New agreement for cooperation with Tunisia

DIHR is helping the new democracy in Tunisia in its ongoing struggle to create a free and just society. According to the new MoU, DIHR will advise the Minister Kamel Jendoubi and his staff in their work towards the adoption of a new law for the country's constitutional authority on human rights. The new authority will be Tunisia’s national human rights institution.

The work of reform in Tunisia has been ongoing since the parliamentary elections in 2014, and there are still many old laws that do not suit the new reality. The country already has an authority of human rights, but it is based on a law that was created during Tunisia's former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, and it is not fully in line with the United Nations’ guidelines for national human rights institutions. Therefore, the Tunisian government is creating a new law.

In this context, the institute is an obvious partner, says Kamel Jendoubi: "The Danish Institute for Human Rights is an interesting partner because it is precisely a similar authority we must create in Tunisia. In this context, DIHR has a lot of knowledge we can use, but also quite practical experience of what works and what does not."

And the interest is mutual: "We look forward to enhance skills in such a new democracy and thereby hopefully help to create the foundation for a society based on the rule of law, human rights, freedom and justice," says Souad Bourrid, DIHR’s project manager for Tunisia.

Tunisia as a role model
Kamel Jendoubi was appointed minister in January 2016, and it is his job to ensure the establishment and stability of the five constitutional authorities, to develop a strategy for civil society contact with theseauthorities and make sure that Tunisia respects its international obligations in relation to human rights.

Kamel Jendoubi see it as a task that goes well in line with the country's history: "Human rights are already part of the constitution in Tunisia, and we have a long tradition of working for a free and just society. For example, women gained the right to vote in Tunisia before they did inFrance, and women gained the right to abortion in Tunisia at the same time as in Denmark. Therefore, I do not think that the development we are seeing right now in Tunisia is so surprising."

And it is quite an achievement to hold the line when you are surrounded by large countries that do not support the same values, says Kamel Jendoubi: "Internationally, two wrong ideas have spread: That Islam and democracy are incompatible and that human rights stand in the way of fighting terror. In this context, Tunisia is a role model and an example that you can be a Muslim and a democrat at the same time, and that one can fight terrorism with human rights."

That is precisely why Tunisia is also a very interesting partner for the Danish Institute for Human Rights, says project manager Souad Bourrid: "We hope that the results in Tunisia may create a spill-over effect to countries like Libya and Egypt, where we also have activities. Therefore, it is important to maintain the momentum of good development in Tunisia ".

Although Tunisia is highlighted as a success story, the country is still far from the goal, says Kamel Jendoubi: "One of the things we have problems with is the resistance against individual freedom. There is a strong consensus in the country about collective freedoms, but there are still forces in Tunisia, which will limit the freedom of the individual".

Therefore, the work of DIHR in Tunisia will be intensified in the years to come.

"We hope to open a local office in Tunis this year. It would mean that we could be present on a daily basis and therefore react faster and more effectively and work even more closely with our partners,” says Souad Bourrid.