Tunisia enjoys the second-highest human development score in Africa. Since the one-party regime was overthrown in late 2011, the country has embarked on a tortuous transition towards democracy. A new progressive constitution was approved in early 2014, consolidating women's rights and bringing innovations in a number of areas, including open government, state decentralization and sustainable use of natural resources.
As Tunisia’s new government marks 100 days in office, cementing the transition to democracy, the focus for international intervention now moves to a longer-term perspective. With this in mind, IDLO has conducted a mission to Tunis to assess emerging needs and discuss the support the organization could offer.
Today, November 25th, the world marks the International Day for the Eliminate of Violence Against Women.
"The fight against corruption is of capital importance," Tunisia's Minister of Justice Hafedh Ben Salah told IDLO. Mr Ben Salah, whose portfolio includes Human Rights and Transitional Justice, said one could not "rebuild and renovate on unhealthy foundations".
IDLO has partnered with UNICEF to gain a deeper understanding of the use of diversion and alternative measures to detention for children in conflict with the law. This seven-month project in Jordan, Sudan and Tunisia will conclude in 2015.
Cairo, Egypt - IDLO hosted the Third Regional Consultation on HIV-related Legal Services and Rights, which brought together lawyers and community activists from five countries in the Middle East & North Africa: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia.
“It takes me 50 minutes to fly to Tunis,” says Giulio Zanetti, speaking from Rome headquarters. “Compare this to Paris, which takes me 2 hours...”
ROME, 20 December 2012 – The International Development Law Organization (IDLO) is working to support the transition to the rule of law in Tunisia.
In this context, IDLO organized a study visit to Rome for a senior delegation of representatives of Tunisian justice sector to enable them to create synergies and share experiences about the independence of the judiciary.
Tolerance of minorities (religious, sexual or otherwise) remains low in Egypt and other Middle Eastern and North African countries. People living with HIV are among the groups facing most discrimination. The virus is associated with stigmatized behaviors, such as sex between men and drug use. Many people with HIV are thus forced into the shadows, denied treatment, at risk of abuse and imprisonment. IDLO has been working with UNAIDS and local partners to help hundreds of people living with, and affected by, HIV in Egypt to access health and legal services.
The success of Tunisia's constitutional reforms depends on good economic governance. As part of supporting the country through its democratic transition, IDLO is helping build the capacity of its magistrates and prosecutors to combat financial and economic crime. In September 2012, the Tunisian Government created the Pôle Judiciaire Financier, a first-instance court dedicated to investigating all cases falling under that category.
