Launch of Gender Election Watch Tunisia 2014

 Launch of Gender Election Watch Tunisia 2014

Friday, October 17th marks the official commencement of Gender Concerns International’s Gender Election Watch in Tunisia 2014.

This mission is undertaken jointly between the Tunisian League of Human Rights (LTDH), the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women (ATFD), the Association of Tunisian Women for Research and Development (AFTURD) and Gender Concerns International (GCI). It is a continuation of our partnership that began with our joint gender election monitoring mission in 2011. This mission is supported by the German Federal Foreign Office. We are very pleased to be working together with both our partner organisations and supporter.

This represents a strong link between the international women’s movement and the strong movement in the region, particularly here in Tunisia. The cooperation of international and Tunisian partners shows the solidarity between these feminist movements.

Gender Election Monitoring (GEM) Missions

Gender Concerns International’s GEM Missions aim to support women’s participation in democratic processes and promote the vision of a gender-balanced society. Women must be seen as catalysts for change, be able to hold key decision-making positions and enhance their leadership skills.

These monitoring missions are conducted by women for the full benefit of women. In doing so, the mission also engages a greater number of stakeholders beyond women in civil society in order to bring more holistic and long-term change.

These GEM missions focus on female leadership and inclusive governance within the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 1325. Our mission will document and denounce any and all inequality or discrimination faced by women that may prevent their full political involvement and contribution to Tunisia’s Government.

A small percentage of female international experts will work alongside a group of female Tunisian observers carefully selected by our Tunisian partner organisations. These 10 international observers and 100 domestic observers will coordinate to accurately and efficiently monitor the electoral process across the country. This GEM mission will be substantially larger in both its scope and depth than that was undertaken in Tunisia in 2011.

Gender Election Watch Tunisia 2014 is unique not only through its unique focus on gender aspects in the electoral process. The partnership between LTDH, ATFD, AFTURD and GCI allows for strong capacity building within each organisation, with further contribution to capacity building of national institutions.

It is with great pleasure that our Tunisian partners and GCI launch this mission today and I look forward to providing more information in the coming days.