history

participation in the European Social Forum (ESF) by a large Tunisian delegation.

presentation of an alternative report to the United Nations Committee against Torture (CAT) by the FIDH in collaboration with the Tunisian League for the Defense of Human Rights (LTDH) and the Committee for the Respect of Freedoms and Human Rights in Tunisia (CRLDHT), respectively affiliated and partner of the FIDH, in order to take stock of the state of application in Tunisia of the International Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The report highlighted a number of worrying aspects of legislation and practice (police custody, harassment, particularly sexual harassment, and violence against women who are relatives of detainees or exiles, difficulties encountered in lodging complaints of abuse and torture, etc.), the need for medical examinations and autopsies in cases of suspicious death, extradition conditions, rehabilitation of torture victims, punishment of officials guilty of torture and the impunity they can enjoy), the conclusions of the UN experts were a repudiation of the Tunisian government's report.

A colloquium was held at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on June 11, 1997, on the theme of "the human rights situation in Tunisia within the framework of the association agreement with the European Union". Invited by the main groups in the European Parliament, the colloquium brought together some twenty members of parliament, five international human rights organizations, Tunisian guests and some thirty other participants. Its aim was to provoke an open and contradictory debate on the issue of human rights in Tunisia, in order to help create conditions conducive to the effective and fair implementation of the provisions of the Association Agreement relating to these issues. As the Tunisian government claims, there was no intention to replace the institutional and regulatory frameworks of the European Parliament. It should be recalled that Article 2 of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Tunisia, which provides for a mutual right of scrutiny by the contracting parties on issues of human rights and democracy, was negotiated and signed by the current Tunisian government, then ratified following a unanimous vote by the Tunisian Parliament. These provisions must of course be implemented within the framework of the regulatory and institutional mechanisms provided for this purpose. But it presupposes, at the very least, that the Tunisian government accepts public and adversarial debate on the question of human rights and freedoms. Unfortunately, this does not appear to be the case. The CRLDHT was in regular contact with parliamentary groups and international NGOs.

first emergency resolution of the European Parliament on the human rights situation in Tunisia (May 22). This was followed by the resolution voted on June 15, 2000, after a series of failed attempts (July 1997, April 1999, May 1999). The CRLDHT was in regular contact with parliamentary groups and international NGOs.

- creation of the CRLDHT (Committee for the Respect of Freedoms and Human Rights in Tunisia).

Organization of a meeting-debate on May 18, 2002 in Paris on the theme
theme: "Against constitutional reform and referendum;
For the right to democratic and peaceful changeover.

the human rights caravan in France and Europe, which aims to inform, raise awareness and mobilize public opinion on the deteriorating situation of freedoms and human rights in Tunisia. It consists of two stages (Geneva and Brussels) prepared by meetings in several cities (Lyon, Marseille, Grenoble) and a highlight in Paris.
The Geneva leg coincides with the session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, at which the major human rights NGOs have put Tunisia on the agenda of their priority interventions. The aim is to organize a briefing and press conference at the initiative of the major international NGOs (FIDH, AI, OMCT, HRW, REMDH, RSF, FIACAT...), followed by a press conference; and to precede the briefing by a rally in front of the Palais des Nations, and possibly by a symbolic march through the streets of Geneva.
The Brussels - Strasbourg leg takes place at a time when the European Union-Tunisia Association Council is holding its normal session. Two actions are planned: 1- the organization of a joint meeting between NGOs and European parliamentary groups on the implementation of article 2 of the EU-Tunisia association agreement, and the modalities and consequences of the adoption of "appropriate measures" of a dissuasive nature under article 90 of the said agreement. This joint meeting is being organized in close collaboration with international and regional NGOs, as well as with the EP's political groups; 2- the organization of a rally in front of the headquarters of the European Council. These two important stages are preceded by public meetings in Marseille, Grenoble and Lyon. These meetings were held in conjunction with local organizations, for which the "caravan" provided a team of three people to help run the meetings. The steering group was made up of the following organizations: LDH, Amnesty International, Sud PTT, Collectif des Tunisiens de soutien à la LTDH, FTCR, CRLDHT, GUE group of the European Parliament.

the European Parliament adopts by a large majority an emergency resolution on the human rights situation in Tunisia. The previous resolution on Tunisia dates back to May 23, 1996, and the attempts made since then (July 1997, April 1999, May 1999) were aborted when Tunisian diplomacy forced parliamentary groups to respond to insistent blackmail ("Islamist peril", women's rights, "economic performance" and empty promises of political liberalization).

the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
of Opinion and Expression, Mr. Abid Hussain, visited Tunisia from December 6 to 10, 1999. At the end of a balanced and edifying assessment of the situation, Mr. Abid Hussain made a series of significant recommendations to put an end, in particular, to "attacks on freedom of association and all forms of expression of divergent opinion", believing that for "a country like Tunisia, which has achieved a certain degree of social development, it should not be difficult to manage the contradictory demands of stability and freedom in a more liberal way". The CRLDHT has been in constant contact with the Special Rapporteur.