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Witness History: When Tunisia led on women's rights

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When Tunisia led on women's rights

25/07/2019 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, When Tunisia led on women's rights

When Tunisia introduced divorce, abortion and votes for women ahead of much of the world.

Tunisia underwent a social revolution when the President introduced a law  in 1956 that changed women's lives, giving them rights that made them unique in the muslim world.

When Tunisia achieved independence it brought in a new equality law that revolutionised women's lives. In August 1956 under the socialist President Habib Bourguiba, the north African country became the first in the muslim world to legalise civil divorce and abortion and to ban polygamy.  He also gave women the vote and widened access to education.  Nidale Abou Mrad spoke to Saida El Gueyed a founding member of the Tunisian Women's Union who was asked by President Bourguiba to help both men and women understand how the new law would change their lives.

Photo: Courtesy of Saida El Gueyed

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