Tunisia's parliament, represented by a delegation of lawmakers, recently participated in the Global Human Rights Conference in Geneva, Switzerland. The conference, organized by the International Parliamentary Union, brought together parliamentarians, experts, and representatives from the United Nations, national human rights institutions, and civil society. The event, held on November 12-13, 2026, focused on the theme of "The Responsibility of Parliaments in Protecting Human Rights in an Era of Turmoil."
The Tunisian parliamentary delegation, comprising MPs Houssamed Mahjoub, Zaffar Sghaier, and Fatma Mesd, engaged in discussions on the role of parliaments in the United Nations human rights system. They shared experiences and best practices on issues such as freedom of expression, children's rights, migrants' rights, and the rights of persons with disabilities. MP Houssamed Mahjoub emphasized the importance of protecting freedom of expression, highlighting that it is a constitutionally guaranteed right in Tunisia.
Mahjoub also discussed the revision of Decree No. 54, which relates to combating crimes related to information and communication systems. He noted that the decree has been revised to remove prison sentences and replace them with financial fines. Additionally, he highlighted Tunisia's legislative achievements in protecting children's rights, citing the country's Family Code, Labor Code, and Child Protection Code.
MP Fatma Mesd stressed that human rights principles should not be used as a pretext to impose guardianship on peoples. She emphasized the shared responsibility of parliaments, governments, and the international community in achieving a balance between human rights and national sovereignty. Mesd also discussed Tunisia's experience with artificial intelligence, highlighting the need for a robust legal framework to protect individuals' rights.
Mesd further addressed the issue of migration, noting that Tunisia has a long history of promoting human rights, particularly in the fight against slavery. She cited the country's 2018 law on eliminating all forms of racial discrimination. MP Zaffar Sghaier, meanwhile, discussed the issue of violence against parliamentarians, highlighting that it is a global phenomenon that extends beyond physical attacks to include online harassment and smear campaigns.
Sghaier proposed several practical measures to protect parliamentarians, including enhancing digital protection and establishing a secret reporting mechanism for violence against female parliamentarians. He also emphasized the importance of guaranteeing the rights of persons with disabilities, citing Tunisia's commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The conference provided a platform for the Tunisian parliamentary delegation to engage with international counterparts and experts on key human rights issues. The discussions highlighted the critical role of parliaments in promoting and protecting human rights, particularly in the face of emerging challenges such as artificial intelligence and online violence.
Key points
- Tunisia's parliament participates in the Global Human Rights Conference in Geneva to discuss the role of parliaments in protecting human rights.
