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Tunisian modern law to fight violence against women

25-7-2017

The Tunisian Parliament resumed on Monday discussion of a draft law criminalizing all forms of violence against women, including tightening sanctions against aggressors. The session, which was adjourned before a complete vote on all provisions, will reportedly continue tomorrow. To note, according to the new bill, dropping charges on the part of women who were subject to violence does not end legal proceedings or pronouncement of penalties against the offender. In its provisos, said law has gone beyond the term ‘gender’ due to its association with agendas of international organizations, a term that was deleted from the text of the law by pressure from the Islamist movement known for its resistance to complete equality between men and women that the term ‘gender’ signifies. Under the draft bill, punishment shall be severe against perpetrators of sexual harassment (whoever harasses women in a public place will be imprisoned for two years and fined with a 5 thousand Tunisian dinars, roughly USD 2,000). Similarly, anyone who purposely beats or injures without intention to kill but which results in the death of the victim will face a 20-year prison term. The debate focused on the chapter dealing with dropping charges against the culprit in the event of marrying his victim. A number of MPs said it reflected an insult to Tunisian women and a legitimization of the crime of rape, warning that the bill is unlikely to be passed without abolishing or modifying this chapter. In her comment on the bill, the minister of women, family and children, Naziha Laabidi stressed that it will be a breakthrough in the history of the country, given its projected role in protecting women from all forms of abuse and violence and penalizing perpetrators. (Al Hayat, July 25, 2017)

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