Where we work
Tunisia
WHY WE WORK IN TUNISIA
After many significant achievements for gender justice in Tunisia, recent events threaten to destroy all progress.
In 2021, only 27% of Tunisian women were participating in the labour force. This represents an improvement from previous years but is still below the global average. Similarly, women’s political participation in Tunisia remains relatively low. While progress has been made in recent years, women’s representation in political parties and decision-making roles remains limited.
According to a report by the United Nations, in 2022, only 17% of parliamentary seats were held by women in Tunisia. This underrepresentation reflects the challenges faced by women in actively engaging in partisan action and political work. The current political transformation in the country will undermine women’s representation in formal institutions.
Legal reforms and initiatives have aimed to improve access to reproductive health services. However, there are still gaps to be addressed. The UN reports that, as of 2021, the adolescent birth rate in Tunisia is 25 per 1,000 girls aged 15-19.
WORKING FOR GENDER JUSTICE IN SEVEN COUNTRIES
In addition to Tunisia, KVINFO works in Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Ukraine and Georgia in the current strategy period.
Click on one of the countries above to read more about our work.
Gender-based violence is pervasive in Tunisia. According to the UN, approximately 47% of Tunisian women have encountered some form of domestic violence in their lifetime. This includes physical, psychological, and emotional abuse.
Sexual harassment is also a major problem in Tunisia, affecting women in various settings such as public spaces, workplaces, and educational institutions. The OECD reports that around 70% of Tunisian women have encountered sexual harassment at least once in their lives.
This form of gender-based violence undermines women’s freedom of movement, personal safety, and overall well-being. It poses a barrier to women’s active participation in society, hindering their access to education, employment, and public life.
WHAT WE DO
KVINFO aims to support feminist civil society and the active participation of women in public life. We work to develop knowledge to advocate for women’s equality and challenge the normalisation of violence against women in politics.
Examples of the types of issues we work on with partners include:
- campaigning for the active participation of women in decision-making
- developing a visual culture of feminist art to challenge stereotypes and violence
- creating knowledge and analysis of women’s rights in law
- mapping feminist civil society and reinforcing networks
WHO WE WORK WITH
In Tunisia, KVINFO works with two types of organisations.
The first type are big membership-based women’s rights organisations with broad outreach, well-established networks, and contacts with national politicians and other duty bearers.
The second type of organisations are small, often relatively newly established and specialised organisations. They are issue-based, more agile and innovative, and develop, apply and adapt new methodologies. They are often localised with smaller reach but have the potential to scale up.
