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           Feminist Activists Target Tunisian PM's Visit to Brussels

   by Selah Hennessy

   The head of the European Commission has called on Tunisia Prime
   Minister Ali Larayedh to reform the country's criminal laws to give
   equality to all. Feminist activists helped draw attention to the
   Tunisian situation during Larayedh's visit to Brussels.
   Topless female activists called out "Stop the Repression" as a Tunisian
   delegation drove from European Union headquarters.
   Another two women climbed on top of the motorcade before being dragged
   off by security officials.
   The activists are from the group Femen. Earlier this month, three
   members of the group were jailed in Tunisia for staging a protest in
   support of a detained Tunisian feminist.
   European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso spoke Tuesday at a joint
   press conference with Larayedh.
   Barroso said the European Union is calling for a reform of laws
   inherited from the previous regime, particularly in the criminal code,
   to ensure freedom of speech for Tunisian men and women.
   Tunisia's justice system, he said, should be overhauled to ensure its
   independence and impartiality so the country can achieve a "full and
   deep democracy".
   Tunisia has long had some of the most liberal laws on women's rights in
   the Arab world. But women's freedoms have been under the spotlight
   since a revolution in 2011. Tunisia's government, led by the moderate
   Islamist Ennahda Party, has had to deny allegations that women's rights
   are at risk.
   Lisa Watanabe from the Center for Security Studies in Zurich,
   Switzerland, said no concrete steps have been taken to roll back
   women's rights, but sometimes debate goes in that direction.
   "There was a proposition made by some members of parliament that belong
   to the major party within the coalition to include a clause in the
   constitution that they were complimentary, rather than equal to men, in
   terms of family life," said Watanabe.
   That clause, she said, was dropped because of a public outcry.
   Regardless, she said the European Union has little influence over the
   inner workings of Tunisia's justice system.
   "Tunisia does have an association agreement with the European Union, so
   in terms of putting pressure on Tunisia, it may have some degree of
   influence in terms of demanding some conditionality to funding, but I
   do not think it can put a great deal of pressure on the government, to
   be frank,' said Watanabe.
   On Wednesday, an appeals hearing is set to take place in Tunisia for
   the European Femen activists. They all have been sentenced to four
   months in jail.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/feminist-activists-target-tunisian-pm
   -larayedh-visit-to-brussels/1689068.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/feminist-activists-target-tunisian-pm-larayedh-visit-to-brussels/1689068.html