From August 2015, the Association of Voix de la femme à Jemmel conducted a pilot action to mobilize equality actors in two governorates of Tunisia: Sousse and Monastir. Since it is difficult and rare for civil society and local authorities to gather in order to work together, Voix de la femme held several coordination meetings to explain the importance of collaboration between local actors.

In parallel, Voix de la femme à Jemmel launched a study on the participation of women in public and political life of Monastir and Sousse. The collected data showed that despite the significant role that women play in social and economic life, their participation in the political life of these regions is very low because of the obstacles they are often faced with.

The results of the study were presented on 5 December 2015 in front of the representatives of local government bodies (regional delegations of women and children, family and population; social affairs; women's leadership rural), Governorates and municipalities, and non-governmental organizations, such as workers'and employers’ unions, associations of women entrepreneurs, the network of civil society for human rights, the Women’s Forum 14 January; the media such as Radio Jawhara FM as well as women from political parties.

The presentation was followed by a debate in which opinions and testimonies were varied and numerous. Several recommendations were suggested to promote women's access to positions of responsibility at the community level and to ensure the involvement of all entities in improving women's participation in the future political life.

This action is part of the Axis 1 "Strengthening the capacity of equality actors”, of the project “Women for the future in the Mediterranean” funded by  the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development, and the project “Developing Women Empowerment” labelled by the Union for the Mediterranean.

For more information, you can watch a compiling video of the 5th December 2015, conducted by Voix de la femme à Jemmel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y21uV_buHHg&feature=share