How do women live on the other side of the Mediterranean? We discuss their rights and opportunities and take a critical look at European stereotypes.

Focus: Women in North Africa

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/15474993/M001-0055b-EN.srt

Hello. We're celebrating  International Women's Day.

This year we want to dedicate it  to the women of Maghreb and Mashrek

who are finally getting a taste of freedom

and preparing for radical change  in their countries.

How do women live on the other side  of the Mediterranean?

Do they have access to education  and work, and equal family law rights?

But first, Margherita Sforza went to Tunis  to meet Habiba Bouhamed Chaabouni,

a doctor who managed to reach her goals  despite the Ben Ali regime.

At first when I talked about  specialising in medical genetics

I wasn't being understood  and encountered a great many difficulties.

Mostly because it was something new,  plus at the time I was still young.

So it was a new idea introduced by  a young person and a woman to boot.

At the time medical and research circles  were predominantly male.

Habiba Bouhamed Chaabouni  is a pioneer in her country.

In 1981, she set up the first  genetic counselling clinic

In Tunisia, the tradition  of marriage between cousins

increases the risk  of hereditary diseases.

In the 1990s, Prof. Chaabouni  opened a prenatal diagnosis clinic.

Since then, over 40,000 people have  visited the Charles Nicolle Hospital.

Very often when it came to patients,  especially children

with a probably  genetic and hereditary pathology,

they were not being looked after  as well as they should be, or so I thought.

I thought someone should  take an interest in these patients.

The quality of her research  won Prof. Chaabouni in 2006

the UNESCO L'Oréal prize, dedicated  to the most brilliant women scientists.

Initially people here  didn't have much faith in me.

The day I was awarded  the UNESCO L'Oréal prize

and L'Oréal organised  a reception in my honour here,

none of the ministers  came to the reception.

But her international reputation spurred  the government to court the Professor.

She was offered a political role  which she has refused.

Prof. Chaabouni remains critical of the  feminist policies promoted by the regime,

but underlines improvements secured  by women since Tunisia's independence.

The right to vote, divorce,  and the ban on polygamy

Tunisian women have enjoyed  a status, a personal status

and allowed them to go to school,  just like boys.

After the Jasmine Revolution and  the fall of Ben Ali's authoritarian regime

the scientist hopes that Europe will  consider Tunisia as a full partner

I wish the international community  and especially the European community

would support the desire of the people  to establish a real democracy,

and to maintain our cultural  and educational level.

We saw Dr Chaabouni, a brave woman  with a great scientific career in Tunisia,

ask for Europe's help and support  in the tough transition to democracy.

women on the other side  of the Mediterranean.

To discuss this,  we have Carmen Romero López

from the Group of the Socialists  and Democrats,

Bahija Ouezini from the association  'Citoyennes des Deux Rives'

and Marie-Christine Vergiat  from the European United Left Group.

Mrs Ouezini, being familiar  with Tunisia before 14 January,

do you think there could have been  exceptional women

who were truly independent  and liberated?

In Tunisia, there is some freedom  for women in public life

have been able to access  education, culture and work.

So to some degree women do have  a place in public life, and hold positions.

But it also serves  to make the regime look good.

In other words, it's the image  the regime likes to project

Ms Romero López, both  you and Ms Vergiat are part

of the Parliamentary Assembly  of the Union for the Mediterranean.

You've made lots of trips  to these countries.

What is your impression of the degree  of emancipation of women

Tunisia has always been different,  because since the Bourguiba era

women there have progressed  more than their neighbours

But recently, there has definitely  been action taken

but there is still not much progress  in Algeria or Libya.

From Ms Romero López,  we know that in Morocco

there have been  lots of reforms recently.

There are many new laws in place,  there's talk of family law for example,

but do you get the impression  that these laws are being implemented?

Morocco is one of the countries  that has moderately amended its laws

to improve women's rights  in recent years.

There is still a lot that needs to be done.

But you're right to highlight the fact  that there are countries in the Maghreb,

in the entire Mediterranean area,  and unfortunately also in Europe

where, even when laws exist,  they are often not implemented.

to prevent making this  a real political priority.

This is something important for which,  as for democracy and human rights,

the EU really could step up to the mark  within the framework of the partnership.

That's true, but it's a bit like a dog  chasing its tail or a catch-22 situation.

Women have to be the protagonists  of their own progress,

but they need freedom for that. Without it,  their progress won't be a political priority.

These political priorities  won't be set by men but by women,

women who are in  decision-making roles.