ZOUHOUR MECHERGUI

Tunisia- Tunisian women, who keep struggling despite the pressure in every part of life, have achieved many gains. Although the country has laws protecting women, Tunisian women still suffer from several gender-based inequalities. Feminist movements and women's rights organizations continue to struggle for gender-equality in the country. We interviewed Basma Soussi, feminist activist and vice-president of the Ibsar Association for the Culture and Leisure of blind and visually handicapped people, about the problems faced by women with disabilities in the country.

What challenges do women with disabilities face in Tunisia?

Women with disabilities live under difficult conditions in Tunisia. They have to overcome many challenges. They have suffered from double discrimination. They have rights in laws but they aren’t protected because there are no mechanisms to implement these laws in daily life.

Do Tunisian laws protect the rights of women with disabilities? Can women with disabilities participate in working life? Or are they excluded and marginalized?

We cannot say that there are no laws that partially protect women from violence. Women are partially protected. This is a very fragile issue. The Article 48 of the Tunisian Constitution of 2014 says that “the state shall protect persons with disabilities from all forms of discrimination. Every disabled citizen shall have the right to benefit, according to the nature of the disability, from all measures that will ensure their full integration into society, and the state shall take all necessary measures to achieve this.” The Article 6 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities says that “States Parties recognize that women and girls with disabilities are subject to multiple discrimination, and in this regard shall take measures to ensure the full and equal enjoyment by them of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure the full development, advancement and empowerment of women, for the purpose of guaranteeing them the exercise and enjoyment of the human rights and fundamental freedoms set out in the present Convention.” But having these laws doesn’t mean that they have been implemented.

Do women with disabilities know their rights? Are women with disabilities aware of the existence of laws eliminating gender-based violence? Do they understand the meaning of gender? Providing education to women and girls with disabilities is important.

In your opinion, what should be done to educate women with disabilities about their rights? Is it the responsibility of civil society or the responsibility of the state?

Providing education to women with disabilities is a joint responsibility. Education is important to raise awareness of people with disabilities. I am talking about the education of girls with disabilities. The school curriculum mentions nothing about the rights of this group of society. We first reform education in order to build healthy societies.

What would you like to change to change the reality of women with disabilities?

In order to change the reality of women in general and people with disabilities in particular, we should change male mindset that limits women. This mindset discourages women, particularly women with disabilities, to be active in society. There are female university professors, doctors and engineers with disabilities. Disabled women don’t want to marry, even if they get married, their marriages don’t last long. People with disabilities are more likely to get divorced.  We support the presence and the active participation of disabled women in politics as candidates and voters. We promote the role of citizens with disabilities in the decision-making progress. We know that building up, promoting and developing capacities and skills of disabled people through the means and mechanisms that can help them defend their rights.