Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TUNIS229
2007-02-14 15:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tunis
Cable title:
TUNISIAN NOMINATION FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF
how-toVZCZCXYZ0003 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHTU #0229 0451520 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 141520Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2736 INFO RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS TUNIS 000229
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/MAG - HOPKINS, HARRIS AND G/IWI - BLUM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KWMN PREL KPAO TS
SUBJECT: TUNISIAN NOMINATION FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF
COURAGE AWARD
REF: STATE 12871
In response to reftel request, Post nominates Khedija Cherif,
President of the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women,
for the Secretary's International Women of Courage Award and
provides the following justification and contact information:
Khedija Cherif was elected President of the Tunisian
Association of Democratic Women (ATFD) in 2006. A
sociologist and university professor, Cherif has a long
history of civil society activism to advance women's rights
in particular and human rights in Tunisia more generally. As
president of the ATFD and a longtime member of the
organization, Cherif manages an organization of several
hundred women who seek to advance women's rights in Tunisia.
The ATFD works to eliminate discrimination, defend existing
legal rights, advance sexual equality, and encourage women's
participation in social and political life. Despite many
advances in women's rights in Tunisia, the ATFD continues to
press for inheritance equality and educate the public about
domestic abuse, including operating a shelter for battered
women. The ATFD, due to its strong feminist leanings, also
vigorously combats all forms of religious fundamentalism.
Despite being a registered NGO since 1989, the ATFD suffers
from official and quasi-official harassment. Government
security forces monitor ATFD events, and often individual
members. Members report that the GOT has prevented ATFD
awareness campaigns, restricted access to the press, blocked
meetings, and instructed hotels not to rent space to ATFD for
public events. Foreign funding for ATFD activities is
blocked by the Tunisian Central Bank. Mail, phone and
Internet communications are disrupted, both that at the ATFD
offices and that of individual members. The Tunisian media
denounces members as "prostitutes" and "lesbians."
In addition to her ATFD leadership, Cherif is well-known in
Tunisia for her political activism. Cherif is also a former
vice president of the Tunisian Human Rights League (LTDH) and
a founding member of the unregistered NGO the National
Council for Liberty in Tunisia (CNLT). Cherif has reported
being harassed and assaulted for her activism. Most
recently, Tunisian security forces reportedly assaulted her
when she tried to attend a May 2006 LTDH anniversary event.
Cherif is also active in the international human rights
community and participates in many international conferences.
In 2001, she experienced inexplicable delays in passport
issuance that temporarily prevented her travel abroad.
Despite these difficulties, Cherif continues her social and
political activism. Her 2006 election as ATFD President has
only increased her visibility in Tunisian civil society
circles. Cherif is thus one of the most prominent Tunisian
individuals seeking to advance women's rights and, more
generally, human rights in Tunisia today.
Contact Information:
Khedija Cherif
President
Tunisian Association of Democratic Women (ATFD)
67 Avenue de la Liberte
1082 Tunis
Tunisia
Phone: 216-71-831-135
Fax: 216-71-831-152
Email: femmes feministes@yahoo.fr
GODEC
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/MAG - HOPKINS, HARRIS AND G/IWI - BLUM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KWMN PREL KPAO TS
SUBJECT: TUNISIAN NOMINATION FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF
COURAGE AWARD
REF: STATE 12871
In response to reftel request, Post nominates Khedija Cherif,
President of the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women,
for the Secretary's International Women of Courage Award and
provides the following justification and contact information:
Khedija Cherif was elected President of the Tunisian
Association of Democratic Women (ATFD) in 2006. A
sociologist and university professor, Cherif has a long
history of civil society activism to advance women's rights
in particular and human rights in Tunisia more generally. As
president of the ATFD and a longtime member of the
organization, Cherif manages an organization of several
hundred women who seek to advance women's rights in Tunisia.
The ATFD works to eliminate discrimination, defend existing
legal rights, advance sexual equality, and encourage women's
participation in social and political life. Despite many
advances in women's rights in Tunisia, the ATFD continues to
press for inheritance equality and educate the public about
domestic abuse, including operating a shelter for battered
women. The ATFD, due to its strong feminist leanings, also
vigorously combats all forms of religious fundamentalism.
Despite being a registered NGO since 1989, the ATFD suffers
from official and quasi-official harassment. Government
security forces monitor ATFD events, and often individual
members. Members report that the GOT has prevented ATFD
awareness campaigns, restricted access to the press, blocked
meetings, and instructed hotels not to rent space to ATFD for
public events. Foreign funding for ATFD activities is
blocked by the Tunisian Central Bank. Mail, phone and
Internet communications are disrupted, both that at the ATFD
offices and that of individual members. The Tunisian media
denounces members as "prostitutes" and "lesbians."
In addition to her ATFD leadership, Cherif is well-known in
Tunisia for her political activism. Cherif is also a former
vice president of the Tunisian Human Rights League (LTDH) and
a founding member of the unregistered NGO the National
Council for Liberty in Tunisia (CNLT). Cherif has reported
being harassed and assaulted for her activism. Most
recently, Tunisian security forces reportedly assaulted her
when she tried to attend a May 2006 LTDH anniversary event.
Cherif is also active in the international human rights
community and participates in many international conferences.
In 2001, she experienced inexplicable delays in passport
issuance that temporarily prevented her travel abroad.
Despite these difficulties, Cherif continues her social and
political activism. Her 2006 election as ATFD President has
only increased her visibility in Tunisian civil society
circles. Cherif is thus one of the most prominent Tunisian
individuals seeking to advance women's rights and, more
generally, human rights in Tunisia today.
Contact Information:
Khedija Cherif
President
Tunisian Association of Democratic Women (ATFD)
67 Avenue de la Liberte
1082 Tunis
Tunisia
Phone: 216-71-831-135
Fax: 216-71-831-152
Email: femmes feministes@yahoo.fr
GODEC