Combatting Gender-Based Violence in Tunisia

Gender-based violence remains a problem in Tunisia. In a 2017 study, the Center for Research, Studies, Documentation and Information on Women (CREDIF) found that 53.5 percent of women in Tunisia experienced physical and sexual violence in public spaces between 2011 and 2015. Tunisia has made significant legislative progress in tackling this issue with the adoption of Law 58 in August 2017 on combatting violence against women, which provides a comprehensive approach to criminalizing gender-based violence (GBV). Tunisia has also introduced measures to prevent violence and support survivors. Translating this legislation into practice through appropriate implementation and enforcement measures is still challenging. Tunisia needs wide-reaching awareness campaign about the law and its new codes that include zero tolerance of physical, moral, sexual, economic and social aggression against women. The Government of Tunisia and civil society organizations (CSOs) organizations provide services for victims of gender-based violence. Currently, there are only seven "listening centers" for victims of GBV throughout the country and four shelters based in Tunis, Kairouan, Gafsa and Jendouba. Civil society organizations (not the Tunisian government) run these centers, providing economic opportunities, accommodation, counseling, and listening services; as well as legal, psychological, social and medical assistance. These services need to be enhanced and delivered to more women. The Ministry of Women has established a Violence-Against-Women hotline for victims of GBV, but the hotline is not permanently staffed to capacity and is not available 24 hours per day/seven days per week. Hotline staff report they lack training in vital skills such as counseling, referring services, and collecting information about GBV.