Friday, September 7, 2012

Tunisian Uprising for Gender Equality

In Tunisia Gender Equality is coming to light during a protest of a new charter the predominantly Muslim male government is trying to impose. The rally of women came together on the anniversary of the Personal Status Code (CSP) which was passed in 1956 and abolished polygamy and ended repudiation, (a law that stated a man could divorce his wife just by saying “I divorce thee” three times) thus instituting Judicial divorce, and making sure that there is consent in both parties before a marriage is performed.

What they were protesting was a draft of the countries’ new constitution, which these women say is favorable to men instead of equal. This government behind this new constitution claims that it will protect women’s rights, but "the protection of women's rights … under the principle of complementarity to man within the family and as an associate of man in the development of the country." is the wording from the draft, and is basically rolling back women’s rights, and subjugating them under men again.

These women feel like this new constitution is an Islamist ploy to harm and humiliate women, and they are not willing to stand for it. An online petition was started for this cause and as the reasoning for the petition stated, “the state is about to vote on an article in the constitution that limits the citizenship rights of women, under the principle of their complementarity to men and not their equality.” the protesters were able to deliver 8,000 signatures to the National Constituent Assembly. (NCA)

http://rt.com/news/tunisia-women-rights-rally-609/

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