|
 AFROL
Gender Profiles:
Tunisia
Tunisia in many ways belongs more to a Middle East or Mediterranean cultural
context than to an African. Although not a rich country, Tunisia has been quite
successful in modernising its society, although rural life to some degree
remains traditional. With a life expectancy of 70 years and almost universal
access to medical services, substantial gains have been made in the social
sector, contributing significantly to the status of Tunisian women. Women
however are far from experiencing equality in Tunisia, and the legislation, or
at least law practice, in practical terms does not promote gender equality.
Violence against women occurs in Tunisia. The courts tend to regard domestic violence as a problem to be handled by the family. Most property acquired during marriage, including property acquired solely by the wife, still is held in the name of the husband. Inheritance law, based on
Shari' a and tradition, discriminates against women. The rate of female illiteracy
is at least double that of men. Every woman in Tunisia
on average gives birth to 2,04 children (2000 est.)
Social data
Life expectancy: Total population: 73,69 years
male: 72,14 years
female: 75,36 years (2000 est.)
Infant mortality: 30,09 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Alphabetization rate: Total population: 66,7%
male: 78,6%
female: 54,6% (1995 est.)
Medical services: 1.493 persons per doctor. 90% of total population
have access to health services.
Sex ratio: at birth: 1,08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1,07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1,01 male(s)/female
total population: 1,02 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Religious data: Traditional African religions 0,73%,
Christians 0,27%, Muslim 99%.
Family and tradition
Women enjoy substantial rights and the Government has made serious efforts to advance those rights, especially in the areas of property ownership practices and support to divorced women. The 1956 Personal Status Code outlawed polygamy. A 1998 presidential decree created a national fund to protect the rights of divorced women, ensuring that the State would provide financial support to women whose former husbands refused to make alimony payments. Legislation requires civil authorities to advise couples of the merits of including provisions for joint property in marriage contracts. Nonetheless, most property acquired during marriage, including property acquired solely by the wife, still is held in the name of the husband. Inheritance law, based on
Shari 'a and tradition, discriminates against women, and women still face societal and economic discrimination in certain
areas.
In a November 17 cabinet reorganization, President Ben Ali created a separate Ministry for Women and Family Affairs, and included in the 2000 state budget a separate, and relatively large, budget for the Ministry, in support of its mission to ensure the legal rights and improve the socioeconomic status of women.
Gender sensitivity in society
The Constitution provides that all citizens shall have equal rights and responsibilities and be equal under the law, and the Government generally upholds these rights in practice. Legal or societal discrimination is not prevalent, apart from that experienced by women in certain areas, such as inheritance, which is governed by
Shari 'a. Shari 'a provides that daughters receive only half the amount left to sons.
Women still face societal and economic discrimination in certain areas, such as private sector employment. The Government took strong measures to reduce official discrimination, including adding equal opportunity for women as a standard part of its audits of all governmental entities and state-owned enterprises; however, it did not extend such measures to the private sector.
Women in increasing numbers are entering the work force, employed particularly in the textile, manufacturing, health, and agricultural sectors. According to 1994 government statistics, women constituted 25 percent of the workforce; excluding the agricultural sector, they accounted for 44 percent. Women represent 44 percent of workers in the industrial sector and 46.1 percent of workers in the health sector. There are an estimated 2,000 businesses headed by women. Women constitute one-third of the civil service, employed primarily in the fields of health, education, and social affairs at the middle or lower levels. Women represent 60 percent of all judges in the capital and 25 percent of the nation's total jurists. Approximately 43 percent of university students enrolled in the 1997-98 academic year were women. The law explicitly requires equal pay for equal work. The Government has added equal opportunity for women as a standard part of its audits of all government ministries, agencies, and state-owned enterprises. On the other hand, while the rate of illiteracy has dropped markedly in both rural and urban areas, the rate of female illiteracy in all categories is at least double that of men. Among 10- to 14-year-old children, 5.5 percent of urban girls are illiterate, compared with 2.2 percent of urban boys, and 27 percent of rural girls, compared with less than 7 percent of rural boys.
Several active NGO's focus, in whole or in part, on women's advocacy, or research women's issues, and a cadre of attorneys represent women in domestic cases. Media attention focuses on women's economic and academic accomplishments, and usually omits reference to culturally sensitive issues. The Government funded several studies and projects designed to improve the role of women in the media.
The Government supports and provides funding to the National Women's Union, women's professional associations, and the Government's Women's Research Center.
Health data
Access to potable water: 98%
Medical services: 1.493 persons per doctor. 90% of total population
have access to health services.
Maternal mortality rate: 170/100.000.
Infant mortality: 30,09 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): N.A.
Violence against women
Violence against women occurs, but there are no reliable statistics to measure its extent. The Tunisian Democratic Women's Association operates the country's only counseling center for women who are victims of domestic violence. The center, located in Tunis, assists approximately 20 women per month. Instances of rape or assault by someone unknown to the victim are rare. Battered women first seek help from family members. Police intervention is often ineffective because police officers and the courts tend to regard domestic violence as a problem to be handled by the family. Nonetheless, there are stiff penalties for spouse abuse. Both the fine and imprisonment for battery or violence committed by a spouse or family member are double those for the same crimes committed by an individual not related to the victim.
Main sources: U.S. Department of State, CIA,
Mundo negro
©
afrol.com. Texts and graphics may be reproduced freely, under the
condition that their origin is clearly referred to, see Conditions.
You can contact us at elin.nordhagen@afrol.com |
|
