Human Rights in Tunisia : 1987-1997

1996
Human Rights In Tunisia : 1987-1997

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

Jan. 11, 1996
Celebration of National Children's Day and entry into effect of the Code for the Protection of the Child.

Feb. 5, 1996
Publication of International Labor Convention no. 138 concerning the minimum age of employment, adopted in Geneva on June 26, 1973, by decree no. 96-190 dated February 5, 1996.

Feb. 26, 1996
President Ben Ali is awarded the World Health Organization Gold Medal, as a tribute to the comprehensive humanistic approach of the health policy that the President has worked to set up in Tunisia.

March 25, 1996
Promulgation of a law creating the Tunis Inter-national Center for Environmental Technologies, in the aim of reinforcing research on the means of protecting the environment and ensuring future generations of healthy environment.

April 1, 1996
Promulgation of the organic law governing the Constitutional Council, to confirm the primacy of the Constitution and the rule of law.

April 3, 1996
President Ben Ali decides to create a national committee for human rights' education, to confirm new-era Tunisia's determination to strengthen human rights and disseminate awareness and education in this field.

April 5, 1996
President Ben Ali decides upon a series of measures aimed at strengthening the family's educational, social and economic role to bring it into harmony with its environment and to enable it to meet its members' needs. These measures are also intended to strengthen the ties binding emigrant families with the motherland, and to encourage family tourism.

April 19, 1996
On the occasion of his visit to Tunisia, Pope John Paul II pays tribute to Tunisia's long tradition of tolerance, moderation and openness.

May 1, 1996
Promulgation of a decree creating a National Council for the Handicapped, to ensure health coverage and social protection for the handicapped, and professional integration.

May 8, 1996
Reelection of a Tunisian expert to membership in the United Nations Committee for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

May 21, 1996
President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali receives the highest distinction awarded by the International Federation of Blood Donors, in recognition of the health policy instituted by the President, one outstanding feature of which is its humanistic aspect, confirming respect of the individual's dignity and physical integrity and reinforcement of solidarity among citizens.

May 21, 1996
The first chamber of the Administrative Court hands down a verdict repealing the Interior Minister's decision classifying the Tunisian Human Rights League among "associations of a general nature."

May 27, 1996
Two decrees are published, the first setting the conditions for enabling families to care for elderly people who have no support; the second specifying the conditions for admission in establishments for the protection of the elderly

June 15, 1996
A decree is enacted instituting the Presidential Award for the Protection of Nature and the Environment.

June 17, 1996
A decree is enacted defining the specific statutes governing the body of delegates for the protection of children, its areas of intervention, and its means of acting vis-à-vis the concerned social services and bodies.

June 26, 1996
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights visits Tunisia at the invitation of the Tunisian government, and takes cognizance of Tunisia's achievements in the field of human rights in their global dimension.

July 6, 1996
A decree is enacted creating a National Council and regional and local committees for the eradication of illiteracy.

July 15, 1996
Amendment of certain provisions of the Labor Code, by law no. 96-62 of July 15, 1996 complementing the legislation pertaining to work contracts, and safety in the workplace.

July 17, 1996
The President of the Republic receives the 1995 annual report of the Higher Committee on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

July 22, 1996
Amendment of law no. 60-30 of December 14, 1960 pertaining to social security schemes, with a view to providing the family with greater protection and harmonizing the various social security schemes.

July 24, 1996
President Ben Ali visits the Civil Prison of Tunis, examines the conditions regarding the respect of standards for the treatment of prisoners, and studies the training programs designed to facilitate their reinsertion into society.

July 24, 1996
President Ben Ali charges the chairman of the Higher Committee on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms with visiting prisons without prior authorization.

July 24, 1996
President Ben Ali decides upon a set of measures concerning presidential pardon, release for reinsertion, conditional release, and the reduction of the sentences for certain prisoners in various penitentiaries.

July 31, 1996
President Ben Ali, chairman of the Higher Council of the Magistracy, presides over a meeting of the council which adopts a number of recommendations reparding legal guarantee. These include: introducing greater circumspection into the handling of complaints brought before the courts; ensuring that preventive detention is not authorized except in cases of necessity and when there are serious reasons for not leaving a suspect in liberty; applying the system of release on bail; showing increased diligence in examining cases involving people under arrest; avoiding short sentences and giving preference to suspended sentences rather than actual imprisonment.

Aug. 6, 1996
Tunisia, always concerned to present its periodic reports to the competent United Nations bodies regularly, presents its report on economic, social and cultural rights.

Aug. 7, 1996
President Ben Ali chairs the ceremony held on the National Day of Tunisians Residing Abroad, and announces on that occasion a series of measures designed to protect their rights and defend their dignity, their safety and their security.

Aug. 12, 1996
A decree is enacted organizing the Institute for the Protection of the Handicapped, to reinforce the gains of these citizens and ensure them of the conditions necessary for leading a worthy life.

Aug. 23, 1996
President Ben Ali receives the Minister of Justice and gives instructions for confirming an effective legal system capable of reinforcing the respect of human rights, particularly the right to freedom; the President recommends speed in the investigation of matters concerning prisoners awaiting judgment, and application of the system of release on bail.

Sept. 3, 1996
President Ben Ali receives the Medal of Merit from the Olympic National Committees Association, in tribute to his actions to strengthen and publicize the principles underlying the Olympic spirit.

Sept. 10, 1996
President Ben Ali holds a meeting with publishers and editors-in-chief of Tunisian newspapers and emphasizes the necessity of promoting the press so that it may keep abreast of changes in Tunisian society.

Sept. 30, 1996
President Ben Ali receives Bill Jordan, Secretary General of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), who declares: "I have learned of the important projects being carried out in Tunisia, and I am convinced that this is the fruit of the policy of consensus instituted by President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali."

Sept. 30, 1996
A decree is enacted specifying the conditions for creating private establishments for the protection of the elderly, as an element in the protection of the elderly within their families and in the aim of ensuring that they receive the social and health services they need, within their natural environment.

Oct. 4, 1996
Following an audience accorded her by President Ben Ali, Mrs Carole Bellamy, UNICEF Director General, expresses her admiration for the President's personal enthusiasm regarding the problems of the child, and for the constant concern he takes in children.

Oct. 9, 1996
President Ben Ali presides over a cabinet meeting devoted to examining the situation of the Tunisian community residing abroad; he gives instructions that particular attention be granted to questions related to the social welfare coverage of Tunisians abroad, and underscores the necessity of reinforcing the means for strengthening bonds between the emigrant community and the homeland.

Oct. 16, 1996
President Ben Ali presides over a special cabinet meeting devoted to examining the programs of the National Solidarity Fund 26 26, whose interventions, between 1993 and 1996, have totalled 194 million dinars and have concerned 571 regions inhabited by some 100,000 families.

Oct. 25, 1996
Receiving the Minister of the Interior, President Ben Ali examines the training program of the National School of Prison and Rehabilitation Services, and under-scores the need to ensure the success of the national plan for the protection and rehabilitation of delinquent minors, and of the program of rehab-ilitation of detainees, with a view to favoring their economic and social reinsertion.

Nov. 5, 1996
President Ben Ali receives the national report of the National Commission of Education in Human Rights and recommends that it be submitted to the competent UN bodies.

Nov. 7, 1996
As an element in his constant concern for strengthening the democratic process and promoting human rights in Tunisia, President Ben Ali announces, on the ninth anniversary of the Change, a series of measures broadening the scope of referendum, amending certain provisions of the electoral code to confirm Tunisia's determination to reinforce freedoms and give concrete expression to pluralism within the representative institutions, and adjusting the legal framework for the public financing of political parties, to strengthen the resources of such parties and ensure them of playing their political role and of performing their functions of guidance and dissemination of the democratic ethic.

The Head of State also announced other measures and decisions concerning particularly:

Increasing the volume of occasional journalistic work for which contributions to the social security scheme are not required, to encourage the participation of experts, and all those interested in journalism.
Examining the means by which to facilitate the enforcement of legal judgments, authorizing their registration at minimum expense in a first stage, with payment of the proportional amount required only after execution of the judgment. The very poor and low income individuals are exempted from such payments.
Pursuing application of the principle of not authorizing the execution of sentences of capital punishment except in extremely rare cases, out of respect for the inalienable right to life.

Nov. 9, 1996
The "Alliance of Citizens and Members of Parliament for the Suppression of the Death Penalty in the World by the year 2000" addresses to Presiden Ben Ali a message paying tribute to his progressive attitude regarding the death penalty
.

Nov. 15, 1996
President Ben Ali reaffirms, in his message to the World Food Summit (Rome), that every individual's right to food is inherent in his right to life and constitutes a basic human right.

Dec. 7, 1996
On the occasion of National Solidarity Day, President Ben Ali inaugurates an exhibition devoted to the achievements and projects of the National Solidarity Fund 26 26 and pays tribute to the members of the medical staff volunteering in the "medical caravans" in favor of the inhabitants of remote areas.

Dec. 7, 1996
President Ben Ali receives Mr. Luis Vicente Giay, President of Rotary International, who stated following the meeting that he had presented his organization's award to President Ben Ali "in recognition of his actions to serve the cause of national solidarity and improve the population's living conditions, and of his active contribution to the establishment of peace in the world."

Dec. 10, 1996
President Ben Ali presides over the ceremony held on the occasion of the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and awards the 1996 "Prize of the President of the Republic for Human Rights" to Mrs Sadako Ogata, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Dec. 19, 1996
The Italian Institute for Culture and International Relations (ICRI) awards Tunisia the first prize for peace in the world, in homage to the country's efforts to establish peace in the world, friendship among peoples, and dialogue among cultures.

Dec. 28, 1996
President Ben Ali announces, in a speech to the Tunisian people during a special session of the Chamber of Deputies, a set of measures aimed at confirming the rule of law and strengthening the multi-party, democratic process:

Presentation to the Chamber of Deputies of a draft amendment to the constitution which would broaden the scope of recourse to referendum for constitutional and legislative issues; define the domains that are the province of the legislative branch and those that depend upon the executive branch; reaffirm the necessity of safeguarding the country's civilizational gains, banishing extremism and violence, and confirming the principle that political parties may not be set up on racial, regional or religious bases; and lower the minimum age for eligibility for election to the Chamber of Deputies.
Presentation to the Chamber of Deputies of a draft amendment to the Electoral Code, intended to increase access to elected office for members of the opposition.
Presentation to the Chamber of Deputies of a bill concerning public financing of political parties, considering the role they play in stimulating political life, cristallizing programs, and fostering responsible dialogue.



	1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997		Jan. 11, 1996 Celebration of National Children's Day and entry into effect of the Code for the Protection of the Child. Feb. 5, 1996 Publication of International Labor Convention no. 138 concerning the minimum age of employment, adopted in Geneva on June 26, 1973, by decree no. 96-190 dated February 5, 1996. Feb. 26, 1996 President Ben Ali is awarded the World Health Organization Gold Medal, as a tribute to the comprehensive humanistic approach of the health policy that the President has worked to set up in Tunisia. March 25, 1996 Promulgation of a law creating the Tunis Inter-national Center for Environmental Technologies, in the aim of reinforcing research on the means of protecting the environment and ensuring future generations of healthy environment. April 1, 1996 Promulgation of the organic law governing the Constitutional Council, to confirm the primacy of the Constitution and the rule of law. April 3, 1996 President Ben Ali decides to create a national committee for human rights' education, to confirm new-era Tunisia's determination to strengthen human rights and disseminate awareness and education in this field. April 5, 1996 President Ben Ali decides upon a series of measures aimed at strengthening the family's educational, social and economic role to bring it into harmony with its environment and to enable it to meet its members' needs. These measures are also intended to strengthen the ties binding emigrant families with the motherland, and to encourage family tourism. April 19, 1996 On the occasion of his visit to Tunisia, Pope John Paul II pays tribute to Tunisia's long tradition of tolerance, moderation and openness. May 1, 1996 Promulgation of a decree creating a National Council for the Handicapped, to ensure health coverage and social protection for the handicapped, and professional integration. May 8, 1996 Reelection of a Tunisian expert to membership in the United Nations Committee for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. May 21, 1996 President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali receives the highest distinction awarded by the International Federation of Blood Donors, in recognition of the health policy instituted by the President, one outstanding feature of which is its humanistic aspect, confirming respect of the individual's dignity and physical integrity and reinforcement of solidarity among citizens. May 21, 1996 The first chamber of the Administrative Court hands down a verdict repealing the Interior Minister's decision classifying the Tunisian Human Rights League among "associations of a general nature." May 27, 1996 Two decrees are published, the first setting the conditions for enabling families to care for elderly people who have no support; the second specifying the conditions for admission in establishments for the protection of the elderly June 15, 1996 A decree is enacted instituting the Presidential Award for the Protection of Nature and the Environment. June 17, 1996 A decree is enacted defining the specific statutes governing the body of delegates for the protection of children, its areas of intervention, and its means of acting vis-à-vis the concerned social services and bodies. June 26, 1996 The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights visits Tunisia at the invitation of the Tunisian government, and takes cognizance of Tunisia's achievements in the field of human rights in their global dimension. July 6, 1996 A decree is enacted creating a National Council and regional and local committees for the eradication of illiteracy. July 15, 1996 Amendment of certain provisions of the Labor Code, by law no. 96-62 of July 15, 1996 complementing the legislation pertaining to work contracts, and safety in the workplace. July 17, 1996 The President of the Republic receives the 1995 annual report of the Higher Committee on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. July 22, 1996 Amendment of law no. 60-30 of December 14, 1960 pertaining to social security schemes, with a view to providing the family with greater protection and harmonizing the various social security schemes. July 24, 1996 President Ben Ali visits the Civil Prison of Tunis, examines the conditions regarding the respect of standards for the treatment of prisoners, and studies the training programs designed to facilitate their reinsertion into society. July 24, 1996 President Ben Ali charges the chairman of the Higher Committee on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms with visiting prisons without prior authorization. July 24, 1996 President Ben Ali decides upon a set of measures concerning presidential pardon, release for reinsertion, conditional release, and the reduction of the sentences for certain prisoners in various penitentiaries. July 31, 1996 President Ben Ali, chairman of the Higher Council of the Magistracy, presides over a meeting of the council which adopts a number of recommendations reparding legal guarantee. These include: introducing greater circumspection into the handling of complaints brought before the courts; ensuring that preventive detention is not authorized except in cases of necessity and when there are serious reasons for not leaving a suspect in liberty; applying the system of release on bail; showing increased diligence in examining cases involving people under arrest; avoiding short sentences and giving preference to suspended sentences rather than actual imprisonment. Aug. 6, 1996 Tunisia, always concerned to present its periodic reports to the competent United Nations bodies regularly, presents its report on economic, social and cultural rights. Aug. 7, 1996 President Ben Ali chairs the ceremony held on the National Day of Tunisians Residing Abroad, and announces on that occasion a series of measures designed to protect their rights and defend their dignity, their safety and their security. Aug. 12, 1996 A decree is enacted organizing the Institute for the Protection of the Handicapped, to reinforce the gains of these citizens and ensure them of the conditions necessary for leading a worthy life. Aug. 23, 1996 President Ben Ali receives the Minister of Justice and gives instructions for confirming an effective legal system capable of reinforcing the respect of human rights, particularly the right to freedom; the President recommends speed in the investigation of matters concerning prisoners awaiting judgment, and application of the system of release on bail. Sept. 3, 1996 President Ben Ali receives the Medal of Merit from the Olympic National Committees Association, in tribute to his actions to strengthen and publicize the principles underlying the Olympic spirit. Sept. 10, 1996 President Ben Ali holds a meeting with publishers and editors-in-chief of Tunisian newspapers and emphasizes the necessity of promoting the press so that it may keep abreast of changes in Tunisian society. Sept. 30, 1996 President Ben Ali receives Bill Jordan, Secretary General of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), who declares: "I have learned of the important projects being carried out in Tunisia, and I am convinced that this is the fruit of the policy of consensus instituted by President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali." Sept. 30, 1996 A decree is enacted specifying the conditions for creating private establishments for the protection of the elderly, as an element in the protection of the elderly within their families and in the aim of ensuring that they receive the social and health services they need, within their natural environment. Oct. 4, 1996 Following an audience accorded her by President Ben Ali, Mrs Carole Bellamy, UNICEF Director General, expresses her admiration for the President's personal enthusiasm regarding the problems of the child, and for the constant concern he takes in children. Oct. 9, 1996 President Ben Ali presides over a cabinet meeting devoted to examining the situation of the Tunisian community residing abroad; he gives instructions that particular attention be granted to questions related to the social welfare coverage of Tunisians abroad, and underscores the necessity of reinforcing the means for strengthening bonds between the emigrant community and the homeland. Oct. 16, 1996 President Ben Ali presides over a special cabinet meeting devoted to examining the programs of the National Solidarity Fund 26 26, whose interventions, between 1993 and 1996, have totalled 194 million dinars and have concerned 571 regions inhabited by some 100,000 families. Oct. 25, 1996 Receiving the Minister of the Interior, President Ben Ali examines the training program of the National School of Prison and Rehabilitation Services, and under-scores the need to ensure the success of the national plan for the protection and rehabilitation of delinquent minors, and of the program of rehab-ilitation of detainees, with a view to favoring their economic and social reinsertion. Nov. 5, 1996 President Ben Ali receives the national report of the National Commission of Education in Human Rights and recommends that it be submitted to the competent UN bodies. Nov. 7, 1996 As an element in his constant concern for strengthening the democratic process and promoting human rights in Tunisia, President Ben Ali announces, on the ninth anniversary of the Change, a series of measures broadening the scope of referendum, amending certain provisions of the electoral code to confirm Tunisia's determination to reinforce freedoms and give concrete expression to pluralism within the representative institutions, and adjusting the legal framework for the public financing of political parties, to strengthen the resources of such parties and ensure them of playing their political role and of performing their functions of guidance and dissemination of the democratic ethic. The Head of State also announced other measures and decisions concerning particularly: Increasing the volume of occasional journalistic work for which contributions to the social security scheme are not required, to encourage the participation of experts, and all those interested in journalism. Examining the means by which to facilitate the enforcement of legal judgments, authorizing their registration at minimum expense in a first stage, with payment of the proportional amount required only after execution of the judgment. The very poor and low income individuals are exempted from such payments. Pursuing application of the principle of not authorizing the execution of sentences of capital punishment except in extremely rare cases, out of respect for the inalienable right to life. Nov. 9, 1996 The "Alliance of Citizens and Members of Parliament for the Suppression of the Death Penalty in the World by the year 2000" addresses to Presiden Ben Ali a message paying tribute to his progressive attitude regarding the death penalty . Nov. 15, 1996 President Ben Ali reaffirms, in his message to the World Food Summit (Rome), that every individual's right to food is inherent in his right to life and constitutes a basic human right. Dec. 7, 1996 On the occasion of National Solidarity Day, President Ben Ali inaugurates an exhibition devoted to the achievements and projects of the National Solidarity Fund 26 26 and pays tribute to the members of the medical staff volunteering in the "medical caravans" in favor of the inhabitants of remote areas. Dec. 7, 1996 President Ben Ali receives Mr. Luis Vicente Giay, President of Rotary International, who stated following the meeting that he had presented his organization's award to President Ben Ali "in recognition of his actions to serve the cause of national solidarity and improve the population's living conditions, and of his active contribution to the establishment of peace in the world." Dec. 10, 1996 President Ben Ali presides over the ceremony held on the occasion of the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and awards the 1996 "Prize of the President of the Republic for Human Rights" to Mrs Sadako Ogata, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Dec. 19, 1996 The Italian Institute for Culture and International Relations (ICRI) awards Tunisia the first prize for peace in the world, in homage to the country's efforts to establish peace in the world, friendship among peoples, and dialogue among cultures. Dec. 28, 1996 President Ben Ali announces, in a speech to the Tunisian people during a special session of the Chamber of Deputies, a set of measures aimed at confirming the rule of law and strengthening the multi-party, democratic process: Presentation to the Chamber of Deputies of a draft amendment to the constitution which would broaden the scope of recourse to referendum for constitutional and legislative issues; define the domains that are the province of the legislative branch and those that depend upon the executive branch; reaffirm the necessity of safeguarding the country's civilizational gains, banishing extremism and violence, and confirming the principle that political parties may not be set up on racial, regional or religious bases; and lower the minimum age for eligibility for election to the Chamber of Deputies. Presentation to the Chamber of Deputies of a draft amendment to the Electoral Code, intended to increase access to elected office for members of the opposition. Presentation to the Chamber of Deputies of a bill concerning public financing of political parties, considering the role they play in stimulating political life, cristallizing programs, and fostering responsible dialogue.