in the development of the country. Stating that Tunisian women should be active in every part of life, Maryam Khalil said, “Thanks to the reform movement demanding women's liberation and education, Tunisian women got rid of bans imposed on them. One of the most important women’s achievements was the issuance of the 1956 Personal Status Code.” Maryam Khalil also said that Tunisian women have struggled to regain their rights to ensure gender equality in education and the labor force and increase women’s participation in decision-making positions.

Women have struggled for the ratification of international conventions

Pointing out that the role of women in human rights and feminist movements is not limited to the social roles and values of their society, Maryam Khalil said:

“For a very long time, women have fulfilled the roles defined for them. These roles have caused many women in many countries and cultures to be deprived of their right to education and training that allows them to work on a basis of equality with men. Women have struggled for the ratification of the international conventions aiming at ensuring gender equality and increasing women's participation in every part of life. Since the emergence of feminist movements demanding gender equality, the feminist movements have supported Tunisian women to play an important role in every part of life.”

“More than 55% of researchers in Tunisia are women”

Stating that Tunisia is famous in the Arab world for its stance on women's equality, Maryam Khalil said that the stance of Tunisia paves the way for women to improve themselves in scientific and academic research. According to a study, the number of Tunisian women working in scientific research areas is higher than other countries in the Arab world and African continent, Maryam Khalil said that more than 55% of researchers in Tunisia are women.

Aya Affas is one of the women working in scientific research areas. The young engineer built a robot called “RedRuby” to help the elderly who have suffered from forgetfulness and cannot remember when they should take their medicines, and cannot do normal daily activities. “This robot will solve many problems faced by old people,” she told us.