In a regional breakthrough, parties must present equal numbers of male and female candidates in Tunisia's July vote.

In a regional breakthrough, parties must present equal numbers of male and female candidates in Tunisia's July vote.

by Agencies | Al-Jazeera English


  





A new ruling guarantees Tunisian women a place in the country's new political landscape

Tunisia's ruling that men and women must feature in equal numbers as candidates in July polls is an Arab world first that builds on this year's revolt and allays fears of conservative influence, observers say.

The decision by authorities preparing the July 24 constituent assembly poll after the uprising that toppled Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the north African nation's long-serving president, has been hailed as a regional breakthrough.  The Tunisian revolution has sparked similar revolts in other Arab countries.

"It is historic," said Sana Ben Achour, president of the Tunisian Association of Women Democrats, after international rights groups also welcomed last week's announcement.  "And it is only right in a country where men and women fought side by side for democracy."

But the Islamist Nahda movement, allowed to register in March for the first time since it was formed in 1981, was among those that voted in favor of the new ruling.

One of its leaders, Ali Laryadh, dismissed concerns it wanted to backtrack on women's rights in Tunisia, saying such allegations came from "people who want to misguide public opinion and attack the movement".

"We were the first to call for parity between men and women for the electoral lists, and with the principle of alternating men and women on the lists," he said.

The gender parity ruling "is the first in the Arab and Muslim world, which should encourage Tunisian women to involve themselves more in political life", Laarbi Chouikha, a political analyst, said.

The vote on July 24 will elect a constituent assembly that will be charged with drawing up a post-Ben Ali constitution and hear submissions on issues involving women.

It was unacceptable in today's Tunisia for women to be excluded, Lilia Laabidi, the women's affairs minister, told AFP.  "They took part in the revolution, condemned corruption and all forms of violence, it is completely normal that they should be represented 50 per cent in all sectors."




From CSID (Center for the Study of Islam and Development)