Women

Women Public Figures:

Women in elected office

In the Chamber of Deputies

1989: 4.26%

1994: 7%

1999:11.5%

2004 : 22.7%

In Local Councils

1990:13.6%

1995:16.65%

2000 : 20.63%

2004 : 21,6%

Women in the Judiciary

Women magistrates

1984:10.5%

1998: 24%

2004 : 34%

Women lawyers

1992: 10%

1998:18.45%

1999: 22%

2004 : 31%

Women in the executive branch

2004

* Two women ministers
* 5 women Secretaries of State.
* An advisor to the President of the Republic
* A woman governor

Women in the media

Women journalists :

1994:22.4%

1999: 26.2%

2004 : 34.4%

Women CEO'S

2004 : 10,000 women are heads of companies

Women University Professors

1991-92 : 21.66%

1998-99 : 29.1%

2000-2001 : 33,3 %

2003-2004 : 40.4%

Women in Business and Trade Union organizations

* The National Chamber of Women Heads of Enterprises (CNFCE) within the Tunisian Union of Industry, Commerce and Handicrafts), established in 1990.
* The National Federation of Women Farmers within the Tunisian Union for Agriculture and Fisheries, established in 1990.
* The National Commission of Women Workers within the Tunisian General Labor Union, established in 1991.

Women NGO's

* Only one organization existed in Tunisia before 1986 : The National Union Of Tunisian Women, founded in 1956.
* More than 20 organizations have been established since 1989.

Women In agriculture

Women represent 32% of people who are active in the farming and fishing professions.

Women in key institutions

* A Woman helds the position of first President of the "Cour des Comptes" (National Audit Office) since 1998.
* A Woman currently holds the position of Administrative Ombudsman since 1998.

Women in the RCD ( majority party)

* Women members of the Central Committee

1988:2

1993:22

1998:50 ( 21.6%)

1999: 22%

2003 : 26.4%

* 1 permanent secretary for women's affairs
* 2 federation officers
* 28 regional officers in charge of the "Women's" affairs.

Women and education

1- Education :

* 2003-2004 : 99% children in full-time education at the age of 6 for both genders.

* At the elementary level, children in full-time education aged 6-12 years

Girls:

1992-93: 85.2%

1997-98: 91.5%

2000-2001 : 92.2%

2003-2004 : 96.9%

Boys:

1992-93: 92%

1997-98: 93%

2000-2001 : 91,7%

2003-2004 : 97%

* At the secondary

1992-93:10.5%

1996-97:11.5%

1998-99: 13.6%

* The rate of girls admitted to pilot secondary schools (Training Elite Schools) :

1997 : 59.7% ( 40.3% boys).

At University

* The ratio of young women among university students :

1988-89: 37.2%

1998-99:48.3%

1999-2000: 50.4%

2000-2001 : 51.9%

2004-2005 : 57%

Female illiteracy rate

1966 : 82.4% ( compared to 67.9% for men)

1994 : 42.3% (21.7% for men)

2000 : 34,7 (16,5% for men)

2004 : 31% (14.8% for men)

Tunisian women in international institutions

In United Nations bodies :
* A Tunisian woman is chairperson of the NGO's Committee of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
* A Tunisian woman is member and deputy-chairperson of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).
* A Tunisian woman is an expert member of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
* Two Tunisian women occupy, within the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the positions of Director in charge of information development services, and of Regional Adviser for women's legal and human rights.
* A Tunisian woman chairs the Committee on "Women and Development" of the ECA since its creation in 1996, and another Tunisian woman sits on the Committee as an expert.

In other international institutions :
* Three Tunisian women became members of the International Women's Council in 1997.
* A Tunisian woman was elected in 1997 as representative of the World Commission of Female Heads of Enterprises to the ECA, and, in 1998, Chairperson of the World Organization of Female Heads of Enterprises.
* A Tunisian woman was appointed in 1997 member of the Board of Directors of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW), and, in 1999, Vice-chairperson of that Board.
* A Tunisian woman was appointed, in 1997, regional commissioner of the International Environment Council and another two were elected respectively Secretary-general of the Arab Women's Organization and member of the Executive Committee of the International Union of Family Organizations.
* The Director-general of the National Office on Family and Population (ONFP) was elected in 1996 President of the Intergovernmental Alliance on Partnership, Population and Development, and, in 1998, Honorary President of that Organization.
* A Tunisian woman was elected in 1998 member of the Executive Bureau of the Forum of Researchers for Human Establishments.

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