Women make up one third of the Tunisian youth cabinet with wishes that other Arab countries follow suit

In a progressive and unprecedented move in the Arab world, the Tunisian Prime Minister announced last Saturday the formation of a youth par excellence cabinet with a large women representation. The newly appointed 26-member government comprises 8 high-caliber women and 14 portfolios for youth, including 5 ministers under 35 years of age. This measure came after less than two weeks from the Tunisian Parliament’s endorsement of a draft law supporting penal action against harassers of women in public places. (http://bit.ly/2bo2yS).

 

For the first time in the history of Tunisian governments, women are granted 8 ministerial portfolios, most were in the past restricted to men, as follows:

 

- Minister of sports and youth: Majdoline Sharny, 35 years, bachelors in architecture from the National College of Engineering and Construction.

 

-Minister if Health: Samira Meri’i, 53 years, doctor and associate professor of pulmonary diseases at the School of Medicine, Tunisia

 

- Minister of energy, mines and renewable Energy:, Hala Sheikh Ruho, 44 years, professorship degree in finance from the Higher Institute of Economic Studies, Tunisia, masters from Montreal University, Canada, has occupied a number of senior international posts

 

- Minister of finance: Lamia Zareebi, 55 years, last degree from the National School of management, bachelors in economic studies

 

- Minister of family, women’s and child’s rights: Naziha Obeidi, bachelors in education, professorship in modern languages, masters in education from Sorbonne University.

 

- Minister of tourism: Salma Lumi, masters in acting

 

-  State clerk for youth: Taten Kalal, degree from Cartage University and Paris, worked as adviser in many international offices inside Tunisia

 

- State clerk for professional formation: Sayida Lunissi, 29 years, degree in history, masters in political sciences from the Sorbonne, Renaissance Movement MP at the Tunisian Parliament.

 

(As Safir, August 22, 2016)