As part of their ongoing cooperation with UN human rights mechanisms, and on the occasion of the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council (February 24-April 4, 2025), a delegation of national and international Tunisian civil society organizations visited Geneva from March 4 to 7, 2025. It held working and exchange meetings with experts from the Human Rights Council's special procedures, representatives of member states and representatives of international governmental and non-governmental organizations.
The delegation requested an audience with the Tunisian Permanent Mission in Geneva, but unfortunately received no reply.
On March 6, 2025, the Tunisian civil society delegation was received at the Palais Wilson by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Volker Türk. Discussions with the High Commissioner focused on the worrying human rights situation in Tunisia, and on the importance of cooperation and dialogue between the Tunisian authorities and UN human rights mechanisms, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, with a view to improving the human rights situation in Tunisia, in particular through respect for freedom of expression and association, the independence of the judiciary and guarantees of a fair trial, the fight against impunity, the release of prisoners of conscience and political prisoners, the resumption of the transitional justice process and the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Truth and Dignity Commission (IVD).
The delegation concluded its visit by taking part in a side event held on March 6, 2025 at the Palais des Nations on the sidelines of the 58th session of the Human Rights Council on "the instrumentalization of justice in Tunisia". During this side event, the audience, made up of a large number of delegates from countries, media organizations and NGOs, had the opportunity to listen to the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Mrs. Margaret Satterthwaite, speak about the state of justice in Tunisia, the interference of the executive power in the judiciary, and the pressure exerted on judges and lawyers, in particular on the Association des Magistrats Tunisiens and its President Mr. Anes Hmadi. She also welcomed the release of IVD President Sihem Ben Sedrine, and called on the Tunisian authorities to respect their international commitments to human rights and the independence of the judiciary.
بيان صحفي
في إطار التعاون المستمر مع آليات الأمم المتحدة لحماية حقوق الإنسان وبمناسبة انعقاد الدورة الثامنة والخمسين لمجلس حقوق الإنسان التابع للأمم المتحدة (24 فيفري - 4 أفريل 2025)، قام وفد مكون منظمات المجتمع المدني التونسي الوطنية والدولية بزيارة جنيف من 4 إلى 7 مارس 2025. وتم عقد اجتماعات عمل مع خبراء من الإجراءات الخاصة لمجلس حقوق الإنسان وممثلي الدول الأعضاء وممثلي المنظمات الدولية الحكومية وغير الحكومية
. وقد سعى الوفد إلى الاجتماع بالبعثة الدائمة لتونس في جنيف، غير أنه لم يتلق رداً للأسف
في 6 مارس 2025، استقبل مفوض الأمم المتحدة السامي لحقوق الإنسان، السيد فولكر تورك، وفد المجتمع المدني التونسي في قصر ويلسون. وتركزت المباحثات مع المفوض السامي على الوضع المقلق لحقوق الإنسان في تونس وأهمية التعاون والحوار الموسع بين السلطات التونسية وآليات حماية حقوق الإنسان الأممية بما في ذلك المفوضية السامية لحقوق الإنسان، بهدف تحسين وضع حقوق الإنسان في تونس, ولا سيما من خلال احترام حرية التعبير وحرية تكوين الجمعيات، واستقلالية القضاء وضمانات المحاكمة العادلة، وإنهاء الإفلات من العقاب، والإفراج عن السجناء السياسيين وسجناء الرأي، واستعادة مسار العدالة الانتقالية، وتنفيذ التوصيات الواردة في تقرير هيئة الحقيقة والكرامة.
وقد اختتم الوفد زيارته بالمشاركة في نشاط جانبي عُقد في 6 مارس 2025 في قصر الأمم بمناسبة انعقاد الدورة الثامنة والخمسين لمجلس حقوق الإنسان حول "توظيف العدالة في تونس". وخلال هذا النشاط الجانبي، أتيحت الفرصة للحضور، المكون من عدد كبير من مندوبي الدول والهيئات الإعلامية والمنظمات غير الحكومية، للاستماع إلى المقررة الخاصة المعنية باستقلال القضاة والمحامين، السيدة مارغريت ساترثويت، حول وضع العدالة في تونس، وتدخل السلطة التنفيذية في القضاء، والضغوطات التي تمارس على القضاة والمحامين وخاصة على جمعية القضاة التونسيين ورئيسها السيد أنس الحمايدي. كما رحبت بالإفراج عن رئيسة هيئة الحقيقة والكرامة، السيدة سهام بن سدرين، ودعت السلطات التونسية إلى احترام التزاماتها الدولية بشأن حقوق الإنسان واستقلال القضاء.
Press Release
As part of the ongoing cooperation with United Nations human rights protection mechanisms and on the occasion of the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (February 24 - April 4, 2025), a delegation composed of national and international Tunisian civil society organizations visited Geneva from March 4 to 7, 2025. Working meetings were held with experts from the special procedures of the Human Rights Council, representatives of member states, and representatives of governmental and non-governmental international organizations.
The delegation sought an audience with the Tunisian Permanent Mission in Geneva but, unfortunately, received no response.
On 6 March 2025, the Tunisian civil society delegation was received at the Wilson Palace by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Volker Türk. Discussions with the High Commissioner centered on the alarming human rights situation in Tunisia and the need for sustained cooperation and dialogue between Tunisian authorities and UN human rights protection mechanisms, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The delegation emphasized the importance of concrete measures to improve Tunisia's human rights record, particularly by safeguarding freedom of expression and association, ensuring judicial independence and fair trial guarantees, combating impunity, securing the release of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, reinstating the transitional justice process, and implementing the recommendations outlined in the Truth and Dignity Commission's (IVD) report.
The delegation concluded its visit by participating in a side event held on 6 March 2025 at the Palace of Nations on the occasion of the 58th session of the Human Rights Council, titled "The Weaponization of the Judiciary in Tunisia."
During this event, the audience-comprising a significant number of country delegates, media representatives, and NGOs-had the opportunity to hear from the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Ms. Margaret Satterthwaite, who addressed the state of justice in Tunisia, the executive's interference in the judiciary, and the pressures exerted on judges and lawyers, particularly on the Association of Tunisian Magistrates (AMT) and its President, Mr. Anas Hmaidi. Ms. Satterthwaite also welcomed the release of the President of the Truth and Dignity Commission (IVD), Ms. Sihem Ben Sedrine, while calling on the Tunisian authorities to uphold their international human rights commitments and ensure the independence of the judiciary.
