Tunisia
Tunisia should end the intimidation, harassment and persecution of media houses, journalists, bloggers and others exercising their right to free expression.
Tunisia is located in Northern Africa and has a population of 11.9 million people. Its 2014 constitution guarantees freedom of expression and information, press and media freedoms, privacy and the right to access communication networks. Since the fall of the Ben Ali regime in 2011, the country has adopted important democratic reforms. However, repressive laws remain on the books and authorities have continued to prosecute journalists, activists and citizens for simply expressing themselves. Additionally, President Kais Saied’s power grab in July 2021 has been threatening Tunisia’s democratic gains.
51.5%
Households with internet access in 2019
76%
Individuals using internet in 2020
11.29
Fixed Broadband Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants in 2020
94/180
Press Freedom Ranking in 2022
Upr cycle
Tunisia was last reviewed in May 2022.
Digital Rights and Free Expression Recommendations
Advocacy support
We conduct advocacy during the pre-session through direct lobbying to UN member state representatives and support local advocacy events and workshops that amplify the UPR. During the reviews, we amplify the UPR process and the recommendations our partners have drafted through live- monitoring by our local partners and on social media. We then conduct advocacy during the post- UPR period with activities such as training for government officials and events that highlight the recommendations made during the UPR.
September 2022
Digital Rights in Tunisia in Light of the Universal Periodic Review: Insufficient Legislation and Rights at Risk
This event gathered representatives of civil society organizations, human rights defenders, and diplomatic and UN missions’ representatives in Tunisia to discuss and engage on issues related to the situation of digital rights in the country in preparation to the fourth cycle of the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Tunisia, which took place on November 8, 2022.
Resources
Partner organisations
Over a hundred local and international human rights organisations are part of the wider Uproar programme. You can find them listed here.
Tunisia cluster
The country clusters are a local working group in each Uproar target country made up of our partner organisations. The clusters are organised by local lead organisations, who then coordinate local civil society and human rights defenders with digital rights expertise to engage in national-level advocacy and campaigning.