Minister of Women, Family and Elderly Affairs Imen Zahouani Houimel called for developing a national strategy to combat violence against women in society.

“Despite the exceptional situation in our country due to the spread of the coronavirus, the national women’s day remains a symbol and an annual celebration to highlight the achievements made in women’s rights,” the Minister said.

She was speaking at the opening of a webinar held Thursday on the theme “equality generation, to combat violence against women.”

The choice of this theme illustrates Tunisia’s national and international commitment to uphold equal opportunities for men and women and the effective participation of women in development, she added.

This is an opportunity to assess the efforts made in combating violence against women, after the promulgation of Law 58 of 2017, Houimel added.

She noted the increase of violations of women’s rights in public and private spaces, recalling the launch in July 2021 of a national dialogue to combat violence against women.

The Minister noted the importance of women’s economic empowerment as a means of preventing violence. She announced launching the national programme to strengthen women’s entrepreneurship and investment in gender “Raidette” for the 2022-2025 period, after the evaluation of the first part of the programme “Raida.”

She affirmed that the Ministry is working to ensure the protection of vulnerable groups, which has been concretised through domestic workers’ Law 37 of July 16.

She also pointed to legislative initiatives aimed at achieving equality and preventing all forms of violence against women, including the bill on maternity and paternal leave and others.

Source: TAP News Agency