PUBLIC LECTURE: Tunisian Women in the Arab Spring by Dr Leila Ben Mcharek

What makes Tunisia an exception in the Arab world as far as women’s rights are concerned ? What role did Tunisian women play in the Revolution (17 December 2010- 14 January 2011) ? What is the status of Tunisian women since the Revolution ? What are the main debates involving women’s status and rights in post-Revolution Tunisia, mainly in relation to the drafting of the constitution and the upcoming elections ? This lecture will try to provide answers to these questions as the issue of women’s rights is a very controversial issue in a country trying to proceed with its transition to democracy despite the existence of serious divisions within public opinion. Indeed Democrats, mainly democratic and secularist women, want achievements as far as women’s rights are concerned to be consolidated or at least preserved, while Islamists want women’s rights to be in conformity with Islamic Sharia law. Developments in the area of women’s rights could indicate whether Tunisia is likely to continue to play the leading role its has played during the Arab Spring, regarding not only women’s rights, but also democracy in general.