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Respect for Women’s Political Rights: Participation and Leadership of Women in

Politics in Tunisia

Year 1 of the Program

2014

This current document is a translation of all activity reports that were originally

written in Arabic. We hope the translation does not alter the original thoughts

provided by the participants. Views expressed in this report do not necessarily

represent the view of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral

Assistance (IDEA) or of the Netherland Institute for Multiparty Democracy

( NIMD ) or any other partner or their respective executive boards, governing

bodies, and /or member states. This report is independent of political interest.

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Activities Implemented in March 2014

Activity 1: Selection’s criteria for parliamentary political parties to be involved in the project in Tunisia: March 5th, 2014.

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Minutes on IDEA and CEMI meeting held on Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Agenda:

Delineation of selection’s criteria for parliamentary political parties to be involved in the project in Tunisia

Finalization of the flyer in Arabic developed to introduce the program to national stakeholders

Agreement on the dates of the round tables to be organized to introduce and launch the project

Results of the meeting:

1- Selection’s criteria for parliamentary political parties to be involved in the project

for the year 2014

The program will target:

-The political parties which were elected at the NCA following the 2011 election and have

currently 3 or more seats:

Party Name in March

2014

Name of the party and number of seats when elected in

2011

Ennahdha Ennahdha

89 seats in 2011 NCA elections

Ettakatol : Forum

démocratique pour

le travail et les

libertés

Ettakatol : Forum démocratique pour le travail et les

libertés


CPR : Le Congrès

pour la République

CPR : Le Congrès pour la République


Al Massar

Al Massar is a new political party. It was elected in 2011

under the name of Pôle démocratique moderniste (PDM)

ou Al Qotb

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PDM was a political coalition set up for the NCA election.

PDM changed their name to Al Massar in 2012

In the 2011 NCA election, PDM won 5 seats.

Le parti républicain The Republican is a new political party. It derives from the

Parti démocrate progressiste (PDP), which was elected in

2011.

In the 2011 NCA election, PDP won 8 seats

Parti Al Moubadara Al Moubadara

In the 2011 NCA election, Al Moubadara won 5 seats

Parti Afak Tounis Parti Afak Tounis

In the 2011 NCA election, Parti Afak Tounis won 4 seats

Parti des travailleurs Parti des travailleurs

In the 2011 NCA elections, le parti des travailleurs won 3

seats

-The new political parties formed following the splits of certain political parties elected at

the NCA in the 2011 election and which have currently 3 or more seats at the NCA:

Mouvement Wafa

7 seats in March

2014

Wafa movement is a new political party. It

derives from the party ‘Le Congrès pour la

République –CPR’ which split into 4 political

parties.

Courant

democratique ?

3 seats in March

2014

Democratic movement is a new political

party. It derives from the party ‘Le Congrès

pour la République– CPR’ which split into 4

political parties.

Parti de l’alliance

démocratique

11 seats in March

2014

The Party of the Democratic Alliance is a

new political party. It derives from the the

Parti démocrate progressiste (PDP) which

split into 2 political parties

-The new political parties which were not elected at the NCA during the 2011 election but

have today a significant representation on the ground:

Nidaa Tounes 7 seats in March

2014

Nidaa Tounes is a new political party

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These 12 political parties were also selected because they are following in one way or

another one of the training courses organized by our national partner, CEMI, through the

Tunisian school of politics. This program will further strengthen their capacities, especially on

gender issues which are not so far incorporated into the TSOP curricula.

Those parties excluded from this program:

1- The new formed political parties currently represented at the NCA which are mainly

composed of members who were elected in 2011 as independent candidates. These new

parties do not represent the interest of a group of people. There are two risks: A) they

disappear after election, and B) they disappear during the mandate of the NCA by merging

with others or by composing new political parties!!!1

2- The political parties elected at the NCA in the 2011 election but have currently one or two

or seats.

Final list of partner’s political parties

Name of the party Acronym

Ennahdha Mouvement Ennahdha The Democratic Forum for Labour and Liberties Ettakatol

The Congress for the Republic /Le Congrès pour

la République

CPR

Social Democratic Path /La Voie démocratique

et sociale

Al Massar

Republican Party /Le parti républicain Al Joumhouri

Parti Al Moubadara Al Moubadara

Parti Afak Tounis Afak

Labor party /Parti des travailleurs Le parti des travailleurs Wafa Mouvement Wafa

Democratic Current /le courant démocratique Al Tayyar

Democratic Alliance Party /Parti de l’alliance

démocratique

L’alliance démocratique

Nidaa Tounes Mouvement Nidaa

3- The flyer developed to introduce the program to national stakeholders and translated

into Arabic was discussed and finalized.

1 - We mean here two political parties: Mahaba stream party and Republic movement party.

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4- Planned roundtables to introduce the project to the selected political parties:

It was agreed that two roundtable discussions will be organized in early April to introduce

the program and to inform the program’s target group about planned activities for the year

2014.

-Thursday, April 10th: roundtable with the parties’ leadership / executive committee

-Friday, April 18th: roundtable with the parties’ women’s wings and other committees

The roundtable discussion will be organized at CEMI’s premises.

Other roundtables might be planned in April.

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Activities Implemented in April 2014

P0245-02/ 1004

Activity 2: Dialogue session to introduce the program to the members of the partner’s

political parties executive bodies: April 18, 2014

Activity 3: Dialogue session with women’s wings members: April 30,2014

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Dialogue Session with the Members of the Partner’s Political

Parties’ Executive Bodies

Introduction and Official Launching of the Program

Friday, April 18, 2014 - 17.00-20.00

CEMI’s Premises – Tunis/Tunisia P0245-02/ 1004

In line with the approved work plan, International IDEA and CEMI organized a dialogue

session to introduce the program to the male-dominated executive leadership bodies of

Tunisian political parties on Friday, April 18, 2014.

In preparation for this event, the program’s coordinator and CEMI’s director organized

preparatory meetings with most of the selected partner political parties. The scope of the

meetings was: 1-to follow up on the invitations sent and, 2- to lobby for a high level of

representation during the dialogue session.

Due to the privileged relationships CEMI/TSOP have established over the last two years with

the leaders of the political parties, all the meetings were called and fixed by the latter.

Eight out of 12 political parties actually attended. Wafa Movement, Al Massar party and the

Democratic Alliance Party, cancelled the meetings due to the political crises that arose after

the Military Court of Appeal’s decisions rendered in cases of “Martyrs and Wounded of the

Revolution”. Al Joumhoury party confirmed its attendance on the 18th but was not able to fix

a meeting prior to this date.

The meetings held were an opportunity to:

1- Introduce the implementing organization (International IDEA) to the political leaders

2-Give an overview of the program in general and the activities to be run in Tunisia in

particular

3-Insist on the importance of involving male members of the executive leadership bodies,

especially with regards to component 1 of the project

4-Insist on the importance of having the same members of the executive leadership bodies

attending the four-year program from each political party. This will foster the local

ownership of the program by the political parties and will further encourage them to set the

agenda, thereby ensuring its local relevance.

5-Gather initial information on the level of women’s presence within the political parties’

structures

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The preparatory meetings went as follows:

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Ettakatol

Mrs. Thouraya Hammami – Bekri Vice-présidente du conseil National Ettakatol

[email protected]

Tel : 00216- 98 741 428

Mr. Elyès Fakhfakh

[email protected] Tel : 00216 -98 313 705

Courant Démocratique

Mrs. Amal Maghrabi Membre du bureau politique

Tel : 00216- 21 470 534

Mr. Youssef Elamdani

Tel : 00216- 20 320 320

Ennahdha

Mr. Abdelhamid Jelassi Vice President – General Coordinator

[email protected] [email protected] Tel : 00216 22 933 600 Fax : 00216 – 71 901 679

Mr. Mohamed Trabelsi xhtr h u wt uuxrt u wt cxrt thtdxstr

– vtrthri r hsxrr h – rtre xct ruuxrt hrtt h teh hrtt h teh

[email protected]

[email protected]

Tel : 00216-94 484 612

00216- 21 924 271

Fax : 00216- 71 900 948

Mrs. Wassila Zoghlami

Membre du bureau excecutif- Responsable du bureau « la femme et la famille »

[email protected] [email protected] Tel : 00216 -29 383 829 00216 -95 548 355

Parti des travailleurs

Mrs. Rafika Reki

Member of the executive body and national coordinator of “Moussawet “association

[email protected] Tel : 00216 23 606 216 00216 71 283 360 00216 71 283 365

Mr. Hammadi Benmim

Member de la Direction nationale - Chargé de l’Information


Al Moubadara Mr. Kamel Morjane

Secretary General of the party


mailto:[email protected]











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Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Beneath are the conclusions and information gathered:

1- Conclusions:

1-The visiting team (Donia Ben Romdhane from International IDEA and Ahmed Driss from

CEMI/TSOP) succeeded in meeting representatives from the executive bodies of the political

parties.

2-All political parties expressed their interest in the project and highlighted that their party

includes a lot of women members. Nevertheless, they all said there are only few women in

the executive bodies and decision-making organs of the party.

Mrs. Emna Boulifa Email: [email protected] Tel : 00216 29 310 473

Mrs. Samira Chaouachi Porte-parole du parti

:[email protected] Tel : 00216 98 500 549

Nidaa Tounes

Mrs. Aida Klibi Relation extérieures

[email protected] Tel : 00216- 22 560 982 00216- 71 961142 00216- 71 961 182 Fax : 00216- 71 961 226

Mrs. Salma Elloumi Rekik Bureau exécutif

[email protected] [email protected] Tel : 00216- 98302 715

Mr.Mehdi Abdeljawad

Email : [email protected]

Tel : 00216- 20 552 616

CPR

Mrs. Ikbal Msadaa

Member of the NCA

Mr. Walid Ben Omrane

Directeur Executif

[email protected] Tel : 00216- 25515009

Mr. Ghassen Dridi CEMI Student

[email protected] Tel : 00216 97 188 937

00216-71 284312

Afek Tounes Mr. Yassine Brahim President of the party

[email protected]

Tel : 00216- 50329570

Mrs. Samira Merai Elue ANC

[email protected] Tel : 00216 -20329625

00216 -71 964747

Mrs. Zakia Bouhjila

CEMI Student [email protected] Tel : 00216 – 20460086











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3-Most of the political parties said they do not have problems with the inclusion of women

in all the decision-making organs of the party. However, they said women seldom want to

have such responsibilities due to the work load and due to their family obligations.

4-Only Ettakatol seem to have established a formal strategy to include women in all its

organs in the future. It is important to mention that the party reviewed its internal

regulation in 2013.

5-All political parties (including the leftist party, which is supposedly more open to women)

claim they have no discriminatory practices and policies. They said they bothtreat their male

and female members equally and offer the same opportunities to their male and female

members. Therefore, they did not see the usefulness in adopting gender specific strategies

to empower women within political parties.

2- Collected Information:

Ettakattol:

- The new internal regulation set up a women wing – منظمة نسائية but the party did not yet

establish its structure.

- The new internal regulation established a women’s quota in all the structures of the party.

- “Le conseil national” is composed of 200 members.

- “Le bureau politique” is composed of 41 members.

- “Le bureau executive” is composed of 13 members (2 women).

- Ettakatol is member of a women’s politician network called Theyra (Rebel)

- The Network includes women members of leftist PPs from 5 countries of the Arab region:

Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Lebanon, and Jordan

- The network aims to organize the training of trainers for women politicians.

- The network has a Facebook page.

Le Courant Démocratique:

-“le bureau politique” is composed of 25 members. There are 4 women among them.

Ennahdha:

- The structures of the party in the regions focus on women: they adopted quotas for

women.

- There’s a need to support women in the region. It is very important to reinforce their

leadership and communication skills.

CPR:

- “Le conseil national” is composed of 120 members

- “Le bureau politique” is composed of 11 members and there are 2 women among them.

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Parti des travailleurs:

- The party set up in 2112 an association called “equality مساواة”. This body includes the

women of the party as well as other women active in different associations.

The Dialogue Session with the Members of the Partner’s Political Parties’

Executive Bodies

The multiparty dialogue session took place on Friday, April 18, at CEMI’s premises from 17.11

to 20.00.

1- Attendance

In total, the session aimed at introducing and launching the program and gathered 22

attendees (12 women and 10 men) representing 9 political parties.

The 9 political parties that attended the dialogue session are: Le Courant Démocratique, Al

Joumhoury, Coalition démocratique, Nidaa Tounes, Parti des travailleurs, Ennahdha,

Ettakatol, CPR, and Al Massar.

Three political parties did not attend the event: Moubadara, Akek Tounes, and WAFA,

although, the first two parties had previously confirmed their attendance.

Apart from Nidaa Tounes, all the other 8 political parties sent representatives from their

decision-making structures (political bureau or executive bureau). Two political parties sent

their spokeperson.

Half of the attendees belonging to decision-making structures were women (6 women and6

men).

Despite the fact that during the preparatory meetings this meeting was introduced as an

event targeting men within the parties, some political parties sent representatives from their

women’s wing (Nidaa Tounes, Ennahdha). A special event for the women’s wings of political

parties will be held on April 30th.

The attendees from Nidaa Tounes explained the party could not send representatives from

the party’s political bureau or executive bureau because these members travelled to

Sfax,where the party is organizing a big meeting for Sunday, April 20th..

2- Event Proceeding

The session was opened by CEMI’s director, who welcomed the attendees and introduced

the event. After, Donia Ben Romdhane, from International IDEA, took the floor to welcome

the attendees, introduce IDEA, and highlight the relevance of the program in Tunisia in

relation to the social, political and legislative contexts.

The attendees were given three minutes to introduce themselves, after which Ahmed Driss,

CEMI’s director, presented an overall picture of the program, referring to the leaflet

prepared for this purpose.

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This was followed by a presentation on the 2014 country plan prepared by IDEA’s

representative, who also explained that the main objectives of this event are:

1- To check whether the activities planned:

a) Answer the political parties’ needs

b) Are in line with the priorities of the year

2- To review and adjust the work plan accordingly

A general discussion followed the presentation on the 2014 country annual plan.

3-Main Inputs from the Political Parties:

1- To empower and reinforce the leadership of women within the political parties, it is

crucial to work simultaneously and in parallel with the male political leaders as well as the

women affiliated with political parties.

2- Although legislation can be an important mechanism to advance women’s political

participation, it is still necessary to have long term programs aimed at shifting the attitudes,

mentalities, and practices among the male and female party members.

3- Very often, about half of the political parties’ constituents are women. However, women’s

participation and leadership is still relatively low. Current political leaders do not know how

to build women’s political leadership.

4- Most of the political parties in Tunisia are not programmatic political parties. For the time

being, most of them talk about theoretical politics and appear to aim to win power for

power’s sake. In this context, it seems that women are not interested in politics.

Women will have more incentives in holding high level positions within the parties when

they will be able to both initiate policies that improve people’s lives and monitor the

policies’ implementation. Therefore, it is recommended to organize sessions with the

political leaders on how to move from theoretical politics to programmatic politics.

5- It is very important to empower women at the local level. Local democracy is an entry

point to attract women to politics and build their leadership skills.

6- In Tunisia, leaders have still a very powerful moral impact on the parties’ constituents.

They can be a role model for male and female affiliates and can influence the shift in the

mentalities and practices of the male and female affiliates. During the election, it is

recommended to plan a session with the political leaders on the mechanisms and the

practices they can adapt to support women candidates during the election.

7-The barriers to women’s increased participation and leadership within political parties

have to be determined in the very early stages of the program as they will delineate the

levers that can be used to exert reforms.

8-Some political parties considered the term “gender”controversial. They said it has an

ideological meaning and can be deeply divisive within the political parties. They

recommended using another, less controversial term, such as equality between men and

women.

9- The program should target media as well. Media play a crucial role in shaping the image

of women politicians in people’s minds.

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Annex 1: Agenda

1- Welcome and introduction of the event

CEMI

International IDEA

2- Presentation of participants

3- Presentation of overall program: CEMI

4-Presentation of the 2014 country annual plan: International IDEA

5-General discussion

6-Closing: CEMI and International IDEA

Annex 2: Attendance list

Le Courant Démocratique

Mrs. Amal Maghrabi

Membre du bureau politique

amelmagh @yahoo.com Tel : 21 470 534

Mr. Ridha Zaghmi

Membre du bureau exécutif

[email protected] Tel : 97461218

Al Joumhoury

Mr.Wassim Bouthouri



Mr. Ahmed Farhat Hammoudi



Coalition démocratique

Mrs. Lamia Dridi Membre du bureau politique

Email: [email protected] Tel: 28522851

Nidaa Tounes

Nidaa Tounes

Mrs.Marwa Arfaoui

Membre commission femme

[email protected] Tel: 21737363

Mrs.Khadija Kouki [email protected] Tel: 98626628

Mrs. Wahiba Ben Ali

Coordinatrice régionale –femme- Ben Arous


Mrs. Nebiha Khamiri

Membre du bureau regional –Tunis 1


Mrs. Hager Commission femme [email protected] Tel: 95402980













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Bousetta

Parti des travailleurs

Mr. Jilani Hammami

Porte-parole

[email protected] [email protected]

Tel: 98549480

Mrs. RAFIKA REKIK Membre du bureau politique

[email protected] Tel: 23 606 216

Mrs.Souha Miaadi Membre du bureau politique


Ennahdha

Mr. Mohamed Nejib Gharbi

Membre du conseil choura

[email protected]

Mrs. Zahia Jaballah Membre du bureau femme central

[email protected]

Ettakatol

Mrs. Thouraya Hammami – Bekri

Vice-présidente du conseil National Ettakatol

[email protected]

Tel: 98 741 428

Mr. Elyès Fakhfakh


[email protected]

Tel: 98 313 705

Mr. Mouhamed Bennour

Porte-parole [email protected]

CPR

Mr. Walid Ben Omrane


[email protected]

Tel: 25515119

Mr. Ghassen Dridi

Commission media


Tel: 71 284312

Al Massar

Mrs. Samira Belkadhi


[email protected] Tel: 28600171 – 98700247

CEMI/TSOP Ahmed Driss CEMI’s Director [email protected]

Zied Hadhri CEMI’s focal point for the program

[email protected]

Fadhel Blibech CEMI’s program’s director

[email protected]
















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International IDEA Donia Ben Romdhane

Tunisia country program coordinator

[email protected]

Tel: 22-521414

Dialogue Session with Women’s Wings’ Members

Introduction and Official Launching of the Program

Wednesday, April 30, 2014 - 17.30-20.30

International IDEA’s Premises – Tunis/Tunisia P0245-02/ 1004

1-General Background

Following the official introduction and launch of the program “Respect for Women’s Political

Rights: Participation and Leadership of Women in Politics” in Tunisia among the members of

the partner’s political parties’ executive bodies, INTERNATIONAL IDEA and CEMI organized

on April 30, 2014 a dialogue session to introduce and launch the program among their

women’s wings.

Partner’s political parties (Ennahdha, Ettakatol, CPR, Le Courant Démocratique, Al

Joumhoury, Coalition démocratique, Nidaa Tounes, Parti des travailleurs, Al Massar, Parti

Afak Tounes, Mouvement Wafa, and Parti Moubadara) were asked to appoint three

representatives to attend the event. The selection criteria proposed by the organizers were

the following:

- 1st representative: a decision-making member of the women’s wing.

- 2nd representative: a member of the women’s wing who is young (under 36).

- 3rd representative: a member of the party who is in charge of the training program.

2-Attendance

In total, the session aimed at introducing and launching the program to parties’ women’s

wings gathered 23 attendees (16 women and 7 men), representing 9 political parties.

The 9 political parties that attended the dialogue session are: Ennahdha, Ettakatol, CPR, Al

Massar, Parti Afak Tounes, Mouvement WAFA, Le Courant Démocratique, Coalition

démocratique, and Nidaa Tounes.

Three political parties did not attend the event: Moubadara, Parti des travailleurs, and Al

Joumhoury.

The dialogue session revealed that not all the political parties have a commission or a section

for women or dedicated to women’s issues. This had an impact on the people appointed by

the political parties to attend the dialogue session. Indeed, apart from Ennahdha, CPR, and

Nidaa Tounes, who sent representatives from their women’s wings, the following political


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parties, who do not have such structures, did send however women representatives in high

positions within the party: Al Massar, Parti Afak Tounes, mouvement WAFA, Le Courant

Démocratique, and Coalition démocratique.

Ettakatol party sent again the spokesperson despite the fact it has a very dynamic women’s

commission.

3-Event Proceeding

The session was opened by the welcoming speeches from Mrs. Donia Ben Romdhane, from

International IDEA, and Mr. Ahmed Driss, CEMI’s director. They introduced the event and

asked the guests to present themselves. Mrs. Donia Ben Romdhane introduced the project,

based on the developed flyer, and highlighted the relevance of the program in Tunisia in

relation to the social, political and legislative contexts. She also presented the activities

which were primarily planned for year 1 of the program.

CEMI’s director welcomed the attendees and introduced the event. After, Donia Ben

Romdhane from International IDEA took the floor to welcome the attendees, introduce

IDEA, and give an overview on the activities planned until the end of he year 2014. She

added that this exercise aims to check whether the planned activities answer to the political

parties’ needs and priorities for the year 2114, and to review the program work plan

accordingly. A general discussion followed the presentation of the preliminary work plan.

4-Main Inputs and Recommendations from the Political Parties:

1-The WAFA party representatives explained that their party does not include a women’s

committee or a women’s wing becausewomen are represented in all the bodies and

committees of the party. They added that women were among the foundingmembers of the

party. These women have different backgrounds and a great expertise in their respective

areas. The WAFA representatives also highlighted the fact that the male party members

elected a number of women to be part of the executive body of the party, called the national

committee, which shows that the party is favorable to women’s political participation. They

stressed that the party believes that the involvement of women in the party should be based

on merit and competence and not on gender.

2-Al Masar representatives explained that their party does not include a women’s

committee or a women’s wing. Nevertheless, it has a committee called the “Committee on

Women and Equality” composed of men and women who work toward reinforcing the

concept of equality.

3-Afak Tounis representatives explained that their party does not include a women’s

committee or a women’s wing. However, women represent up to 20% of the members in all

the party bodies and committees. In preparation for the elections, the party set up a special

committee whose mission is to identify and select, among the female party members, those

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who have the willingness and a good potential to become winning candidates for the

forthcoming election.

4-A number of political parties stressed that the objectives to be attained from the setting

up of the “committee/commission of women” are not clear. While some political parties did

in fact set up a committee/commission of women, this was done without conviction. They

established this body in order to satisfy their female members and to create the illusion that

women can have an active role in the party, while the decisions taken by this

committee/commission are not actually taken into consideration by the decision makers of

the party.

5-Participants requested that the program managers organize peer-to-peer events in order

to learn about the potential roles and missions of the women committee/commission and to

know about the experiences of other political parties around the world whose women

committee/commission gave an added value to the party.

6-Participants observed political parties in Tunisia which do not include women in the core

strategy and identity of their party. Nevertheless, some have dedicated a formal structure to

women for them to meet and discuss together. However, the recommendations that these

female party members come up with are not taken into consideration when delineating the

policies of the party. Political parties put women in positions of political and party tension.

They stressed that the reinforcement of women’s participation within their parties will

happen when women’s issues and priorities are mainstreamed in the political parties’

economic, social and political programs. Women will be really interested in politics when the

female members of political parties are convinced that the parties’ objectives do serve their

specific issues and priorities as women.

7-Some of the participants highlighted that the limited presence of women within the

decision-making positions is due to the limited capacity and competence of most female

party members who decide to run for these positions. It is not linked to discriminatory

practices and beliefs against women among the party members.

8-Female participants stressed the importance of the capacity building programs aimed at

the female members of the political parties. They explained that the latter need to be

trained in different areas such as legal, political, communication, and coordination issues.

They also added that some political parties succeeded to a certain extent in reinforcing the

presence of women in key decision-making structures because first, their female party

members succeeded in building a solid women alliance with a strong power of proposal and

therefore influenced the party as a whole and second, their female party members got the

support of a large number of their male counterparts and especially some very influential

ones.

9-Participants raised concerns about how women’s successes in accessing decision-making

positions within the political parties’ structures and in being elected do not always depend

on their capacities and skills. This is the case especially in the conservative regions where

traditions and customs impact heavily on the practices and on decision-making processes.

Consequently, they highlighted the importance of programs and activities targeting gender

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discriminatory practices and beliefs in addition to those aiming at reinforcing skills and

capacities. They strongly recommended that current programs target the political parties’

female members who are based out of the capital as the opportunities of training, capacity

building, and the exchange of ideas and experiences are limited in the regions.

10-Participants explained that the obstacles to a more effective participation of women in the

political parties lie in:

- The structure of the political parties.

- The internal rules and regulations and the status of the political parties.

- The practices of the political parties: timing, location, and venues of the meetings.

11-Participants recommended that the program “Respect for Women’s Political Rights:

Participation and Leadership of Women in Politics” in Tunisia focus on the following:

*short-term: strategies to build a viable female candidate.

*mid-term: strategies and policies to be adopted by political parties in order to establish an

environment conducive to ensuring equal opportunities for political parties’ female and

male members.

*long-term: implementation of political empowerment activities for women.

12-Media can play a crucial rolein supporting women political leaders, improving the image

of women among the public, and shaping a positive public opinion of female politicians. The

Tunisian media in the last years have not played a positive role in supporting women in the

political sphere as their focus has been on reaching big audiences.

13-Participants stressed the importance of the exchange of ideas and views with civil society

organizations and requested the current program to provide platforms of exchange among

political parties and CSOS and to facilitate such discussions.

Annex 1: Agenda

1- Welcome and introduction of the event

International IDEA

CEMI

2- Presentation of participants

3- Presentation of overall program: CEMI

4-Presentation of the 2014 country annual plan: International IDEA

5-General discussion

6-Closing: CEMI and International IDEA

Annex 2: Attendance list

Ennahdha

Mrs. Soumaya Sasi Mahfoudh

thtth u wt « n htr rrs urhxi

r hhxddx r«

[email protected] Tel : 99 16 35 95



21

Mr. Souhaiel Béchir

Member of central election bureau – in charge of training

Tel: 98 450 750 25 450 750

Ettakatol Mr. Mohamed Bennour Porte-parole [email protected]

CPR: Le Congrès pour la République

Mrs. Zeineb Smaoui

Coordinatrice commission femme

[email protected] Tel : 99.14.10.10 21 25 10 46

Mrs. Marwa Nasri

Commission femme [email protected] Tel: 23.51.83.50

Al Massar

Mr. Anouar Ben Naoua

Executive bureau

[email protected]

Tel: 28 600 107

Mrs. Samira Belkadhi


[email protected]

Tel : 28 600 171 98 700 247

Mrs. Aida Fehri

Conseil central


Parti AfakTounis

Mrs. Zakia Bouhjila

Membre du conseil national- Afek Academy


Mrs. Manel Rhouma

Membre du conseil national- Jeune Afek Tounes- commission interne


Mrs. Amel Chaherli

Membre du Conseil National- commission femme – responsable commission sélection candidates


Mrs. Narjess Babay

Membre du Conseil National- Responsable communication

[email protected] [email protected] Tel: 98 200 252

Mouvement Wafa

Mrs. Fedra Najjar

Member of the constituent commission

[email protected]

Tel: 22 59 27 75

Mrs. Hajer Karray

Member of the constituent commission

[email protected] Tel: 98 44 26 64





















21

Mr. Amor Saidani

Member of the constituent commission –Bizerte coordinator

[email protected] Tel: 98 26 73 04

Courant démocratique

Mrs. Hana Kodia


[email protected] Tel: 98 349 154 24 34 91 54

Mrs. Sihem Ezzedine

Secrétaire Général –Bureau de Tunis

[email protected]

Tel: 20 360 861

Parti de l’alliance démocratique

Mrs. Lamia Dridi

Membre du bureau politique et présidente de la commission media du parti


Mrs. Nayress Ben Gaga

Membre du bureau National de l’organisation jeune du parti


Mr. Issam Khedher

Membre du bureau politique – Président de la commission de formation


Nidaa Tounes

Mr. Mehdi Abdeljawad


[email protected]

Tel: 20 552 616

Mr. Anis Mimech

Membre du Conseil National – Membre du comité national de formation, Formateur


Mrs. Gazzou Kmar

Membre du comité national de formation – Formatrice


CEMI/TSOP

Ahmed Driss CEMI’s Director [email protected]

Zied Hadhri CEMI’s focal point for the program

[email protected]

Fadhel Blibech CEMI’s program’s director

[email protected]

International IDEA

Donia Ben Romdhane Tunisia country program coordinator

[email protected]

Tel: 22-521414

























22

Outcomes of the Meetings with the Members of the Partner’s Political

Parties’ Executive Bodies and the Members of the Women's Committees and

Bureaus

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance and the Center of

Mediterranean and International Studies/the Tunisian School of Politics held two meetings

in Tunis consecutively on 18 and 31 April 2114 with the members of the partner’s political

parties’ executive bodies and the members of women's committees and bureaus.

The aims of these two meetings were:

To present the program 'Respect for Women's Political Rights: Participation and Leadership

of Women in Politics in Columbia, Kenya and Tunisia'

To present the activities which were initially planned in the 2014 action plan (year 1 of the

program)

To discuss the activities that had been planned with the partners’ political parties to both

ascertain whether the planned activities both answer the political parties’ needs and are in

line with the priorities of the year and to review and adjust the work plan accordingly.

Representatives of 11 political parties (Le courant démocratique, Al-Jomhouri, Coalition

démocratique, Nidaa Tounes, le parti des travailleurs, Ennahdha, Ettakattol, CPR, Al-Massar,

Wafa, and Afek Tounes) out of 12 parties affiliated to the program attended the meetings;

Al-Moubadara did not attend either of the two meetings.

This report aims to highlight the general orientations and the commonalities among the

needs/expectations of the diverse political parties that participated in these two rich and

constructive multi-party organized dialogue sessions.. The report seeks also to identify the

work/ thematic areas that the program will endeavour to focus on according to the program

objectives its allocated budget.

First outcome: During the two meetings, participants made comments and proposals, largely

in the same direction. This means that male political leaders and female party members

have a common understanding of the causes impeding women's effective political

participation and agree that political parties can take internal actions to change the

situation. This consensus will help the program team in implementing the program’s

activities and achieving its objectives.

Second outcome: Participants agreed that political parties’ internal obstacles to women's

effective participation are due to:

- Party organisation and structure.

- Rules and regulations of political parties.

23

- Political party practices: meeting schedules, venues, halls, and language.

They came to the conclusion that it is crucial to work simultaneously with male party leaders

and female party members on two levels:

- Mindsets and practices.

- Abilities and skills.

Third outcome: Participants agreed on the importance of targeting female party members at

the regional, local, and municipal levels in order to reinforce their capacities through training

and mentoring activities. The program will endeavour to meet this goal over the next years.

Fourth outcome: Participants agreed that media can play a crucial role in supporting female

political leaders and improving the image of women's political ability among the public. They

suggested planning activities that bring together political parties and the media for short-

term (2014 elections) and medium-term objectives. The program will endeavour to meet

these goals from the first year of the project.

Fifth outcome: Participants agreed that political party heads do not have the required skills

and knowledge to build women’s political leadership. They suggested organizing dialogue

sessions with political party leaders on the following issues:

1) Strategies for attracting political party female members.

2) Building women’s political leadership.

3) Creating winning female candidates for elections.

Participants asked to know about comparative experiences in these areas.

The program will endeavour to meet this request.

Sixth outcome: Participants agreed that male party leaders have a major influence on their

grassroots support network, and so it is therefore important that they openly support and

closely guide women leaders. In doing so, they will reinforce women’s self-confidence and

increase their abilities and opportunities to access media. This will lead to the increase of

their participation in the decision-making processes of their party. Participants suggested

planning dialogue sessions with political party leaders on the mechanisms and practices that

male party leaders could adopt to reach the aforementioned objectives. They also

underscored the positive role political party leaders should play in supporting women

candidates during the upcoming elections. The program will endeavor to meet this request.

Seventh outcome: Participants agreed that many women's repugnance to politics and

refusal to hold high level positions within their parties are due to their feeling that politics is

a race for power and not a constant endeavor to improve people’s life. They suggested

planning activities on political party programming and public policy implementations on how

to move from theoretical politics to programmatic politics. They also suggested focusing on

24

mainstreaming women's issues and priorities in the political parties’ economic, social, and

political programs. The program will endeavor to meet these requests in the next years.

Eighth outcome: Participants expressed their interest in knowing about the experiences of

political parties around the world concerning the roles and benefits women's party

committees and bureaus can generate for the party. The program will endeavor to meet this

request in the second year of the program.

Ninth outcome: Participants suggested:

- Undertaking an analytical study to understand the underlying reasons for the low presence

of women in the media. The study will also suggest strategies developed by media experts

together with political parties to overcome the identified obstacles.

- Preparing a working paper on 'The Concept of Gender', 'The Gender Approach' and 'The

Gender Approach to Planning and Programming' to be used in the training activities

targeting male and female political party partners’ members.

The program will endeavor to meet these requests.

25

Activities Implemented in June 2014

P0245-02/ 1006

Activity 4: Dialogue session to identify obstacles to young women’s participation in political

parties and leadership within political parties: 4 June; 2014

26

P0245-02/1006

Dialogue Session with Young Female Members of Partner’s Political Parties

Obstacles to Young Women’s Political Participation and Leadership Within Political Parties

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 / 18.00-20.30

International IDEA’s premises

Participants in the two dialogue sessions with the members of the partners’ political parties’ executive bodies and the women's committees recommended focusing the early program’s activities on the identification of internal obstacles to young women’s political participation and leadership as the findings of this exercise could constitute the entry points for the progam to enhance women’s participation in and contribution to political parties. In order to follow up these recommendations, the organizers decided to organize a series of dialogue sessions that would target:

female members of partners’ political parties between the ages of 25 and 35 who

are not leaders female members of partners’ political parties over the age of 36 who

are not leaders

Female leaders within partners’ political parties regardless of their ages

Male leaders within partners’ political parties

The first dialogue session targeted the female members between the ages of 25 and 25 of

partners’ political parties who are not leaders. To this end, all parties were officially

contacted to inform them about the dialogue session. A particular emphasis was put on this

age category when potential participants were to be designated by them.

1-Participation

Although a detailed invitation letter was sent to all partners’ political parties a week before

the event, participation was fairly weak and candidates did not meet the required criteria.

Only 6 party representatives attended the dialogue session. One of the participants was over

35 years old (See attendance list).

27

2-Results of the Dialogue Session

One: Apart from the representative of the Congress for the Republic (CPR), all the other

participants joined the political sphere after the 2011’s uprising. Prior to this, they had not

been interested in politics.

Two: The meeting started by raising questions aimed at understanding the parties’

structures and the extent to which they are interested in and target young members and

particularly young female members. The main questions were:

According to the founding laws of the party, is there any particular percentage of

youth’s representation within the party?

What is the percentage of youths within the party council?

Is there any youth commission in your party?

What is the name of the youth commission if it exists?

Does the youth commission exist at the national level? Or regional level? Or both?

What are the criteria to join the youth commission?

What is the age group of female and male members of the youth’s commission?

What is the percentage of female members in the youth commission?

Is there any female quota in the youth commission?

What is the role of youth in the party in general?

What are the mechanisms of dialogue/exchange between the youth commission and

the executive commission of party?

The answers were as follows:

Al Moubadara party:

There is a youth commission in the party.

The name of this commission is “The National Organization for the Youth of Al

Moubadara Party”

This organization exists at the national and regional level.

The youth commission isfinancially and administratively independent. It has its own

treasury and executive board. The head of the party is responsible for the political

matters carried out by this youth commission.

The participation criterion is that the member is to be less than 35 years old.

Women have no quota within the youth commission. There is no women quota in

any of the party’s structures.

The role the youth commission within the party is to participate in the decision

making of the party (attracting youth into the party, registration, turn-out during

elections, etc.) and to analyze youth issues whether inside or outside the party and to

suggest youth-related policies (ex: proposing the party perspective on the youth’s

role in the state).

28

Al Massar Party:

There is a commission named the “ Youth and Women Commission”

A congress will be held at the end of June to review the structures of the party and its

rules of procedures.

The Congress for the Republic Party (CPR):

There is currently no independent youth commission, but right now there is a

student commission which includes all students (the majority are youths).

A congress will be held at the end of June to review the structures of the party and its

rules of procedures.

Le forum démocratique pour le travail et les libertés ( Attakatol party ).

There is a youth commission called the “Organization of Democratic and Socialist

Youth”. It has existed since 2117.

There is a youth commission in every bureau of the party.

The participation criterion is that the member is between 18 and 32 years old.

There is a women quota of 30%in the youth commission.

Le courant démocratique

The founding law of the party does not provide for any youth ratio. The rules of

procedures as well do not provide for any female quota.

Generally speaking, the average age of the founders is 40 years old and there is a big

percentage of youth among the party members. The party does not have any

intricate database, but the youth percentage (those who are less than 35 years old) is

more than 60% in the national council.

There is no youth commission in the party at any level.

There is a student commission but it has no relationship with any other commission.

The party believes that a women quota negatively impacts women’s advancement

within the party and in general.

Regional bureaus do include young members.

Youth are a vital element in the party.

Wafa movement:

The representative of the party did not have any information about her party.

Three: Participants discussed the women’s quota mechanism and pointed out that it is a

double-edged sword for women:

Negative aspects:

* In cases when the founding law provides for a women quota, it can lead to some

dilemmas. E.g., the inability to open a bureau because the required number of women

corresponding to the women quota among the founding members is not completed.

* The quota can lead to women being nominated and/or assuming leading positions in the

party in the absence of any competition or grass rootslegitimacy, which can impact the party

and the women negatively.

29

Positive aspects:

Women’s quota helps women to be in the front lines in politics. Thus, society gets used to

seeing women in public spaces in general and in political ones in particular. Hence, a

woman-friendly environment is gradually built.

Four: Participants stressed that the founding laws of their respective parties do not contain

anything that might constrain, hinder, or exclude women. However, not mentioning some

measures and principles can hinder women’s participation.

Five: Participants pointed out the following obstacles:

A-Numbers:

The number of male members is larger than the number of female members in the party. In

addition, the number of men running for leadership positions in the party is largely superior

to that of women running for the same positions. This is why the number of men who vote

to choose the leaders is largely superior to that of women and thus they always tend to

choose men candidates rather than women.

B- Mentalities and practices:

• Men tend to build coalitions among themselves and therefore can achieve results that are

in their interest. Women, however, do not think about building coalitions/alliances among

themselves, which is something that could be in their interest.

• Men tend to show solidarity with each other, which is something that is missing with

women.

• The patriarchal mentality exists among female and male party members.

• Politicians decide on meeting schedules in most cases, without taking into account the

family duties of their female colleagues. Politics takes up a large part of politicians’ time and

this affects their families. This situation impacts more women than men.

• Politicians often decide to meet or to continue discussions outside the office in cafés,

restaurants, and other places that are not accessible to women in rural areas.

C- Security conditions and limited financial resources:

Political parties do not provide, after night meetings, private transportation for female

members and do not reimburse their taxi fees. Women are the ones who are most affected

by the above facts.

D- Women often experience low self-confidence resulting from their limited political

experience.

E- The limited encouragement of party leaders (especially men leaders) towards female

party members and their lack of inspiring them to take on more responsibilities, have a

strong impact on the female psyche.

F- Politics can resort to “dirty” matters; sometimes, within the framework of parties’

maneuvers, it is required that a party establishes unnatural coalitions/alliances with other

parties or moves away from its initial principles and directives. Such things can make

politicians a target for severe criticism and can even affect their reputations, positions, and

images. Generally, women are more afraid than men when it comes to criticism affecting

31

their image, reputation, position, and honor because such matters affect their reputations

more than that of men’s due to the patriarchal society they live in.

G- Participants observed that “seniority in parties” constitutes an obstacle for youngsters in

general, regardless of their sex. Decision-makers give the priority to seniors in the party

when it comes to training, media appearances, and candidate nominations, rather than to

youngsters who have recently joined the party.

Six: Participants noticed that young women tend to prefer exercising politics locally rather

than nationally as learned fromthe results of a questionnaire submitted by the parties to

their male and female members.

Seven: Participants noticed that in most cases, women members of the same party are not

showing solidary between. However, generally there is a great solidarity between youngsters

within the same party regardless of their sex.

3- Conclusions

• Despite the numerous phone calls made by The International Institute for Democracy and

Electoral Assistance to the partners’ political parties, the attendance was quite weak. We

now wonder about the truth of the existence of youth in parties! It seems as if it were only a

formality or that it does not go beyond the political discourse.

• Participants did not have an approximate idea either about the structures or about the

organization of the party to which they belong. For example, the representative of the Wafa

movement had absolutely no idea about her party!

• It seems that youngsters in parties do not really participate in decision-making.

• It seems that political parties do not have an effective strategy to attract /recruit young

people who can constitute the new generations of the party.

• Many parties are amending their structures, rules of procedures, and work mechanisms in

preparation for legislative and presidential elections to be organized in the fourth quarter of

2014.

Attendance List

Ettakatol

Imene Benzarti

-Membre de la commission Jeunes socialistes démocrates -Membre de la cellule communication -Membre du conseil

[email protected]

29333816


31

national -Membre de la commission programme

CPR

Zeineb Smaoui

Coordinatrice de la commission femme-centrale

[email protected]

21 251046 / 99 141010

Al Massar

Nesrine Ben

Khedija

-Membre de la commission santé Bureau de la section Tunis Ouest

[email protected] 97596961

Mouvement Wafa

Emna Najja [email protected] 25- 584727

Mouvement démocratique

Jalila Ben Ghorbal

32 years

-Membre du conseil national -Responsable communication au sein du bureau Ben Arous -Membre fondateur du parti -Membre de la commission « politiques générales »

[email protected]

om

24 746318

Parti Moubadara

Raja Mohamed 25 years

Commission jeune- Responsable of training for youth

[email protected] 24 612 789 – 52 612789






32

Activities implemented in September 2014

P0245-02/1001

Activity 5 : "Strengthening the Capacity of Women Candidates for Legislative Elections on

how to deal with media": September28-29, 2014

33

P0245-02/1001

The joint International IDEA and Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy’s (NIMD)

program “Respect for Women’s Political Rights: Participation and Lof Women in Politics in

Tunisia” (hereafter RWPR) was launched in Tunisia in April 2114 and is currently targeting,

year 2014, twelve (12) political parties: Ennahdha, Ettakatol, CPR, Le Courant Démocratique,

Al Joumhoury, Coalition démocratique, Nidaa Tounes, Parti des travailleurs, Al Massar, Parti

Afak Tounes, Mouvement Wafa, and Parti Moubadara.

The parties were selected by applying the following criteria:

*The political parties which were elected at the NCA following the 2011 election and have

currently 3 or more seats: Ennahdha, Ettakatol, Le Congrès pour la République, Al Massar, Al

joumhoury, Al Moubadara , Parti Afak Tounis, and Parti des travailleurs.

*The new political parties formed following the splits of certain political parties elected at

the NCA in the 2011 election and which have currently 3 or more seats at the NCA:

Mouvement Wafa , Mouvement démocratique, and Parti de l’alliance démocratique

*The new political parties which were not elected at the NCA during the 2011 election but

have today a significant representation on the ground: Nidaa Tounes.

Article 24 of the Basic Law on Elections and Referendums (no.16 – 26/05/2014) requires that

all electoral lists must alternate between female and male candidates. However, it does not

mandate horizontal parity, meaning there is no requirement that a female candidate

appears at the top of the lists.

After the adoption of the law, International IDEA had diverse contacts with partner political

parties to understand to which extent they will practically support their female members by

putting them on the top of the lists they will present.

Despite all political parties claiming they would support their female members, very few

parties (with the exception of only one - l’Union pour la Tunisie) decided to put an equal

number of women and men on the top of their lists. Despite the fact that many female

members from the represented political parties’ executive bodies ran for elections, their

rank within the parties did not help them get more support during the internal nominations

34

for the heads of lists. In fact, more often than not, parties voted for the male member of the

executive group to lead the list over the female member. Several reasons were advanced by

the political parties to justify their choices.

Activities during the registration and campaign periods:

Bearing in mind the challenges that women candidates are known to face while dealing with

media, and after consultation with several candidates, International IDEA and the Center of

Arab Women for Training and Research (CAWTAR) partnered on a training program aimed at

strengthening the capacities of female candidates’ heads of lists on how to deal with media

during the campaign.

As soon as the candidate registration process started (from August 22 to August 29, 2014),

International IDEA and the CAWTAR contacted the women leaders and heads of lists to

invite them to the aforementioned training program.

The final electoral lists were released by the Tunisian EMB (ISIE) on September 23, 2014.

Two trainings were planned:

- The first training was for women heads of lists in the constituencies in northern and central

Tunisia: September 28-29, 2014.

- The second training was planned for women heads of lists in the constituencies of southern

Tunisia: October 9-10, 2014.

The first training took place as planned (September 28-29, 2014) while the second was

cancelled because the women candidates said they would not be able to attend as the

electoral campaign started on October 4, 2014.

The report on the training held on September 28-29, 2014 is found below.

35

General Report

General Framework and Objectives of the Training Program:

A training program for women heads of lists was held on September 28 and 29, 2014 in the

northern suburbs of Tunis. The training aimed to strengthen the capacity of women

candidates in the legislative elections on how to deal with media. It was jointly organized by

the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) and

the Center of Arab Women for Training and Research, "CAWTAR".

The training session targeted 11 women heads of lists from 7 political parties: the

Democratic Alliance Party, the Courant Démocratique, le Congress for the Republic, Wafa

Movement, the Union for Tunisia, Al-Moubadara party, and Nidaa Tounes Movement.

This training session sought to enable female candidates to gain experience, knowledge, and

skills related to presenting themselves and their platforms in various media and television in

particular. It also aimed to equip them with effective communication mechanisms in social

media, as well as informing them on ways to formulate media messages and deliver them to

large groups and a variety of audiences.

Opening and Getting to Know Each other:

International IDEA and CAWTAR opened the session with brief introductions of their

respective organizations. CAWTAR briefed the participants about their training programs

that target women leaders and women politicians on how to deal with the media. Their

programs also center on the ways in which the media deal with women’s issues, the image

36

of women in the media, and the image of women in religious discourse. International IDEA

introduced the project (see above) and noted that it will continue over four years.

12 political parties put 46 women on the top of their electoral lists for the 2014 legislative

elections in the in-country constituencies.

Work sessions:

Session 1: Techniques for dealing with the media

The aims of this session were to raise awareness on ways in which to deal with the media as

channels of communication and to train participants on good skills for TV interviews.

This session addressed 3 issues in 3 training sessions:

1- General introduction on how to reach out to the media.

2- Practical steps on how to reach out to the media.

3- TV interview techniques.

First training session: General introduction on how to reach out to the media

The training session started with the following situation and questions: a journalist

contacted you for an interview. How do you react? / How do you answer him/her?

Responses varied from welcoming the initiative to shying away from an interview with fear.

Others stated that they would ask how the journalist got their phone number and more

about the outlet they work for. Many stated that they would ask more about the topic of

the interview, why they were specifically selected, and more about the other guests that

might be invited to the program.

The trainer stressed that female candidates have to capitalize on each invitation coming

from the media as these initiatives will introduce them to large segments of the population

that they might not otherwise have access to. She added that male candidates usually have

more opportunities to introduce themselves to the public and to talk about their programs.

She stressed the importance for women candidates to prepare very seriously for any

interviews, public statements, or speeches that they will give to the media. She advised the

participants to prepare a brief biography in which they highlight the issues they desire to

share with media and to send it to a number of media outlets.

The first exercise participants were asked to do was to draft a short biography in no more

than two paragraphs.

37

Recommendations and advice on authoring a biography include:

1- There is no specific format for how to write a biography.

2- Do not mention civil status and avoid anything that is personal because this does not

interest the press or the public but further reinforces the stereotyped image of

women.

3- Do not mention data that may be controversial or maybe used by the journalist to

direct the interview off topic or away from the originally proposed theme of the

discussion.

4- First refer to prior experience in public life (including in trade unions, political life,

etc.) and only then refer to professional experience. Do not mention what is general

and can be found in any biography.

5- Start with what is innovative and uncommon. Include an introduction that states

what can make the interview unique or of a very high importance. Be specific and do

not use generic language such as "active in civil society" without specifying the type

of activity.

Testimony of a female journalist on how women candidates dealt with the media

throughout the October 2011 elections

The second session included a presentation from Mrs. Mouna Mtibaa of the “Tunis Afrique

Presse” news agency on her experience with women candidates who had participated in the

National Constituent Assembly elections of 2011. With regard to the National Constituent

Assembly elections, there were only one or two women among all the political actors who

contacted the agency to inform it about their activities, indicating poor communication

between these two actors.

The presentation gave some tips on how to deal with the media during the campaign period,

notably that women candidates have to:

*be prepared mentally and be well-dressed

*have a recent photo and a brief biography prepared and ready to present

*give the journalists their full and accurate contact details

*answer journalists' calls over the phone and do not turn off their mobiles

*read the party program carefully and understand it fully in order to be able to answer all

questions and not only those questions related to women or women’s issues

*prepare some answers to the most frequently asked questions and be knowledgeable

about the priorities and the most important political, social, economic, and security issues.

Second training session: Reaching out to the media: practical steps:

Participants shared their thoughts on the most important functions and roles of the media

including the role of the media in forming and making public opinion, observing political

38

processes (including political parties), translating the messages and goals of political parties

to citizens, and helping parties communicate with voters.

The second presentation focused particularly on the most important functions media

perform in a society undergoing democratic transition.

Third training session: TV interview techniques:

Moncef Ayari, Professor at the Institute of Press and Information Sciences and trainer began

the session with a brief introduction on interviews and interview techniques.

The presentation was followed by two practical exercises consisting of conducting recorded

television interviews with participants to provide them with tips in relation to their

presentation on TV.

The exercises of the first day were subject to evaluations by participants. The results of the

evaluation are as follows:

What I liked in today training day What I did not like in today training day

- Alternation between theory and

practice

- Practical exercises

- Trainers

- Theme of the sessions

- Information provided

- Lack of time

- Not enough practical exercises

- Busy day

Session 2: New forms of effective communication

Topics addressed under this session aimed at understanding new forms of communication

with the public, especially through social media, and at improving participants’ skills on

formulating media messages.

This session includes two training sessions:

- First training session: formulation of media messages

- Second training session: Social networking sites

First training session: Formulation of media messages:

The second training day began with a presentation by Imen Trabelsi, a journalist at CAWTAR,

on the ten errors to be avoided on camera.

The participants then did an exercise in drafting a press release for a press conference to be

held by the female head of list.

Advice for the drafting of press releases included that the press release should:

39

- refer to an event that requires the presence of journalists

- include the name and title of the speaker

- refer to a subject of public interest at the level of the head of list region.

- avoid general and non-current issues

Second training session: Social networking sites:

The training session clarified how social networking sites operate and provide participants

with ways in which female candidates could benefit from them and use them to reach out to

a larger numbers of voters.

The presentation focused on five areas of social media including:

- The definition of social networking sites

- How to prove virtual identity

- Facebook page administration: principles and techniques

- Legal and moral responsibility for what is published on Facebook

- Good content on Facebook

The exercises of the second day were subject to evaluations by participants. The results of

the evaluation are as follows:

What I liked in the second training day What I did not like in the second training day

- New information

- Techniques of changing from profile

to page are very important

- Proof of identity

- Practical exercises

- Story telling

- Lack of time

General evaluation of the training program

An evaluation form was distributed to participants by the end of the training. Beneath are its

results:

First: Sessions and the extent to which the objectives of the training program were

achieved

By the end of the course and in line with the expected goals, assign a rate from 1 to 5 to

clarify the extent to which each session contributed to the achievement of the objectives (1

for the minimum contribution and 5 for the maximum contribution)

41

Session/extent of contribution to

achievement of goals

5 4 3 2 1 No answer

Dealing with the media 0 7 0 0 0 0

TV interview techniques 0 5 0 0 0 0

Social networking sites 2 2 3 0 0 0

Formulation of media messages 3 4 0 0 0 0

Second: The training material

Excellent Good Average Below

average

No

answer

Presentation and good organization of

the material

2

3

0

1

1

What is requested is clear and easy to

follow

2

2

1

1

1

PowerPoint presentations are clear 4

0

1

1

1

Goals of the session are clearly

presented

3 2 0 2 0

Content of the session are consistent

with the goals

3 2 0 1 1

I feel more confident in dealing with the

media

1 1 3 2 0

Agenda

Day 1, Sunday, September 28, 2014

09:00 – 09:30 Registration of participants

09:30 – 09:45 Welcome and introduction to the training program

*Atidel Mejbri, Head of Media Training Center, “CAWTAR”

*Donia Ben Romdhane , International IDEA

41

09:45 – 10:15 Introduction of participants and their expectations from the session

Session 1: Techniques for dealing with the media

10:15 – 11:30 First training session: General introduction on how to reach out to the

media: Atidel Mejbri

11:30 – 12:00 Break

12:00 – 13:00 Second training session: reaching out to the media: practical steps,

Atidel Mejbri

13:00 – 14:00 Lunch Break

14:00 – 17:30 Third training session: TV interview techniques, Moncef Ayari

Break during the session

17:30 – 17:45 Assessment of training day

Day 2, September 29, 2014

Session 2: New forms of effective communication

09:00 – 11:00 Fourth training session: formulation of media messages (for written

press and radio and television), Atidel Mejbri

11:00 – 11:30 Coffee Break

11:30 – 13:30 Fifth training session: social networking sites, Sadok Hammami

13:30 – 14:00 Evaluation of the training program and closing

14:00 – 15:00 Lunch Break

42

Attendance list

Democratic Alliance

Tunis 2

Meriam Bahlous

Email:

[email protected]

Tel: 50 065 330

Head of list

Tayyar Democratic

Ariana

Amal Maghrebi

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 21 470 534

Head of list Founding member

Executive Bureau

member

Jendouba Lubna Bint

Abdelsattar Mechichi


Tel: 24 942 234

Head of list

Founding member

Zaghouan Hana Jouini Email: [email protected]

Tel: 98 406 294

Congress for the Republic

Zaghouan Hayat Ben Adam


Tel: 94 061 791

Head of list Independent

Wafa Movement

Siliana Latifa Bint Habib

Wafi


Tel: 27 904 418

Head of list Founding member Responsible for education program

Tunis 2 Hajer Karray Email: [email protected]

Tel: 98 442 664

Head of list Founding member Responsible for health program In charge of coordination








43

Union for Tunisia (Al-Massar)

Bizerte Monia Ben Nasr

Ayadi

Email:

[email protected]

Tel: 27 299 635

Head of list Independent

Al-Moubadara

Jendouba Shahira Bint Hassine

Houli


Tel: 97 503 363

Head of list Founding member

Nidaa Tounes Movement

Tunis 1

Leila Ouled Ali Email: [email protected]

Tel: 98 244 871

Head of list

Kaouther Soualhi


Tel: 25 548 677

Second in list Responsible for Organization

Brief biographies of participants

Monia Ben Nasr Ayadi, civil servant and Deputy at the National Constituent Assembly,

militant in the Tunisian General Labour Union for 30 years and Secretary General of the main

Union of the oil and chemicals sector. Head of list of the Union for Tunisia in the

constituency of Bizerte. Participated in mining basin protests in 2008 and in the Revolution

of freedom and dignity in 2014 with the Tunisian General Labour Union.

Hajer Karray Frikha, born in 1968 in Sfax. Graduated as a physician in 1997. Obtained a

Certificate of Aptitude for occupational medicine from the Faculty of Medicine in Tunis.

Served as trainer in first aid and contributed to blood donation campaigns in the Tunisian

Red Crescent. Recruited by the Ministry of Public Health in Zarzouna, Bizerte in 1999.

Served as Chief Doctor in Public Health in Carthage Mohammed Ali. Member of the

continuous training center for doctors in the Regional Health Directorate in Tunis. Member

of the Union of Physicians, Pharmacists and Dentists in public health in Tunis. One of the

founders of Wafa Movement with Abdel Raouf Ayadi.

Latifa Wafi: head of the list of Wafa Movement in Siliana. She’s one of the ten founders of

the WAFA movement since its founding conference on May 6, 2014. She was politically

active in the university. Obtained a master’s degree in law and is working in the field of





44

education as chief inspector of primary schools. Engaged in trade union action since 1982

and serving now as secretary general of the basic union of inspectors of basic education in

Tunis. Served as head of the Cultural Association of Women in Sidi Hamada.

Lubna Mechichi, 34, lawyer and doctoral student. Founded the Tayyar Democratic Party

with a group of 70 people and is currently a member of its Political Bureau. Before the

revolution, was active in the ranks of the General Union of Tunisian Students and is now

running for the Tayyar Democratic Party in the constituency of Jendouba.

Amal Maghrebi, head of list of the Tayyar Democratic in the constituency of Ariana. Aged 46.

Senior executive in a financial institution. One of 70 founders of the Tayyar Democratic in

2013. Member of the executive board of the party. Obtained a B.A. in English and a Master’s

degree in French Language.

Shahira Houli, head of list of the Al-Moubadara party in the constituency of Jendouba. CEO

of Construction Company. Studied communications. Participated in organizations and

associative work through the Center of Young Entrepreneurs as deputy president and later

in associative work with associations interested in citizenship development in remote and

marginalized areas.

Hayet Ben Adam, native of a rural area located between the villages of Megren and Bir Ben

Halima. Chief Engineer in agricultural science, specialized in rural economy. Worked in the

public land sector for 20 years. Headed an independent list in the National Constituent

Assembly elections in October 2011. Had an honorable ranking which is first on 16

independent lists and 13 on a total of 50 lists competing in the constituency of Zaghouan.

Served as delegate for two years after the Revolution and was the first woman delegate in

the history of the Republic of Tunisia.

45

Activities Implemented in October 2014

P0245-02/1006

Activity 6: Dialogue session between women heads of electoral lists, voters, and civil society

organizations of Nabeul 1 constituency: October 20, 2014.

Activity 7: Dialogue session between women heads of electoral lists, voters, and civil society

organizations of Tunis 2 constituency: October 22, 2014.

46

P0245-02/1006


program “Respect for Women’s Political Rights: Participation and Leadership of Women in

Politics in Tunisia” was launched in Tunisia in April 2114 and targets 12 political parties:

Ennahdha, Ettakatol, CPR, Le Courant Démocratique, Al Joumhoury, Coalition démocratique,

Nidaa Tounes, Parti des travailleurs, Al Massar, Parti Afak Tounes, Mouvement Wafa, and

Parti Moubadara. These parties represent some of the parties in the National Constituent

Assembly that were elected on October 23, 2011 and functioned until the inauguration of

the Assembly of the Representatives of the People (ARP) on December 2, 2014.

International IDEA and the Center of Arab Women for Training and Research (CAWTAR)

agreed to organize a series of activities aiming at supporting the female heads of lists of the

partner political parties. These workshops were designed to support female members of the

executive bodies of the above-mentioned political parties, in particular those running for the

legislative elections. The aims of the workshops were to reduce obstacles these women

face, to help them develop their electoral messages, and to give them the tools to better

reach out to voters and media outlets. The organizers also aimed to foster opportunities for

female candidates to access the media and civil society in order to allow them to better

interact and network with these actors.

Partner Political Parties and the Number of Women Heads of Electoral Lists in

the In-Country Constituencies

Constituency Name of political party with female head

of list

Number of heads of list

Tunis 1 Courant Démocratique, Nidaa Tounes, Al Joumhouri

3

Tunis 2 Alliance Democratique, Wafa Movement, Ettakatol, Moubadra, Union for Tunisia

5

Ben Arous Al Joumhouri, Union for Tunisia 2

Ariana Courant Démocratique 1

Manouba Union for Tunisia 1

Jendouba Courant Démocratique , Moubadara 2

Kef Al Joumhouri 1

Siliana Courant Démocratique, Wafa 2

Beja Union for Tunisia 1

Bizerte Afek Tounes, Congress for the Republic, Union for Tunisia

3

47

We can conclude the following from the final candidates lists running in-country:

*A total of 46 women from partner political parties were put as heads of lists in Tunisia.

*No women were put as heads of electoral lists by program partners’ political parties in the

following constituencies: Tataouine, Monastir, Sfax 1, Gafsa, Kairouan, Tozeur, and

Kasserine.

*Nabeul 1 and Tunis 2 constituencies had the largest number of female heads of lists.

International IDEA and CAWTAR organized dialogue sessions in Nabeul 1 and Tunis 2 with

the heads of lists and civil society organizations active there. In order to connect women

candidates with the local media, two radios presenters were recruited to facilitate and

moderate the dialogue sessions.

Dates: October 20, 2014 in Nabeul 1 and October 22, 2014 in Tunis 2

Objectives:

*Enable women candidates to introduce themselves as well as their political programs to the

voters in their constituencies.

*Foster opportunities for the female candidates to encourage the electorate to vote.

*Enable civil society organizations and the electorate to interact with women politicians and

to give the candidates a platform to highlight their priorities and issues.

*Provide a platform for civil society to hear proposed solutions to their priorities and issues.

*Enable women candidates to reach out to local media in order to gain their support.

Nabeul 1 Alliance Démocratique, Nidaa Tounes, Wafa, Ettakatol, Moubadara

5

Nabeul 2 Ennahdha, Wafa , Al Joumhouri 3

Zaghouan Congress for the Republic, Courant Démocratique

2

Sidi Bouzid Popular Front, Union for Tunisia 2

Gabes Afek Tounes, Popular Front 2

Kebili Wafa 1

Mednine Afek Tounes, Courant Démocratique 2

Sousse Popular Front, Congress for the Republic, Al Joumhouri

3

Mahdia Congress for the Republic 1

Sfax 2 Popular Front, Union for Tunisia 2

Tataouine, Monastir, Sfax 1, Gafsa, Kairouan, Tozeur, Kasserine

0

48

Target groups: Women candidates, CSOs supporting women’s rights and human rights in

Nabeul 1 and Tunis 2 constituencies

A summary of the two dialogue sessions is found below.

Within the framework of the International IDEA and NIMD “Respect for Women’s Political

Rights: Participation and Leadership of Women in Politics in Tunisia” program, International

IDEA and CAWTAR organized a dialogue session between women heads of electoral lists in

Nabeul 1 and a number of CSOs active in the constituency on October 20th, 2014. The aim

of the session was to allow women candidates the opportunity to introduce themselves as

well as their political programs in their constituency. Mr. Hassen Hamali, a radio journalist

for CAP FM Radio which broadcasts in Nabeul region, facilitated the dialogue session.

Invitations to participate to this event were sent to the five women heads of lists in Nabeul 1

constituency. However, only the following four attended the event:

- Salma Elloumi, Nidaa Tounes

- Fadra Najjar, Wafa

- Salma aenaidi, Ettakattol

- Hayat Majrouh, Moubadra

More than 40 female and male participants attended the dialogue session. Participants were

CSOs active in all Nabeul 1 constituency’s delegations, representatives from the political

49

parties involved in the event, male and female citizens, and national as well as international

observers.

The representatives of the two organizations hosting the event noted that the event was

being hosted in order to support women’s political participation in elections by building

bridges between them and civil society organizations active in the constituency where they

are running, and by connecting them with local media that might support them during the

electoral campaign. They also stressed their political neutrality, thereby giving reason for

hosting multi-party events.

After brief introductions by the candidates, discussions focused on the following topics:

1. Enhancing women’s role in the Second Republic of Tunisia;

2. The importance of investment for the development of the region of Nabeul;

3. Exchange with civil society organizations.

The women candidates addressed the various problems in the different delegations of

Nabeul 1, particularly noting the challenges related to social and economic development.

Candidates also highlighted the specific challenges women face in the Nabeul 1

constituency.

According to the audience, even though the women candidates proved their awareness of

the issues raised, many believed that they did not present realistic and practical programs

that dealt with the issues and challenges in the short and mid-terms.

Civil society representatives raised a number of issues including:

*The extent that present political parties will support women’s rights.

*The possibility for new women parliamentarians to form a commission or a lobby in

partnership with civil society in order to work together in strengthening women’s rights and

status.

*The existing gaps between women in rural and urban areas and their right to equal

development.

*Poverty reduction, particularly for women, and the role of investment in the development

of the Nabeul region.

*The role of civil society in planning and implementing projects at the local level.

Participants, as well as the women candidates, stressed the important role that civil society

plays in supporting the party’s political choices, in putting the challenges and concerns of

various audiences on the political agenda, and in strengthening human rights. All attendees

called to further reinforce the partnership between women politicians and CSOs in order to

build a lasting and genuine partnership which will support the interest of citizens and

contribute to achieving fair and sustainable development.

51

The second dialogue event co-hosted by International IDEA and CAWTAR was held on the 22nd of

October in the constituency of Tunis 2.

Invitations to participate in this event were sent to the five women heads of lists in the Tunis

2 constituency. However, only Mrs. Lobna Jeribi from Ettakatol attended the event. The

representatives of Alliance démocratique, Wafa, and Al-Moubadara presented their

apologies the morning of the meeting, while the representative of the Union for Tunisia

apologized two days before the dialogue session.

Twenty-six female and male participants from CSOs active in Tunis 2 and national and

international observers attended the dialogue session.

The representatives of the two organizations noted that five women heads of lists were

invited to attend this dialogue session. However, four of them apologized after having

already confirmed their presence. They further explained that neither International IDEA nor

CAWTAR support only one party, as might be interpreted from the presence of only one

candidate from Ettakatol.

The audience raised a number of questions related to Ettakatol’s political program. The main

questions dealt with:

*Political and economic priorities of Ettakatol for the Tunis 2 constituency.

*The level of seriousness of Ettakatol and allies in supporting women’s political participation

in general and the support of their female affiliates in particular.

*The special needs of blind women.

*Gender equality.

51

*The electoral law and the horizontal parity that was not adopted by the National

Constituent Assembly, a situation which has lead the political parties, including Ettakatol, to

designate a low number of female heads of lists.

The discussion also addressed the below issues:

*The assessment made by the civil society organizations of women’s experience in the

National Constituent Assembly.

*The role that civil society played in voter registration, voter education, and voter outreach.

*The lessons learned from the constitution building process with regards to the relationship

between members of the National Constituent Assembly and civil society.

The attendees from civil society noted that what has been achieved after the Revolution,

notably the new constitution, is largely the result of their struggle, mobilization, and

pressure for the adoption of rights and freedoms.

Audience members pointed out that women and men politicians do not work together

enough on the promotion of women’s rights, and that therefore, efforts should be made to

reinforce and sustain the partnership between them. They added that women will face

multiple and diverse challenges in the forthcoming period as the implementation of the

constitutional provisions related to women’s rights will require the parliament to review

some laws and pass new laws.

The candidate from Ettakatol reminded the audience of the role her party played in building

consensus within the National Constituent Assembly, and that it was largely due to their

efforts that a mechanism for dialogue between the different political parties was

established, thereby helping to overcome many of the differences within the Assembly.

Should she win, she committed herself to continue working with civil society in a

participatory manner and to lobby for the creation of a women’s caucus within the new

parliament. Such a caucus would help influence the decision-making process within the

parliament and promote women’s rights and status.

For their part, civil society representatives called on the organizers of this dialogue session to

create more opportunities for discussion and exchange between the civil society and male

and female politicians.

Annexes

Annex 1

Women heads of lists in Nabeul 1 constituency from partner’s political parties

22910880 [email protected]

Najla Bouriel Alliance Démocratique


52

98302715 [email protected] salma.elloumi@nidaa

Selma Elloumi Nidaa Tounes

[email protected] 22 592 775

Fedra Najar Wafa


Selma Zenaidi Ettakatol


Hayet Majrouh Moubadara

Women heads of lists in Tunis 2 constituency from partner’s political parties

50 065330 [email protected]

Meriem Mahlous Alliance Démocratique


Hager Karray Wafa

24 339 349 [email protected]

Lobna Jeribi Ettakatol

98 500 549 [email protected]

Samira Chaouachi Moubadara


Selma Mabrouk Union for Tunisia (Coalition of parties)

Annex 2

Dialogue session in Nabeul 1- List of attendees

Name Tel Email Party/ Association

Amira Bouaouina 97 459760 emirabouaouina@yaho

o.fr

Women„s voice association-

Nabeul

Mariem Hadousa 98 351024 [email protected] Women„s voice association

President of the association

Emna Fathallah Belhaj

Taher

21 501521 emna.fathallah@yahoo

.fr

Women„s voice association

Wifek Sassi 20 004114 [email protected] L'association d'amitié

germano-tunisienne

Abdel Karim Matoussi

92323021 abdelkarim.mattoussi@

hotmail.fr

Karaouen Sammoud 97558650 [email protected] Ligue des électrices

Tunisiennes (LET) Kelibia



















53

Ilhem Sammoud 92 325858 [email protected]

m

Ligue des électrices


Doursaf Hamid


om



Samiha Hamid

23 163827 samihahmaied@gmail.

com



Latifa Ben Brahim 53 772929 latifa_ben_brahim@hot

mail.com

Mohamed Fekhi 98 999786 fekih.mohamed63@gm

ail.com

Somaa Nabeul

Mouhsen Boukdhir 98 486293 Mohsen.boukhdhir@tu

nisietelecom.tn

Somaa

Farouk Ben Houriya 55 599454 [email protected]

r

Hammam elghezaz

Dhouha Salem 21 518828 Somaa

Saida Ben Ali 21 620414 [email protected] Euro-med EVE

Kais Soui 97 492002 Euro-med EVE

Salem Ben Haouia 96 692652 Salem.benhaouia@yah

oo.fr

Mourakiboun

Mohamed Ali Ben

Amou

21 909063 [email protected] Association “Lam Echamel”

Wahib Trabelsi 24 233396 wahibtrabelsi@hotmail

.fr

Association “Lam Echamel”

Sadek Ben Hmida 50 986502 Sadakbenhmida@yaho

o.fr

Active & Positive Youth

Bahri Mzoughi 55 266164 [email protected]

r

NACHER

Nasreddine Belghuith 90 117797 [email protected]

m

NACHER

Safwene Belghith 90 117652 [email protected]

r

NACHER

Zaineb Toumi 50 969290 [email protected] NACHER

Chamselassil Belghuith 21 235254 Chamselassil_1@yahoo NACHER































54

.fr

Zaineb Toumi 50 969290 [email protected] NACHER

Chaima Dhaouadi 42 263525 chaimadhaouadicrt@g

mail.com

NACHER

Wahiba Belghuith 99 335133 [email protected]

m

NACHER

Rakia Derbel 21 278812

29 304029

[email protected]

[email protected]

l'Association tunisienne de

lutte contre les

comportements à risque

Amal Ben Othman 93 383018 Vphr.amal.ben.othman

@gmail.com

Tounsiyyet

Imen Zaidi 29 037745 [email protected]

m

Tounsiyyet

Ayoun Ben Othman 53 675345 [email protected]

m

For a Better Future

Association

Olfa Majdoub 20 427005 majdoubolfa@hotmail.

fr

Mouna Bahri 96 088717 Mounabahri1@hotmail

.com

Ettakatol

Samia Jlassi 21 169350 [email protected] Ettakattol

Monia Znaidi Ettakattol

Wajdi Touati 50 220366 [email protected]

m

Association Cities, Forest,

and Costs

Mahdi fathallah 55 353112 Mahdi.fathallah@hotm

ail.fr

EU EOM

Diana ferrari 98 754526 [email protected]

m

EU EOM

Vera Lourenco [email protected]

Observer- NDI



























55

Annex 3

Dialogue session in Tunis 2- List of attendees

Name Tel Email Party/ Association

Mbarka Alaya 23 353936 Association Roya

Mariem Hadouch 24 490687 Association Roya

Salem Ouneis 40 877008

21 209853

[email protected] Equality & Parity Association

Soraya Fersi 24 415160 [email protected] Equality & Parity Association

Ayda Ben Chaabane 23 526193 [email protected] Alliance for Tunisia

President

Marouen Trabelsi 22 709987 [email protected] Association “Kayf”

Arbia Abbasse 22 385260 [email protected] Association “Ibsar”

Mohamed Mansouri Association “Ibsar”

Ikram Ben Sassi 24 609466 [email protected] Association Article 19

Saloua Guiga 50 451544 [email protected] Chokri Belaid Foundation

Against Violence

Fatma Jegham 28 376532 [email protected] Association Tahaddi

Sonia Charfi 22 024991 [email protected] Association Tahaddi

Chaima Bouderbela 28 087574 [email protected] Association Tahaddi

Naima Tlili 21 264916 [email protected] Association Tahaddi

Imen Jendoubi 22 508122 [email protected] Association Tahaddi

Nizar Msallmi 29 163654 [email protected] Association Tahaddi

Asmaa Harfaoui 28 027834 [email protected] Association Tahaddi

Eya Rzeigui 23 394836 [email protected] Association Tahaddi

Besma Boumiza 21 467639 [email protected] Association Tahaddi

Nabila Djobbi 26 263824 [email protected] Association Tahaddi

Ziyed Ayadi 97 653717 [email protected] ADO+

Tarek Ouelhazi 24 377671 ouelhazitarek@............ Association Tahaddi

Fatma Bem Kheder 98 645078 [email protected] Ligue des électrices

Tunisiennes (LET)

Radhia Nahla Mohsen 55 639751 [email protected] Ligue des électrices

Tunisiennes (LET)

Dorra Harra 98 930862 [email protected] Association Together

Jalila Zneidi 96 466045 Association Dignity






















56

Activities implemented in October 2014

P0245-02/2003

Activity 8 : International Seminar on Electoral Violence Against Women: Strategies to Prevent

Violence Against Women in the Upcoming Elections in Tunisia: October 1-2, 2014

57

P0245-02/2003

Report not ready yet!

58

Activities implemented in December 2014

P0245-02/1008

P0245-02/ 1002

P0245-02/ 2001

Activity 9 : Workshop on Lessons Learned by NCA Female Members : 06 December 2014

Activity 10: Workshop on Women Working Together in Parliament: December 29, 2014

Activity 11 : Discussion Paper on Gender

Activity 12 : Video Report

59

P0245-02/1008

Workshop on Lessons Learned by NCA Female Members Saturday December 6, 2014

Tunis-Hotel Golden Tulip - El Mechtel

1-Introduction

2-Opening session

3-Debriefing on the participation in the National Constituent Assembly

4- Debriefing on the technical work in the National Constituent Assembly

5- Future political plans

6- Recommendations to the newly elected women at the Assembly of the Representatives

of the People

Annexes:

Annex 1: Concept note

Annex 2: Agenda

Annex3: Attendance list

61

1.Introduction Within the framework of the International IDEA and NIMD “Respect for Women’s Political

Rights: Participation and Leadership of Women in Politics in Tunisia” program, on December

6, 2014, International IDEA and CAWTAR jointly organized a workshop on “Lessons Learned

by NCA Female Members”.

The program, which was launched in Tunisia in April 2014, tries to address the factors behind

the low presence and leadership of women in political parties in Tunisia. Furthermore, it

aims to contribute to the reduction in the number and type of barriers that impede women’s

entry into, and retention in, political parties.

The program observed that about half of the women (31 women out of 67) did not run in

the 2014 legislative elections. As the number of women who participated as candidates for

elections in 2014 was much less than was expected, it is therefore essential to draw lessons

from their experiences inside and outside the National Constituent Assembly ( NCA) and to

understand the reasons for their decision not to run the elections. It is also crucial to collate

the recommendations they might have for newly-elected women at the Assembly of the

Representatives of the People (ARP) – ( See Annex 1 ).

By the end of the first year of this program, which coincides with the end of the NCA’s

mandate and the establishment of a new parliament, the program finds the following goals

to be of the utmost importance:

*To help the female members of the NCA who decided not to run for the legislative elections

have a better idea about the options they have in the political sphere.

*Document the lessons learned as well as any potential recommendations raised by the

experienced female members of the NCA who decided not to run for the legislative elections

in order to increase the readiness of the women in the newly-elected legislative assembly.

All the female members of the NCA who did not run in the 2014 legislative elections were

invited to attend the lecture presented by historian Mr. Abdessattar Amamou, as well as the

workshop (See annex 2). However, only 17 women attended (See Annex 3).

2. Opening session

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) representative

opened the workshop and welcomed the participants. She noted that the most important lesson

learned from the lecture presented by Mr. Abdessattar Amamou is that history is written by men

who overlook in their writing the role played by women as contributors in the state building and in

leading the society towards progress and prosperity. For this reason, it is necessary today to

document women’s contributions in all fields. She explained that this workshop comes within this

framework and aims at documenting parts of the experience of the female members of the (NCA)

who decided not to run for the legislative elections. She added that it is important to benefit from

their experiences for the next political and legal periods. She highlighted the workshop’s objectives

61

stressing their importance for the program as the needs and recommendations that will be collected

will determine the program’s priorities and the future areas of intervention for the year 2115.

The Center of Arab Women for Training and Research (CAWTAR) representative noted that the

lessons learned from the experiences of the female members of the NCA are very important and

useful, not only for the new female MPs but for all female MPs in the Arab region. She explained

that the reelection rate of female members of the ARP is low and that it is necessary to make

concerted efforts, through the international, regional and national organizations and civil society as

well, to support the new female members and provide them with the necessary resources to help

them have an impact on the Parliament’s decision-making from the beginning of its term. She added

that this workshop aims at identifying the needs and the strategies to buildupon the NCA’s

experience.

3. Debriefing on the Participation in the National Constituent Assembly

Based on the questions asked by the session’s facilitator, female participants presented their

testimonies about their participation in the public sphere and in the NCA. It has to be noted

that the participants were either members of parliamentary groups or independent

members that did not belong to any parliamentary group or political party as they had

resigned from the party of which they were candidates during the elections of the members

of the NCA2. The following represents the most important ideas stated by the female

participants:

Political Path

*The majority of the participants started their public life by participating in demonstrations

and protests at an early age (about 16), and some of them were involved in political

activities. For these activities they were arrested, imprisoned, and harassed in their careers.

*The participants confessed that their early participation in the public/political sphere had

an impact on their personalities and helped shape them.

*Political parties encouraged the participants and nominated them for the NCA’s elections.

The decisions to choose some of them as heads of lists were made by and insisted upon by

the parties they represent.

*All participants confirmed that their desire to participate in the Constitution drafting

process was based on their struggles, political beliefs, and aspirations. They wanted, through

their presence in the NCA, to consecrate in the new Constitution the values and principles

that they believe in and that they have been defending since they started their public and

political lives: peaceful transfer of power, right to dissent, freedom of expression and

thought, right to life, women's rights, children's rights, rights of the people with special

needs, and the principle of equality between the regions. 2 The independent participants (from Ettakatol and CPR) explained that they resigned from their parties when they found

out that the parties had deviated from the principles and orientations that had made them become members of these parties and be their candidates for the elections.

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*Participants explained that their desire to serve the citizens in the governorates to which

they belong is one of the important reasons that led them participate in the NCA’s elections.

Difficulties Encountered

External difficulties Internal difficulties

Media:

-They did not cover the contributions of

female members of the NCA:

A-They always interviewed the commission’s

male or female presidents or the male or

female rapporteurs of the commissions or

the known political figures, and they did not

interview the other commissions’ members,

even though the commissions’ activities

were conducted in groups and not

individually.

B- They did not show the vital role female

members played through their discipline

andhard work.

-They did not inform the people that

absences were mainly among the male

members. Some male members did not

attending any of the commissions’ working

sessions, yet were present in the media to

talk about the commissions’ work!

Political parties:

-They did not provide psychological or

financial support for the female MPs coming

from far-off regions, who subsequently had

to change their residences and leave their

children and families in their regions without

the same level of care (especially in the case

where the mother is the only breadwinner

of the family). This resulted in many cases of

family and financial problems due to the

continuous traveling of the female MP to her

governorate.

-Lack of a clear vision of the administration of the Assembly about the constitutional drafting process.

-Lack of/weak technical support provided to male and female MPs either by the political parties or the Assembly. -Difficulty in reconciling the constitutional and legislative functions and the representational function: the commitment to attend the commissions and plenary working sessions led to a lack of communication with the governorates and vice versa. -The incapacity to meet the different and various demands of the People (the representational function) caused the female MPs to feel pressured and become depressed, creating a negative impact on their families. -Feeling guilty about the frequent long absences from spouses and children at home.

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-They did not make advisors available for the

male and female MPs in order to help them

carry out their constitutional and legislative

functions and communicate with the

regions.

The ethical crisis prevalent in the society:

Many female MPs suffered from

harassment, assault, insult, and denigration

from male and female citizens, either

directly or through social media. These

practices were meant either to attack them

personally or to attack the political party to

which they belong. Women were subject to

these practices more often than men.

Legal gaps:

- Many female MPs and their families were

subject to verbal abuse, campaigns of

denigration, and harassment, causing them

to file claims to prosecute whoever targeted

them. Unfortunately, they discovered that

there is a legislative gap in many fields, and

they could not pursue the claims in many

cases.

Lessons learned:

*The female members of the NCA were the most assiduous when it came to attending the

activities of the commissions and the plenary sessions and to voting for the provisions of the

Constitution.

*The female members of the NCA compromise and build consensus more regularly than

male NCA members. Therefore, the majority of the decisions made by the commissions

presided over by women were consensual, including those related to controversial issues

and sensitive laws.

*The Tunisian Constitution was adopted thanks to the sacrifices of the female members of

the NCA, many of whom are wives and mothers.

*The female members of the NCA learned a lot during the last three years, including how to

communicate with those with different opinions. They now have a better capacity to analyze

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and understand the reality of social and political situations and communicate their

perspective. They have established a significant number of professionalrelationships with

various MPs, civil society organizations, and the public administration at the central, regional

and local levels.

*Women’s rights would not have been provided for in the Constitution if female MPs did not

work together regardless of their political affiliations, as the priorities of political parties are

currently related to the exercise of power and not to supporting women’s rights (whether as

simple citizens or politicians).

*Civil society supported female MPs in providing for women’s rights in the Constitution.

*Media helped in mobilizing public opinion on many fundamental constitutional issues,

which had an impact on the MPs’ work and also on the orientations adopted by the final

version of Constitution.

Assessing the Experience in the National Constituent Assembly:

All the female participants agreed that the experience was positive, despite the encountered

difficulties and the political bipolarization. What follows is a summary of what they said:

My experience was “wonderful”.

I am proud of my experience, including its positive and negative aspects.

My experience was extraordinary.

My experience was bitter, but rich and very beautiful.

My experience was positive.

My experience was unique.

My experience was rich and very useful.

My experience was pioneering but difficult.

My experience was successful and pioneeringdespite the fears I had at the beginning.

Running for the legislative elections

As to the legislative elections held in October 2014, participants made their observations

concerning the nomination of female candidates on the top of the party lists. Below are the

most important comments:

*Men use the positive image of women, their hard work and their achievements, to reach

top positions and then progress. Once this is done, they abandon them. This is what

happened during the 2014 legislative elections, when political parties used women but did

not nominate as heads of their lists. “ It is as if to say that you represent half of society, you

are the fuel that ignites the fire that enlightens Tunisia, but we do not trust you.”

*Political parties selected to be heads of lists have a number of male members of the NCA

who did not attend the commissions’ working sessions and who also were constantly absent

from the plenary sessions.

*NCA’s female members were always present and gave a lot to the constitutional drafting

process, which unfortunately prevented them from communicating with the regions that

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elected them. Political parties used this lack of communication against them as a reason to

not nominate them as heads of the lists, saying that they were not famous enough in the

regions.

Participants presented different reasons for their abstention from participating in the

legislative elections. The following are the main reasons highlighted:

*I need to distance myself from what is happening to be able to think and make an

assessment and then decide on what I could do in the future.

* The deteriorating political situation, the moral decline, and money in politics are factors

that do not encourage women to participate in politics.

*I consider myself as a founder, amother of the Constitution, and from the beginning I have

never had any intention to run for another term.

*I think that the country is going through difficult times, economically and politically

speaking, and no political program will be able to find for my region solutions to these

problems in the forthcoming five years, which means that I will not be able to fulfill the

promises I have made to voters, which is for me unacceptable.

*Politics does not have ethics, and the parliamentary work is arduous and tiring and requires

hard work. I did not get help and support to do my job properly.

*Tunisian families are not yet prepared to let women devote themselves to political life.

*I tried to apply the principle of peaceful transfer of power on myself and I hope new

competencies among the youth are discovered.

*My party applied the principle of the electoral and demographic weight and the principle of

peaceful transfer of power and nominated another woman from my region.

4-Debriefing on the technical work in the National Constituent Assembly

This session aimed at assessing the constituent, legislative, and representation tasks carried

out by the participants during the whole mandate of the NCA. Participants were divided into

two groups to answer the questions prepared by the facilitator. What follows represents the

key findings of the groups work and the general discussion.

How did you manage to voice your opinions while carrying out your functions (constituent,

legislative, representational) at the NCA and through which mechanisms?

Participants explained that the main mechanisms they used to voice their opinions were:

*The parliamentary group to which they belong.

*The constituent or legislative commissions (depending on the case) as they represent the

first avenue through which bills are examined, opinions and positions are stated, and reports

are prepared before being submitted to the plenary session for discussion and approval.

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Was it possible to communicate with other female MPs from other parties or other

parliamentary groups to build consensus on common proposals to be submitted for

approval to the commissions or to the plenary session?

The female members of the NCA were able, despite their different political affiliations, to

exchange among themselves and to build consensus on issues especially related to women’s

and children’s rights. They submitted their common proposal to the commissions or to the

plenary session.

How were you making up your opinions and positions related to the issues discussed in the

NCA?

*Communication with voters.

*Personal research.

*Discussion within the parliamentary group.

*Listening to the experts invited in the commissions.

*Interaction, in general, with civil society and media.

*Meetings in the regions or with the parties concerned by the issues at stake.

The modern communication methods, like Facebook and Twitter have helped many times in

making some of the decisions and understanding the impact of some choices on voters and

public opinion.

Did you have any role within the women parliamentary group? How do you assess this

experience? Was it useful to determine choices and to make decisions during the

constitutional drafting process and beyond?

Participants explained that the women parliamentary group played a fundamental role for

the drafting of some articles related to women’s rights and women’s participation

(submission of a first draft of article 46 of the Constitution) in the Constitution and in the

Electoral Law. They noted that some women MPs refused to join the women parliamentary

group, asserting that it is discriminatory.

What are the main difficulties you encountered while carrying out your parliamentary

tasks?

*The timing of the commissions’ activities as two commissions were planned to work in the

same time (lack of good coordination and programming of the commissions’ working

sessions due to the membership of a number of MPs in the constitutional, the legislative,

and the special commissions at the same time).

*The multiplicity of tasks and the fragmentation of efforts.

*The weak support of the party or the Assembly’s administration (despite the appraisement

of the role of advisers at the NCA, participants noted the administrative support provided to

the MPs was limited and outside the commissions’ work the MPs generally had to use their

personal relationships and private means).

*Limited skills on communication techniques.

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*The lack of financial and logistical support that should normally facilitate the MPs’ work

(PC, parliamentary assistant or advisor, etc).

*The special needs of female MPs and the specificities of w omen in general were not taken

into consideration in order to facilitate their access to the public sphere, to the State’s

machinery and to decision-making positions3.

5. Future political plans

To get participants talk about their future political plans, a questionnaire was prepared and

distributed among them. A general discussion followed to give an idea about the general

trend among the participants. Hereafter are the main conclusions.

*Only two participants have the intention to leave the political life and join civil society.

*All the participants, without exception, spoke about their intention to run for the municipal

or regional elections, either to represent their parties or as independent candidates.

*Some participants expressed their desire to run for the next legislative elections.

The female participants identified their most important needs to succeed in their new

adventure:

*Learn about comparative electoral systems used for municipal and regional elections.

*Learn about comparative successful mechanisms used by women politicians to

communicate/liaise, at the level of the municipality, with civil society organizations in order

to identify the needs in general and the needs of women in particular at the municipal level

and to design policies that meet these expectations .

*Learn about the legal framework related to many important issues.

*Be trained on the use of IT communication means.

*Master foreign languages.

5. Recommendations to the Newly Elected Women at the Assembly of the

Representatives of the People

Based on their experience, participants provided a number of recommendations to the

newly elected female members of the ARP that might increase their readiness from the

beginning of the ARP work.

Methodology of work

*Female MPs should support each other regardless of their political affiliations.

*Work toward the enforcement of the legal texts combatting political violence against

women, because affecting the reputation of women in politics, defaming them, and

resorting to other such practices constitute a manifestation of violence that should not

continue to be ignored.

3 The female participants mentioned that a female MP called for the creation of a kindergarden within the NCA. The male

MPs received this request cynically and it remained subject of jokes for a long time.

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*Build networks among the Founders, civil society, and the Executive (public

administrations/ministries).

*Reinforce the representation function of the MP through the dedication of time to

communicate with citizens in the regions (dedicate one week per month out of the time of

the MP to visit regions).

*Put pressure on political parties and the Assembly’s administration to provide technical

support for MPs within the Assembly (advisors) and in the regions (assistants).

*Put pressure on political parties to provide a concrete support to women MPs, especially

for those coming from the further regions (financial, logistical and technical support).

Skills

*Mastery of foreign languages, computer skills, and the art of communication.

*Good knowledge of legal texts in the different fields.

*Listening well to all the parties and all the proposals, deepening knowledge, and preparing

in advance for any session or activity.

Successful mechanisms to promote women’s rights

*Lobby for the establishment of a permanent parliamentary commission that has legislative

functions and oversees the government functions that would be specialized in the

examination of bills related to women, children, and people with special needs.

*Lobby for the establishment of a women MPs caucus within the ARP. It is crucial that it

would work with the female members of the NCA that are not in the ARP,Civil society,

andthe male members of the ARP who support women’s issues.

*Develop a master plan for women MPs to have a presence in the media that is based on the

principle of equal opportunities and the distribution of tasks and roles according to their

field of expertise.

Annex 1 : Concept note

Introduction

The female members of the NCA participated significantly in the constitutional building

process in Tunisia. The diverse articles of the 2014 constitutions which provide and reinforce

women’s rights and status in the society were the result of the demands and struggle

undertaken in collaboration with the human and women’s rights organizations and in

partnership with the support of many of their male counterparts.

The NCA election law provided for gender parity on the candidate lists, specifying that these

lists should be established in such a way as to alternate between men and women (Zipper

lists). Therefore, during the 3-year life of the NCA, the number of the female members grew

from 59 in 2011 after the elections to 67 in 2014 as all male members of the government

who left their posts were replaced by the candidate succeeding them on their respective list.

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Sex disaggregated data on NCA’s members for November 2014

Sex Nb of members within NCA Percentage

Men 151 69,12 %

Women 67 31,88 % (Source: http://www.anc.tn/site/main/AR/docs/composition/compos_s.jsp)

Sex disaggregated data on NCA’s parliamentary groups for November 2014

Parliamentary Group

Nb of numbers

NB of men

Nb of women

Ennahdha parliamentary group

68/712 (36,83 )%

54/141 (31 )%

51/82 (81,16 )%

Democratic parliamentary group

16/712 (6,28 )%

11/141 (2,33 )%

6/82 (11,65 )%

CPR parliamentary group

15/712 (8,54 )%

11/141 (8,82 )%

5/82 (4,62 )%

Ettakatol parliamentary group

17/712 (4,43 )%

6/141 (8 )%

3/82 (5,56 )%

Loyalty to the revolution parliamentary group

6/712 (5,14 )%

6/141 (8 )%

1/82 (1 )%

Democratic alliance parliamentary group

11/712 (5,81 )%

6/141 (8 )%

1/82 (1,56 )%

Transitional democracy parliamentary group

15/712 (8,54 )%

17/141 (6 )%

7/82 (7,66 )%

Members not affiliated to any parliamentary group

47/712 (73,68 )%

55/141 (76,33 )%

6/82 (11,65 )%

(Source: http://www.anc.tn/site/main/AR/docs/composition/compos_s.jsp)

It is also equally important to mention that the female members of the NCA acknowledged

that their experience in the NCA was transformative for them. In addition, they also

recognized the importance of networks and opportunities presented to strengthen their

capacity, skills, and knowledge during their time in the Assembly.

However, despite this positive sense, about half of the women (31 women) did not run in the

2014 legislative elections. As the number of women who participated as candidates for

elections in 2014 was much less than was expected, it is therefore essential to draw lessons

from their experiences and understand the reasons for their decision not to run in the

elections. Their lessons can help inform the new generation of women entering the

parliament, as they are valuable lessons that can be learned from their predecessors,

including the challenges they faced, the ways such challenges were overcome, and any

recommendations they might have for newly-elected women.

Rationale for the workshop



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Tunisia”, in partnership with the Center of Mediterranean and International Studies (CEMI),

tries to address the factors behind the very low presence and leadership of women in

political parties in Tunisia. Furthermore, it aims to contribute to the reduction in the number

and type of barriers that impede women’s entry into, and retention in, political parties.

The program was launched in Tunisia in April 2014 and has targeted to date 12 political

parties including Ennahdha, Ettakatol, CPR, Le Courant Démocratique, Al Joumhoury,

Coalition démocratique, Nidaa Tounes, Parti des travailleurs, Al Massar, Parti Afak Tounes,

Mouvement Wafa, and Parti Moubadara.

By the end of the first year of this program, which coincides with the end of the NCA’s

mandate and the establishment of a new parliament, the program finds it highly important:

-To help the female members of the NCA who decided not to run for the legislative elections

to have a better idea about the options they have in the political sphere.

-To d the lessons learned as well as any potential recommendations raised by the

experienced female members of the NCA who decided not to run for the legislative elections

in order to increase the preparedness of the women in the newly elected legislative

assembly.

To this end, two workshops will be organized. The first workshop will both help understand

the reasons behind the decision of 31 of the NCA’s female members who decided not to run

for elections, and collate the lessons learned and recommendations from the female

members of the NCA, who largely represent the partner political parties, with regards to

their participation as politicians in the public sphere andtheir experience and work in the

Constituent and Parliamentary fields.

The second workshop will aim at sharing the lessons learned with the recommendations

raised during the first workshop with the new elected women at the Assembly of the

Representatives of the People. This is crucial due to the high turnover among the women

members after the 2014 legislative elections.

The first debriefing workshop will be organized forDecember 6, 2014. The second one will be

organized either in late December 2014 or in January 2015.

Objectives of the workshop

The objectives of the workshop are to:

-Facilitate a multi-party discussion among female members of the NCA on their political

participation, contributions throughout the NCA life period, and on their future

contributions in the political arena.

-Facilitate a discussion on how male and female MPs can work together to reinforce

women’s rights and status.

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-Agree on useful recommendations to be shared with the newly-elected women at the

Assembly of the Representatives of the People that will allow them improve their

contributions and to be more efficient.

Expected outputs

It is expected that through this workshop, female members of the NCA will be able to share:

-Their understanding of the concept of “political/ public participation” and the way they

have exercised this right.

-The decision they took to not run for legislative elections, as well as the rationale behind

this decision.

-The lessons they learned from their experience in the NCA.

-The obstacles they faced in their work and the strategies they used to overcome them.

With a better understanding of the female members’ contributions and experiences within

the NCA, recommendations on the strategies to be adopted to make the performance of the

newly-elected women of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People can be more

meaningful and efficient throughout the parliamentary mandate and from the beginning of

the new parliament work.

Expected outcomes:

-Increased understanding of future women’s contribution in the political life.

-Increased preparedness of elected women in the new legislative Assembly.

Participants

The participants in this seminar will be members of the NCA. The female participants will be

selected from among the female members of the NCA who did not run in the 2014 legislative

elections.

Methodology

The workshop will be conducted with a participatory approach that facilitates information

sharing among the participants.

Short questionnaires will be developed for some of the issues to be discussed.

Questions will be debated in break-out groups and /or plenary.

Date and location of the workshop

The workshop will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2014, in Tunis at theHotel Golden

Tulip- El Mechtel.

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Annex 2 : Agenda

Friday, December 5th, 2014

19.30-21.30: Cocktail and Lecture by Historian Abdessatar Ammamou: A historical overview

of the role of Tunisian women in the Tunisian state building.

Saturday, December 6th, 2014

09.00-09.30

Opening Session: Welcome and Introduction

*Mrs. Donia Ben Romdhane, International IDEA

*Mrs. Atidel Mejbri, Center of Arab Women for Training and Research (CAWTAR)

09.30-11.15

Session 1: Debriefing on the participation in the National Constituent Assembly

11.15-11.30: coffee break

11.30-13.30

Session 2: Debriefing on the technical work in the National Constituent Assembly

13.30-14.30: Lunch break

14.30-15.30

Session 3: Future political plans

15.30-16.30

Session 4: Recommendations to the newly-elected women at the Assembly of the

Representatives of the People

16.30-16.45

Conclusions and closing remarks

Annex3 : Attendance list

Sidi Bouzid 2188058106 [email protected]

Beya Jaouadi Ennahdha

Kebili 2085348138 [email protected]

Hasna Marsit

Independant and does not belong to any parliamentary group. She was elected in 2011

on CPR List Kasserine 9682768269 [email protected]

Khira Sghairi

Ennahdha Gabes 94-622.040 [email protected]

Dalila Bouaine Ennahdha


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Tunis 2 98-262483 [email protected]

Souad Abderrehim

Ennahdha

Monastir 93-125709 [email protected]

Sonia Ben Toumia

Ennahdha

Nabeul2 98-523.260 [email protected]

Salha Ben Aicha

Ennahdha

Nabeul 2 21-872.904

[email protected]

Fatma Gharbi

Independant and does not belong to any parliamentary group. She was elected in 2011 on Ettakatol List

sfax 1 98 657063

[email protected] Fattoum Lassoued

Ennahdha

Tozeur 9787628757

Kaouther Ladgham

Ennahdha

Kairouan 95-410.678 [email protected]

Moufida Marzouki

Ennahdha

Mehdia 96.5308830

[email protected] Nejiba Beryoul Ennahdha

Jandouba 21169216 - 97174233 [email protected]

Nefissa Wafa Marzouki

Independant and does not belong to any parliamentary group. She was elected in 2011 on Ettakatol List

Beja 968280791

[email protected]

Nabila Askri

Ennahdha

Tunis 1 98-324.748

[email protected]

Hager Azaiez Ennahdha











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29.567674 [email protected]

Ikbel.msadaa Congress for the Republic / CPR

Bizerte 28013101 [email protected]

Aicha Dhaouadi

Ennahdha

[email protected] Donia Ben Romdhane- International IDEA

[email protected] Atidel Mejbri - CAWTAR

[email protected] Monia Belarbi

Facilitator [email protected] Senim Ben Abdallah

Facilitator



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P0245-02/ 1002

1-Introduction

2- Opening session

3-Reflection and experience sharing by the members of the informal women’s caucus

established at the National Constituent Assembly.

4- Options for formal and informal strategies for women parliamentarians to better obtain

influence in Parliament.

5- Comparative experience on formal strategies used by women parliamentarians in the

Ivory Coast.

6- Recommendations on viable options for women parliamentarians in Tunisia

Annexes: Annex 1: Concept note Annex 2: Attendance list Annex3 : Agenda

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1-Introduction

Within the framework of the International IDEA and NIMD “Respect for Women’s Political

Rights: Participation and Lof Women in Politics in Tunisia” program, on December 29, 2014,

International IDEA and CAWTAR jointly organized a workshop on “Women Working Tin

Parliament”.

The program, which was launched in Tunisia in April 2014, tries to address the factors behind

the low presence and leadership of women in political parties in Tunisia. Furthermore, it

aims to contribute to the reduction in the number and type of barriers that impede women’s

entry into, and retention in, political parties.

This workshop follows up on the recommendations raised by bothparticipants in previous

activities aimed at supporting women candidates in the legislative elections and by female

members of the National Constituent Assembly (NCA) who decided not to run for the

legislative elections (as ascertained in the related workshop). This workshop is also a

response to informal meetings with the president of the Assembly of the Representatives of

the People (ARP), the commission appointed to prepare the draft rules of regulation and

with some members of the parliament. These parties indicated that there is a consensus

within the ARP to establish a commission which will focus on gender issues and women’s

concerns, among others (see Annex 1).

The objectives of the workshop were to:

1. Provide a forum for discussion, reflection and sharing of experiences among the

newly elected women of the ARP and the members of the informal women’s caucus

established at the NCA on the lessons learned from their experience in the caucus.

2. Provide options for formal and informal strategies that women parliamentarians

could adopt in order to better obtain influence in parliament.

3. Provide comparative real –life experiences of formal and informal strategies that

women parliamentarians could adopt to better work together in parliament as well

as providing the space for a discussion around the pros and cons of each strategy.

International IDEA and CAWTAR sought to organize this workshop in the early stages of the

ARP’s preparations of the rules of procedures in order to sensitize and raise awareness on

the various mechanisms that can strengthen women’s political impact within the parliament,

and consequently to enhance their contribution in and impact on the decisions to be made

out of the debate that will take place on the ARP‘s rules of regulation and on the

commissions to be established.

77

The workshop gathered:

Members of the informal women’s caucus established at the NCA

Members of the ARP‘s commission appointed to prepare the draft ARP‘s rules of regulation

Women parliamentarians

Thanks to the support of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the organizers invited Mrs. Sarra

Sako, First deputy and Head of Women Parliamentary Caucus of the Ivory Coast, to share her

experience and some of the strategies used by women parliamentarians in the Ivory Coast.

Twenty-four women, representing a number of political parties elected in the new

parliament or who were in the NCA, attended the workshop (see Annex 2).

The workshop adopted a participatory approach which facilitated the achievement of the

workshop’s objectives: to identify recommendations on mechanisms for Tunisia’s women

parliamentarians to better work together and for the eventual adoption of these

recommendations and strategies into the ARP’s rules of procedure.

2- Opening session

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), and the Center of

Arab Women for Training and Research (CAWTAR), welcomed the honorable guests and

affirmed that the presence of a low number of women in the new Tunisian Parliament (68

out of 217, i.e. 31.33%) is not sufficient to guarantee their success in defending women’s

rights and issues. In fact, comparative experiences show that the success of women

parliamentarians in strengthening their influence in Parliaments has always been the result

of their unity and solidarity. Women’s success in influencing the courses of decision-making

within the Parliament has often been the result of their teamwork, regardless of their

political parties’ affiliations, and has rarely been that of their individual initiatives.

International IDEA emphasized the following issues:

1) The importance of communication between the different generations of male and

female members of Parliament: The role female members of the NCA played in the

constituent and legislative commissions, as presidents of commissions, commissions’

rapporteurs and members of the Consensus Commission, was crucial and

fundamental for obtaining the consecration of many articles in the Constitution

(articles 20, 21, 34, 36, 40, 74, etc.) that recognize the active role of Tunisian women

in the building of the State and their modern place in Tunisian society. In that, it is

important to take advantage of the experiences of the first generation of women

parliamentarians and the lessons they learned. This can only be achieved through

platforms of communication and exchange between the first and the second

generation of female members of Parliamentari.

78

2) The importance of having women parliamentarians working together in general

and during the next five years in particular, because:

The unity of women and their successes undermine and reduce stereotypes about

women in politics and thus strengthen women’s leadership and the image of women

as contributors to the building of their countries.

From a legal point of view, the next parliamentary phase will be crucial as the

implementation of the Constitution will require many laws to be amended and new

ones passed. Many of these laws will relate to women’s rights or have an impact on

them.

The new government will have to review and design several public policies that will

have an impact on women. It is important that these policies take into consideration

women’s needs and meet their expectations.

CAWTAR emphasized:

That the previous meetings and workshops organized with female members of the

NCA and political activists showed that the latter are fully aware of the internal and

external obstacles to their full contribution and impact and that this knowledge

might serve as the basis for their unity.

The importance of sharing comparative experiences and expertise.

The importance of learning from the experience of female members of the NCA and

building upon it.

3-Reflection and Experience Sharing by the Members of the Informal

Women’s Caucus Established at the National Constituent Assembly

Seven women who participated in the informal women’s caucus established at the NCA

attended the meeting. They represented Ennahdha, the Democratic Forum for Labor and

Liberties/Ettakatol, the Congress for the Republic/CPR, and Al Massar. This multiparty

platform allowed for the collection of different views and opinions on the success of female

members of the NCA, the extent to which they succeeded in working together, and the

mechanisms they employed to do so.

The following represents the main findings, conclusions, and recommendations that

emerged from the debate:

*The achievement: During the late stages of the constitution building process (2013), a

group of women, both from within the NCA and from various political , agreed on forming a

women’s caucus (without being constituted).

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It is important to mention that a minority of the female members of the NCA refused or

opposed the idea of a women’s caucus. The first deputy of the NCA speaker established a

tradition of inviting all female members for lunch during the visits of parliamentary

delegations. She also invited them in order to deliberate and discuss any problematic issues

related to women and children. This process slowly helped nurture the emergence of a spirit

of unity among many of the women within the NCA, regardless of their political affiliation.

*Reasons for not forming the women’s caucus in the initial phase of the NCA’s work:

Arguments presented by the participants differed:

The political polarization and the pressure that political parties and parliamentary groups

exerted on their female members prevented the swift formation a women’s caucus.

The multiplicity and succession of constitutional and legislative tasks as well as the

responsibilities of the women – as presidents, rapporteurs, or members of the

constitutional and legislative commissions or of other ad-hoc commissions- prevented

female delegates from directing their efforts towards the formation of a women’s caucus.

The majority of the female members of the NCA did not have the necessary boldness to

declare their willingness to work toward strengthening women’s rights and status right

from the beginning of the constitutional building process.

*Factors that helped the formation of the women’s caucus:

There were internal and external factors, including:

A large number of female members, regardless their political affiliations, feared a setback

of the rights and gains of Tunisian women (after the inclusion of complementarity

between men and women in the first draft of the Constitution).

The leading role that some women played in gathering the female members of the NCA

and in strengthening their awareness of the fact that the issues faced by women are

similar and not dependent on political affiliation.

An awareness of the importance of civil society and the role it can play in supporting and

promoting women’s agenda, equality issues, and children’s rights.

The emergence of external threats to the rights of women and children, which

constituted a platform of common struggle and resulted in the establishment of the

eventual caucus.

*The platform for women’s common struggle through the women’s parliamentary caucus:

The women’s caucus gathered women to confront threats against their rights and the rights

of children including:

A joint statement was issued on the case of a three-year-old girl who was raped.

A joint statement to protest the position of Mr. Bahri Jelassi,president of the Tunisian

Party of Openness and Loyalty who called for the marriage of minors (girls from the age of

12), was issued.

The caucus also chose to face the challenges of women in politics including:

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The principle of equality between men and women in the drafting process of article 46 of

the draft Constitution.

The principal of vertical parity between men and women in electoral lists in the electoral

law.

The organization of a symposium in the NCA to celebrate International Women’s Day and

the role of women parliamentarians in the democratic transition process.

*The difficulties faced by the women’s caucus within the NCA:

The women’s caucus faced several legal and operational difficulties:

Legal difficulties: Due to the rules and procedures of the NCA, female members could not

officially and legally establish a women caucus as a body dedicated to women as it was

seen to be in contradiction with the principle of proportional representation4. Although

the rules of procedure were amended many times during the constitutional building

process, it was difficult to convince male NCA members of the importance of a new type

of organ within the Assembly dedicated to female members.

Operational difficulties:

1/Due to party discipline, some women put party interests ahead of women’s interests.

2/Some female members of the NCA were not convinced of the principle of equality among

all women and tied the formation of the caucus to their status within it.

*The opportunities: The women’s caucus gained the support of a number of male members

of the NCA and the support of a number of human rights and women’s organizations. It is

important to highlight, though, that the majority of women voted against the membership of

men within the parliamentary women caucus.

*Successes: Despite the informal nature of the women’s caucus, it was active and achieved

many successes including:

The emergence of affinity and the beginning of non-partisan women’s spirit among the

majority of the female members of the NCA.

The current wording of Article 46 of the Constitution that represents women’s rights and

status in Tunisia.

Preservation of the principles of vertical parity between men and women and alternation in

electoral lists once again in the Electoral Law of 2014.

4 The NCA’s rules of procedures (Chapter Three) did not allow for the formation of a commission composed of

only women. Article 42 similarly prevented such a commission being formed by stating that all groups should be formed on the basis of proportional representation. * Women members of NCA were also not able to form a parliamentary group (structure outlined in Chapter 2 of the NCA’s rules of procedures) because parliamentary groups should represent a unified or compatible political direction (while the caucus would have been a cross party group). Article 17 also states that ”Members shall not belong to more than one parliamentary group”.

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Strengthening the capacities of women in the field of political and intellectual conflict

management.

*Recommendations: The female members of the informal women’s parliamentary caucus

established at the NCA raised some specific recommendations to the female members of the

ARP. All are directed towards the building of a favorable environment that enhances the

chances of success for the caucus to be established:

1-Give priority to women’s interests and not to partisan interests, because political parties

(regardless of their orientations) do not put the interests and the needs of their women

affiliates or female citizens in general in the forefront of their priorities.

2- Include within the ARP’s rules of procedure the possibility to form a caucus dedicated to

female members of the Parliament that focuses on women’s and children’s issues as well as

gender equality.

3-Include within the ARP’s rules of procedure the possibility for this caucus to open up

through its activities to civil society and media, as this opening-up supports the caucus and

gives it greater impact and broader effect.

4-Considerdrafting an ethical charter to be signed by all female members of the caucus.

4- Options for Formal and Informal Strategies for Women Parliamentarians to

Better Obtain Influence in Parliament.

This session introduced the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and their publication on

“Guidelines for Women’s Caucuses”. As women only make up 21% of the world’s MPs, it is

necessary that they gather within the framework of one caucus. Research conducted by the

IPU has identified 81 women caucuses around the world, most of them created over the last

twenty years. The research indicates that the creation and running of a women’s caucus

involves four stages. The first and second stages were introduced here as they are the most

relevant to the current needs in Tunisia.

Stage 1: Assessing the environment within which the women’s parliamentary caucus will be

created and evolve.

There are a number of questions that need to be answered before deciding to create a

women’s parliamentary caucus:

18Is now the right time to start a women’s caucus? Women’s caucuses prosper in

environments that facilitate collaboration among women. Accordingly, in determining

whether the time is right to start a women’s caucus, consideration should be given to the

overall political environment, in the country and within the parliament, and to the history of

women in parliament.

2. Are women MPs able to work across party lines? Among the questions to be raised: How

strong is party discipline? How open are political parties to cross-party cooperation? What

themes or issues are likely to unite women?

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3. Will efforts to establish a women’s caucus find support or resistance? Gaining support

from male members of Parliament as well as other actors (civil society, experts, politicians

from outside the Parliament) can often be crucial. Consideration should be given to

conducting a consultative process before forming a caucus in order to gauge the level of

support and assistance the group might receive from others.

48 Are resources (financial, logistical and human) available to support the women’s

caucus? It is important to assess what support might be forthcoming from within and

outside of Parliament. The rules of Parliament should be also consulted to determine

whether caucus governance provisions have already been adopted.

Stage 2: Laying the foundations for making a women’s caucus work effectively by

considering the big picture

A number of issues should be considered:

1. The process for developing the caucus: It is important to conduct a clear, transparent,

and inclusive process for the establishment of a women’s caucus in order to prevent

perceptions of partisanship or bias from taking root before the caucus is formed. The

decision-making process should involve all women interested in joining, to ensure their

“buy-in” and sense of belonging to the caucus. One possibility is to establish a preparatory

committee of parliamentarians who are tasked with proposing different options for the

creation of the caucus. If the Parliament is divided among multiple parties, this preparatory

committee should be composed of women parliamentarians from each.

2.Vision and objectives of a women’s caucus: These should be identified as early as possible

in order to facilitate process-related decisions that may arise a later date. Thus, it is

important to hold a debate or consultation on the vision and objectives of the caucus and to

research examples from similar bodies. The definition of common objectives will enable the

caucus to rise above political divisions and give it strategic direction.

3.Nature of the women’s caucus:

Formal caucuses: These are formal structures of parliament and are usually parliamentary committees that focus on issues related to women or gender equality. Therefore, they can request staff, office space, meeting rooms, and funding from the parliament. They can draft and review legislation, hold hearings and conduct other official parliamentary functions. Informal caucuses: These are not situated within the structure of a parliament. They do not

usually have formal legislative responsibilities but they can be persuasive, particularly

through advocacy.

To note, the two options are not mutually exclusive.

4. The name of the caucus: The name given to a caucus is extremely important, as it can

indicate the body’s purpose and nature. In deciding how the group will be labeled, thought

should be given to how formal the group will be, as some labels indicate greater formality

than others. The political and cultural connotations of a given label should also be

considered. Various options include: association, group, caucus, network, union, forum, club,

etc.

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5. Relationships between the caucus and the Parliament (linked to the nature of the

caucus):

Formal caucuses - by definition, these have a formal relationship with the parliament: they may have been formed by a parliamentary resolution and their specific roles and responsibilities may have been outlined in the parliament’s internal rules. They enjoy greater visibility in parliament and greater attention when they voice their opinions. Formal caucuses may also be eligible to request staff, office space, meeting rooms, and funding from the parliament, but they are subject to compliance with the parliament’s standing rules (e.g., on fundraising and membership, compliance with proportional representatively principle). Informal caucuses, by definition, these are not formal structures of parliament, nor are they situated within the structure of a parliament. While composed of MPs, they operate outside of the legislative body and are not required to abide by parliamentary rules in terms of fundraising and membership. Informal caucuses may be required to abide by national regulations that apply to associations or other groups depending on national regulation.

5-Comparative Experience on fFormal Strategies Used by Women

Parliamentarians in the Ivory Coast.

Ms. Sarra Sako, a contributor to the development of the women’s caucus in the Ivory Coast

and later president of the caucus, was invited to present the experience of the women’s

parliamentary caucus in the Ivory Coast. She explained that although the current parliament

(elected in 2011) includes only 24 women out of 253 delegates (i.e. 9.8%), the issue of the

advancement of women’s rights and gender equality hold a prominent position in the

parliament’s policies related to the organization and conduct of parliamentary work. This is

reflected in the parliamentary assembly’s strategic plan for 2112-2016.

The steps undertaken to create the caucus in Ivory Coast included the organization of a

number of workshops and internal and external training activities for women

parliamentarians, which ultimately concluded with the organization of a constitutional

plenary session on May 19, 2013, during which “The Caucus of Women Parliamentarians in

the Ivory Cost” was formed. Many international organizations (in particular the IPU)

supported women parliamentarians by providing them with both technical and financial

support.

”The Caucus of Women Parliamentarians in the Ivory Coast” is a formal mechanism, despite

it is not being stated explicitly in the rules of procedure of the Parliament.5 The caucus is

linked to the parliament and works and collaborates closely with parliamentary commissions

(especially the Commission of Social and Cultural Affairs), parliamentary groups, and the

political parties. The rules of procedure of the parliament prohibit the formation of groups

within the Parliament that are based on sex, so therefore a decision has been taken to set up

5 There is currently an initiative to amend the parliament’s rules of procedures to include it formally.

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the caucus in the form of association. The women’s caucus is a legal association and is

therefore subject to the law of associations. The caucus’s rules of procedure and strategic

priorities for 2014-2016 were set up by its female members through a series of meetings and

workshops organized with the support of local and international partners.

The main missions of the caucus are to bring women parliamentarians together across party

lines and to strengthen cooperation among them on women’s rights, equality between men

and women, and the mainstreaming of gender into parliamentary work.

The caucus is composed of all women in parliament as ex-officio members but it also

includes associate members who represent all men in parliament who expressed their desire

to join. The current Speaker of Parliament is appointed Honorary President of the caucus

because of his strong support to the caucus as well as his support of and interest in women’s

issues.

The structure of the Caucus of Women Parliamentarians in the Ivory Coast is:

The plenary session (gathers all male and female members)

The executive office in charge of the conduct of the caucus’ affairs. It is composed of

6 female members (the president, the deputy-president, the general secretary, the

deputy secretary general, the treasurer and the assistant treasurer).

Three specialized committees: i) the Committee of Legal Affairs and Gender

mainstreaming ii) the Committee of Awareness Raising and Capacity Building and iii)

the Committee of Communications and External Relations.

The financial resources of the caucus are derived from membership fees, andthe

Parliament’s budget, financial support provided by the local and international partners and

donations and gifts.

From a legal point of view, the caucus was able to achieve a number of successes, including

amending the inheritance law to enable women to inherit properties, amending the

personal status law to enable both the husband and the wife to be head of the family, etc. It

also succeeded inenhancing the political and legal empowerment of women in parliament

and in increasing their capacities and performances.

The successes of the Caucus of Women Parliamentarians in Ivory Coast are due to:

The determination of women in parliament and their willingness to work together

and to succeed.

The support of a number of male parliamentarians and male politicians from outside

the parliament.

The existence of political will at the level of the Presidency of the Parliament and

even the State Presidency.

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The technical and financial support of international partners including the provision

of a series of capacity building workshops on various issues which helped develop

unity between women parliamentarian andincrease their capacities, which

contributed to fostering a common strategic priorities of work among them.

6- Recommendations on Viable Options for Women Parliamentarians in

Tunisia

The activities of the workshop on "The Importance of Women Working Together in

Parliament" revealed:

1/ A positive dynamic between all women MPs does exist.

2/ The polarization that prevailed during the 2014 legislative elections did not affect the

spirit of cooperation for cross-party work among women parliamentarians, particularly in

regards to supporting the status and rights of women and women’s access to leadership and

decision making positions (in particular in areas that do not refer to their traditional roles).

3/ The incremental learning of the experience of women working together across party lines

initiated in the NCA (even though the experience was primarily based on reactions to threats

to the rights of women and on reactions to the challenges faced by women in Parliament

rather than a conscious decision to establish such a body) . Efforts should be made to build

on this experience and promote it.

4/The importance of women working together across party lines is crucial during the current

parliament’s mandate and especially at the legislative level, because the Parliament will

enforce the Constitution and translate its provisions into several laws that will undoubtedly

have an impact on women.

5/The success of the mechanism(s) that will allow women parliamentarians to work together

will depend on the realization of a number of conditions including:

Political support from the highest levels (Speaker of the Parliament, First

deputy of the speaker, President of the Republic, leaders of the political parties).

Support from the ARP’s male members

Support of men politicians non present at the ARP.

The continuous support of civil society.

Based on the above and on the agreements reached, participants presented a number of

proposals regarding potential mechanisms that could allow Tunisian women

parliamentarians to better work together. These proposals take into consideration the

Tunisian legal and political context and constitute a multi-dimensional strategy.

86

The proposals are presented below in the form of recommendations:

1/Form two parallel and complementary structures. They will be outlined in the ARP’s rules

of procedure (organization and work). Both are formal mechanisms.

a/A permanent and thematic parliamentary commission to be named “the Commission of

Women and Family Affairs” or the “Equality” commission8 It will be composed of men and

women and will comply with the principle of proportional representation. It should have

legislative functions and the mandate to oversee the work of the government. It should be

able to hold hearings and access all the documents needed for its work.

b/A women’s parliamentary caucus that works across party lines (similar to the caucus in

the Ivory Coast). Membership in this caucus should be open to all women parliamentarians

who agree on a charter of common values and certain rules that will be jointly determined

prior to the establishment of the caucus. Male members of the ARP will be eligible to

participate in the activities of the caucus but they should not have the right to vote. The

caucus will be the mechanism that will allow women from the APR, NCA, CSOs and experts

to interact. The main missions of this caucus should be to help build the capacity of women

parliamentarians and help catalyze and mobilize women MPs, and politicians and CSOs to

enforce the constitutional provisions related to equality between men and women and

women’s rights.

2/Take advantage of the opportunity of the preparation and the discussion of the ARP’s draft

rules of procedure:

a/To collect the signatures of women MPs on a document stating that women MPs support

the establishment of a permanent and thematic parliamentary commission to be named

“the Commission of Women and Family Affairs” or the commission of “Equality” within the

parliament

b/To propose an article in the ARP’s draft rules of procedures which provides for the

possibility of forming structures within the parliament that gather specific types of MPs such

as women or young parliamentarians.

In case the special commission established to prepare the draft ARP’s rules of procedure has

finished the draft, it is possible to present amendments to the draft that could be examined

and discussed in the plenary session during the vote on the text.

3/Look for platforms for further discussion and exchange of ideas and experiences to set up

the caucus’ objectives, name, rules of procedures (including the charter on common rules

and principles to be signed by eligible women’s MPs), areas of intervention and action plan.

4/Call for civil society to support the initiative.

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Annex 1: Concept note

Introduction

Worldwide and regardless of culture, social practices, and levels of education, there is

considerable attention paid toward women parliamentarians. This is the case whether they

are a minority group – as in most countries - or a critical mass.

Women parliamentarians have many expectations on them and their performance. Their

male colleagues “scrutinize their work to assess how it might change the current political

dynamics and bring fresh perspectives”6. Women’s organizations and the media also inspect

their work to see how they seek to advance issues or matters of particular interest to

women, while simultaneously monitoring their contribution in mainstreaming gender

throughout issues of national policy. This has been the case even when they were under-

represented!

Yet, around the world there are stories of women parliamentarians who succeeded in

improving gender sensitivity in legislation as well as in government policy and operations.

Although the increase in the number of women parliamentarians has not always translated

into effective initiatives for ensuring that women’s interests are adequately represented, it is

important to note that their numbers within the parliament and the forms of organization

they adopt are crucial to keeping gender issues and women’s matters on the public agenda.

External and internal factors make the work of women parliamentarians difficult. Internally,

parties’ visions on gender issues as well as the fact that parliaments are “institutions

designed by men and which remain dominated by men in areas including their structure and

internal functioning”7 impact the influence women parliamentarians can have. Externally,

the often dominant patriarchal culture in state institutions as well as media put pressure on

the work undertaken by women parliamentarians.

Various reports from International IDEA, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the

National Democratic Institute (NDI) show that the more women work together, in concert

and across party lines, the more they gain influence in parliaments. In so doing, they better

succeed in influencing the decision-making processes, advancing issues of interest to them in

parliament and consequently contributing in re-forming political priorities.

The Tunisian Assembly of the Representatives of the People (ARP) elected on October24-26,

2014 was inaugurated as the new Tunisian parliament on December 2, 2014. It includes 68

women parliamentarians (31.33%). Only 11 among them have had a parliamentary

experience.

6 -IPU: Guidelines for women’s caucuses , p 7.

7 -IDEA and NDI: One size does not fit all : Lessons from legislative gender commissions and caucuses , p.15

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Rationale for the workshop



Politics in Tunisia”, implemented in partnership with the Center of Mediterranean and

International Studies (CEMI), tries to address the factors behind the low presence and

leadership of women in political parties in Tunisia. Furthermore, it aims to contribute to the

reduction in the number and type of barriers that impede women’s entry into, and retention

in, political parties.

The program was launched in Tunisia in April 2014 and has been targeting 12 political

parties: Ennahdha, Ettakatol, CPR, Le Courant Démocratique, Al Joumhoury, Coalition

démocratique, Nidaa Tounes, Parti des travailleurs, Al Massar, Parti Afak Tounes,

Mouvement Wafa, and Parti Moubadara.

To respond to the political parties’ priorities during the legislative elections, International

IDEA and the Center of Arab Women for Training and Research (CAWTAR) partnered on a

series of activities designed to support women candidates and to draw lessons learned by

the female members of the National Constituent Assembly (NCA).

The dialogue sessions organized with women candidates and heads of lists and civil society

organizations (CSOs) active in related constituencies stressed the important role that CSOs

played during the constitution building process. Both women candidates and CSOs raised the

need to establish permanent mechanisms of exchange and mutual support.

In a workshop hosted by International IDEA and CAWTAR on December 6, 2014, women

members of the NCA who did not run in the 2014 elections also noted that a cross-party

women caucus set up during the last phase of the constitution building process was crucial

for the adoption of Article 46 of the Constitution (below). They also referred to the support

that some of their male colleagues provided them with in order to help them gain influence

and ensure this article as well as others providing for women’s rights were adopted.

Art 46 of the Tunisian constitution adopted on January 27th, 2014: -The state commits to protect women’s accrued rights and work to strengthen and develop those rights -The state guarantees the equality of opportunities between women and men to have access to all levels of responsibility in all domains. -The state works to attain parity between women and men in elected Assemblies. -The state takes all necessary measures in order to eradicate violence against women

Bearing in mind the aforementioned recommendations and due to the fact that the ARP has

recently been established and is currently working on its rules of regulation, International

IDEA and CAWTAR consider it is important to:

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Sensitize the newly elected women parliamentarians on the importance of working together to obtain influence in parliament;

Demonstrate to the newly elected women parliamentarians what can be achieved if they work together;

Discuss mechanisms these women could adopt to work together.

Informal meetings with the president of the ARP‘s appointed commission to prepare the

draft rules of regulation indicated that there is a consensus on establishing a commission

which will focus on gender issues and women’s concerns, among others. While International

IDEA and CAWTAR consider this as very positive, the two organizations fear that gender

issues and women’s concerns could be lost or diluted when many proposals are under

discussion, particularly if they compete with other priority areas that fall under the

responsibility of this commission. It is therefore crucial to highlight the various options for

women to organize, and to show that such options are not necessarily exclusive to one

another.

To this end, a series of workshops will be organized to present and debate these issues. The

first workshop will be organized prior to the adoption of the ARP‘s rules of regulation in

order to sensitize and raise the awareness of women parliamentarians on the various

mechanisms that can strengthen their political impact within the parliament. Subsequent

workshops will be organized throughout 2015 in order to support the mechanisms set up.

Objectives of the workshop

The objectives of the workshop are to:

Provide a forum for discussion, reflection and sharing of experiences among the

newly elected women at the ARP and the members of the informal women’s caucus

established at the NCA on the lessons learned from their experience in the caucus.

Provide options for formal and informal strategies for women parliamentarians to

better obtain influence in parliament.

Provide comparative real –life experiences about formal and informal strategies for

women parliamentarians to work together in parliament as well as the pros and cons

of each strategy.

Expected outcomes

It is expected that after the workshop women parliamentarians will be better able to:

Contribute substantially and more efficiently in the debate that will take place in the parliament on the ARP‘s rules of regulation and on the commissions to be established

Adopt a multi –dimensional and more efficient strategy to work together to advance issues of interest to women.

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Participants

The workshop will gather:

Members of the informal women parliamentarian caucus established at the NCA

Members of the ARP‘s appointed commission to prepare the draft ARP‘s rules of

regulation

Women parliamentarians

The Head of Women parliamentary Caucus of Cote d’Ivoire Parliament will share her

experience with Tunisian participants. Some parts of the IPU publication on “guidelines for

women’s caucuses” will be presented.

Languages of the workshop:

The workshop will be conducted in Arabic and French.

Date and location of the workshop

The workshop will be organized in at the Golden Tulip- El Mechtel, Tunis -Tunisia on Monday

December 29, 2014 in the Emerald Room.

Annex 2 : Attendance list

Members of the informal women parliamentarian caucus established at the NCA and who are not present in the ARP

Email Mobile Party Name

[email protected]

21.534.138

Independant and does not belong to any parliamentary group. She was elected in 2011 on CPR List

Hasna Marsit

1

[email protected] 96.531.831

Ennahdha

Najiba Beryoul

2

[email protected] 98-324.748

Ennahdha

Hager Azaiez

3





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[email protected]

21-872.904

Independant and does not belong to any parliamentary group.She was elected in 2011 on Ettakatol List

Fatma Gharbi

4

[email protected]

21169216

97174233 Independant and does not belong to any parliamentary group.She was elected in 2011 on Ettakatol List

Nefissa Wafa Marzouki

5

[email protected]

26-302031

98-302031

Al Massar Salma Bakkar

6

Members of the ARP

Email Mobile Party Name

[email protected] 29-203765 Jabha Chabia Mbarka

Brahmi

1

[email protected]

98-312168

54-512168

Nidaa Tounes Bochra Belhaj Hamida

2

[email protected]

98-365336 Nidaa Tounes Leila

Hamrouni

3







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[email protected] 98-458278 Nidaa Tounes Hayet Kbayar

4

[email protected]

98-317659

26-551661

Nidaa Tounes Khansa Ben Harrath

5

[email protected]

98308922 Nidaa Tounes Myriam

Boujbel

6

[email protected] 98558856 Nidaa Tounes Lamia mlayah

7

[email protected]

52-899666 Nidaa Tounes Khawla

Benaicha

8

[email protected]

98354604 Ennahdha Arwa Ben

Abbes

9

[email protected]

98-356622 Ennahdha Boutheina Ben

Yaghlane

10








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[email protected]

22-983713 93-62 12 44

Ennahdha Emna Ben Hamid

11

[email protected]

98-205270 Ennahdha Chahida Fraj

12

[email protected]

53980663 Ennahdha Saida Ounissi

13

[email protected]

93633177 Ennahdha Amal Souid

14

Member of the informal women parliamentarian caucus established at the NCA and who is present in the ARP

[email protected]

20 419 331 Ennahdha Yamina

Zoghlami

1

Guests

[email protected] 53545546 Nidaa Tounes Ahlem Chaker 1







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Annex 3 : Program

Opening Session: Welcome and Introduction 09.00-09.30

*Mrs.Donia Ben Romdhane, International IDEA *Mrs.Atidel Mejbri, Center of Arab Women for Training and Research (CAWTAR)

Session 1: 09.30-10.45

Reflection and experience sharing by the members of the informal women’s caucus established at the National Constituent Assembly *General discussion Moderator: Mrs.Atidel Mejbri, Center of Arab Women for Training and Research (CAWTAR)

[email protected] 52356469 First deputy president of Ivory Cost parliament and Head of Women parliamentary Caucus of Ivory Coast

Mme FADICA SARRAH SAKO

2

[email protected] 54248016 Embassy of Ivory Cost

DALLY BIARE AHOU LEONINE

3

Organizers’ List

[email protected] 22521414 International IDEA Donia Ben Romdhane

1

[email protected] 20574221 CAWTAR Atidel Mejbri 2

[email protected] 23313074 International IDEA Mouna Tabei 3

[email protected] 22511667 Expert Narjess Tahar 4









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Coffee beak and group picture 11.00- 10.45

Session 1: Continuation 11.00- 12.00 Reflection and experience sharing by the members of the informal women’s caucus established at the National Constituent Assembly

Session 2 : 13.30 -12.00 Options for formal and informal strategies for women parliamentarians to better obtain

influence in parliament. *Presentation of IPU publication on “Guidelines for Women’s Caucuses”: Honorable Sarah Sako, Head of Women parliamentary Caucus of Cote d’Ivoire

*General discussion

Lunch Break : 13.30-14.30

Session 3 : 14.30 -15.30 -Comparative experience on formal strategies used by women parliamentarians in the Ivory Coast. *Presentation by the Honorable Sarah Sako, Head of Women Cross Party Caucus of the Ivory Coast Parliament

*General discussion

Session 4 : 15.30-16.30 Recommendations on viable options for women parliamentarians in Tunisia *General discussion

Moderator: Donia Ben Romdhane, International IDEA

Concluding remarks and closing session 16.30-16.45

respect for women’s political rights participation and ... · 1 respect for women’s political...

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