Institute strengthens relationship with Tunisian ministry
On the 16th of September 2014, director of the international department at the Danish Institute for Human Rights, Ms. Charlotte Flindt-Pedersen, and the Tunisian minister for Justice, Human Rights and Transitional Justice, his excellency Hafedh Ben Salah, signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the African country’s capital, Tunis.
- This shows how committed both parties are to our common endeavor – furthering human rights in Tunisia. We have laid the ground work and are now ready to engage in law revision so it incorporates human rights, Ms. Charlotte Flindt-Pedersen said at the signing ceremony.
Partners since 2012
The memorandum signals a strengthening of the already existing cooperation between the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) and the ministry. Since 2012, the ministry and DIHR have worked together in furthering human rights in Tunisia through submitting human rights reports to the UN, making a strategic plan for the human rights work of the ministry and building human rights knowledge.
- This is new beginning of a new and strengthened era between us and the institute. It is the product of a very successful partnership that has meant the training of many judges and civil servants, said his excellency Hafedh Ben Salah.
The renewed partnership will focus on addressing new human rights bodies and their mandates; building capacity to monitor and report on human rights issues within the ministry; analysing present day human rights issues and finally working for human rights accommodating law reform.
We have come a long way since 2012, and today signals the strengthening of our relations in the future
Tunisia occupies a special place in the context of the Arab transition to democracy as it has taken essential steps towards building a democratic system. The adoption of the Constitution on 26 January 2014 created stronger human rights guarantees and introduced new bodies for human rights.
The Danish Institute for Human Rights’ work in Tunisia is sponsored by the Danish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and is part of the Danish Arab Partnership Programme.
In the coming years, DIHR will focus on the building of the human rights protection system in Tunisia. With partners it will support:
•addressing new instances and their mandates
•working for law reform from a human rights perspective
• building capacity to monitor and report on human rights
• analysis of human rights issues in present day Tunisia