Mrs Laila Ben Ali’s address at the National Women’s Conference

In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to open today the national conference organized by the National Union of Tunisian Women, in cooperation with the Ministry of Women, the Family, Children and the Elderly Affairs. This conference, held as part of the celebration of the National Women’s Day, addresses the theme of “Tunisian Women : Pride in Achievements and Optimism for the Future”, a theme that carries deep significances and civilizational dimensions.

The pride you take in the achievements accomplished on the ground, on the one hand, and your optimism about the shining future of our country, on the other hand, reflect a deep awareness of the nature of the role that women are to play in the coming period, and confirm their willingness to accomplish their role with competence and enthusiasm.

For in our country today, women do hold a prestigious position that they have acquired with eligibility and capability, serving as full-fledged partners, in terms of rights and liberties, in the process of promoting national construction, consolidating the republican system, and enriching Tunisia’s gains in terms of democracy, freedom and human rights.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mrs. Soukeina Bouraoui, Executive Director of the Center of Arab Women for Training and Research (CAWTAR) for awarding me a Shield bearing the motto “A better future with the participation of Arab Women”, and for the valuable meanings and noble feelings she expressed in her address.
I also would like to congratulate Mrs. Ikram Guizani who has been awarded the “Prize of the President of the Republic for the Best Female Scientific Research”, and to express to her my encouragement and consideration for her efforts in this important field. Through her, I would like to pay tribute to all Tunisian women researchers in all disciplines.

I also wish to express my congratulations and appreciation to Miss Ghada Cherif, the eminent sportswoman who has covered a 22-kilometer distance swimming from the city of Korbous to the Carthage Palace, reflecting, through this performance, the qualifications and virtues of Tunisian sportswomen.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Tunisian women, both in cities and rural areas, are indeed entitled to be proud of the high status they have reached, thanks to their activism, awareness, and adherence to the societal and civilizational project of New Era’s Tunisia. This finds its illustration in the indicators of success and excellence that are now a distinctive feature of the pioneering Tunisian experience in terms of women’s promotion, an experience that is now a model to follow.

Achievements made for women in our country rest upon an enlightened reformist heritage that is characteristic of Tunisia and through which it has held an advanced position, based on the conviction of the leaders of reform, of the National Movement, and of the Change, that women’s emancipation and integration in the process of comprehensive and sustainable development are necessary to ensure the country’s successful access to modernity.

As we celebrate today the 53rd anniversary of the Code of Personal Status, Tunisian women, known throughout our glorious history for their yearning for freedom and dignity, their adherence to the values of sacrifice and responsibility, and their active contribution to defending Tunisia’s glory, safeguarding its prestige, and elevating its status in the world, are indeed entitled to look forward to a better and more shining future.

It is indeed a source of pride for us that Tunisia today boasts a pioneering system of women-related legislation that has guaranteed a set of rights that are still highly-cherished ambitions for many women in many parts of the advanced world, such as equal pay for both genders and participation in political and public life.

Established in 1956 with the promulgation of the Code of Personal Status, the national system of women’s rights has continuously been promoted through the revolutionary measures adopted in 1992, followed by fundamental legislative amendments that have made it possible for Tunisian women to move from the stage of claiming fundamental rights to that of equitable and active partnership with men in consolidating the social edifice and in promoting the rule of law, freedom, modernity and progress.

Tunisia has elevated the laws pertaining to personal status, which have guaranteed for women numerous rights and gains, to a constitutional status.

This has confirmed the soundness of its choices supporting women’s causes in their civilizational and international environment. Tunisia has always been in the forefront of the forces advocating reliance on the abilities of women, as they constitute half of society and one of its major driving forces, as well as on their competence and their role in taking up the huge challenges facing our world today in various fields, at a time when human communities, particularly in the emerging countries, need to mobilize all their available competences, abilities and capacities.

As Chairwoman of the Arab Women Organization during the current mandate, we are keen on raising awareness, at the Arab and international levels, of the need to promote the conditions of women, strengthen their rights, and consolidate the mechanisms of partnership and cooperation among nations in the service of their causes; this being a prerequisite for achieving sustainable, equitable, comprehensive and balanced development.

In our country, women are today keen on fully assuming their role, driven by the strong conviction that they are called on to step up effort and action in order to sustain the constant national choices and contribute to meeting our country’s aspirations in terms of development and progress.

This falls in line with the values of authenticity, openness and modernity they embrace, the rights and guarantees they are offered, and the opportunities they are given to achieve active integration in terms of knowledge, work, creativity and initiative, and also in line with their deep awareness of the current challenges, large involvement in public life, and constant endeavor to achieve further excellence and distinction, especially that they have proven their eligibility to assume responsibilities.

I am convinced that Tunisian women, who had remarkably contributed to the National Struggle as well as to the building of the modern state, will pursue their action, with determination and capability, as an active partner in building tomorrow’s Tunisia, driven by an ever-renewed commitment to the choices and objectives of the Change. This is constantly confirmed by the prestigious organization, the National Union of Tunisian Women (UNFT), reflecting its constant faithfulness to, and recognition of, the Change and the civilizational project it carries.

The preparations undertaken by Tunisian women to ensure the success of the forthcoming political events, particularly the presidential and legislative elections which will lay the ground for our country to step into a new stage rich in gains and achievements, will confirm their strong resolve to pursue their action in the service of the country.

To conclude, I would like to express my thanks and consideration to all women and men who militate to further promote Tunisian women.

I am convinced that your Conference will come out with suggestions and recommendations that will provide a significant contribution to Tunisia’s efforts to enhance women’s status and to consolidate Tunisia’s prestige and promote its people’s progress and well-being.

With my best wishes of success to your Conference.

Thank you for your attention.