A call for Euro-Mediterranean support and solidarity No democracy without equality between men and women

In Tunis and in Cairo, women and men of all ages and from all walks of life rose to demand freedom, dignity, justice and democracy. This people’s revolt brought down the dictatorial regimes that were in place for decades and that were considered as untouchable. It proved to the whole world that change is possible, and generated a great hope for democratic advance in the region.

Women, as much as men, played and are playing a key role in this process. Since democracy can only be based on equality, it is fundamental that women enjoy full citizenship in the law and before the law. Women's rights are an integral part of indivisible and universal human rights. In all societies, equality between men and women cannot be achieved but by the secularization of law and the absolute priority of universal human rights before all cultural or religious consideration.

We call on the Euro-Mediterranean countries, which all signed the convention of elimination of all forms of discrimination against women (CEDAW), to guarantee full citizenship of women in this region, without any discrimination. Women must participate, as much as men, in the constitutional constructions, in parliamentary and leadership bodies, and their rights must be effectively guaranteed. We therefore call upon the states to adopt measures that guarantee and promote equality and protect women against all forms of violence against the physical integrity of women. We denounce all forms of repression of protests that led to arrests, violence, violation and death of thousands.

We call on the European Union and the European governments, which have supported and continue to support the dictatorial and corrupt regimes of the region, to implement policies that respect democracy and fundamental rights, in bilateral as well as in multilateral agreements , and to encourage the process of democratization in the common interest of the entire region.

We call upon all democratic forces in the south and in the north to express their solidarity with the ongoing revolutions in Tunisia and in Egypt, as well as with the popular movements led by the youth in other countries of the Maghreb and the Middle East. We support their struggle for dignity, equality, freedom, justice and democracy to ensure the irreversibility of these changes and to meet the aspirations of the people of the region.

We call upon the youth in particular, the first driving force of these revolutions, to build together new societies by imposing the full respect of the law and equality.

Kamel Jendoubi
President
Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network