Human Rights Watch: Tunisia taking a regional lead in women's rights

[theHandpuppet]

HRW: Tunisia taking a regional lead in women's rights
Tunisia has officially lifted restrictions it had on a international women's treaty, while the World Bank has announced $250 million in support of Tunisia's economic reforms

A human-rights group has welcomed moves by Tunisia to lift restrictions it had in place on a United Nations treaty known as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

New York-based Human Rights Watch said in a 17 April statement that the move was "an important step toward realizing gender equality".

“With the new constitution and lifting of reservations, Tunisia has proven itself a leader on women’s rights in the region,” said Rothna Begum, Middle East women’s rights researcher at Human Rights Watch.

The United Nations General Assembly adopted the convention in 1979. It defines what constitutes discrimination against women and establishes minimum steps countries must take to end such discrimination. Although Tunisia ratified the treaty, restrictions it had in place allowed the country to opt out of several provisions regarding women’s rights within the family.

- See more at: http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/hrw-tunisia-taking-regional-lead-womens-rights-35248988#sthash.jeU2rpkW.dpuf

[littlemissmartypants]

1. Kicking. Thank you. nt