Source: TunisiaLive
Today, Tunisian women are celebrating the national Day of Women and Family and are empowered with a new sense of freedom and hopes for a more advanced and democratic nation.

It was in 1956 when the kingdom of Tunisia signed the decree of the personal code status, declaring August 13th as national Day of Women and Family. Thus, since the declaration of the republic, former president Habib Bourguiba had emphasized women's rights while in most Arab-Muslim countries women's rights were not quite recognized.

The personal code status powered the participation of women in the society. It banned polygamy, marriage without consent, organized life within the family and added new rules to divorce laws and custody. This personal code status enforced the status of women within the society and supported their emancipation.

Tunisian women stood out for the past decades among all other Arab women as pioneers in many fields, such as human rights activism, which helped the women in Tunisia obtain more freedom and acquire more rights to thrive in a male dominated society.

Women under Ben Ali

Following the "Change" of 1987, Tunisian women continued to benefit from their multiple rights already granted by the personal status code. The rights of women were reinforced in 1993 and 1997 by the now ousted President Ben Ali. New laws were adopted to protect women against conjugal marriage, preserve their rights to education and work. Thus, women's participation was heightened in different fields and more and more females were holders of higher diplomas. In the same measure,  women were also present in the political field comprising 27.3% of the deputy chamber members.

Women's emancipation during Ben Ali's rule could also be related to the involvement of the toppled president's wife, Leila Trabelsi Ben Ali, in promoting women rights and Arab women rights. However, when it came to political activism, the same dictatorship's rule applied to men and women alike and many known female activists were suppressed. The government also did not take enough actions to implement these rights and practices. Women's right activists, including Bochra Bilhaj Hmida, confirm that Ben Ali used the image of women in Tunisia to promote his lies about the well being of Tunisia and conceal the harsh realities that women were facing during his dictatorship.

Women after Ben Ali:

Women were also present in massive numbers during the Tunisian revolt of January 14th. Women were along side men in front of the ministry of interior chanting "dégage" (leave) and showing their commitment to the cause that would alleviate dictatorship and oppression from the nation.

After the revolution, doubts are starting to arise concerning the role of women in the post-revolutionary Tunisian society. Currently, there are only two women working as members of the interim government. The two women are Lilia Laabidi, Minister of Women's Affairs, and Meriem Mizouni Cherni, former Secretary General at the Ministry of Youth.

Yet, the future of women only seems brighter when ISIE (Independent High Authority for The Election) adopted a law of gender equality electing process. Women will be now figuring equally within the members of the constituent assembly which shall bring more awareness to women related socio-economic challenges.

Only a few days ago, the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women initiated a movement to call for equality in inheritance, which has been overlooked in Tunisia. More women are becoming involved in social activism as well as the massive presence of women within the media monitoring and blogging sphere that is a great medium to participate in political life.

• Tunisia