In the framework of the ‘Tunisian Week’ which took place at the European Parliament (Brussels) on the 2-4 May, WPL co-hosted the debate ‘Gender equality and the participation of women in public life‘.
The participants of this debate shared their insights on the importance of empowering women to take a step up on the political level and some of the barriers that women face on the road to a career in politics.
Pictures of the event can be found in this link.
Watch the debate here.
Feedback of the event can be found in our Twitter channel.
The participants in this debate were:
- Moderator: Silvana Koch-Mehrin, Founder and President of the Women Political Leaders Global Forum (WPL)
- Introduction: Ulrike Lunacek, Vice-President of the European Parliament (EP) (Greens)
- Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir , Chair of the WPL Executive Board
- Mariya Gabriel, Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and EPP Vice-President (EPP)
- Marie Christine Vergiat, MEP (European United Left – GUE)
- Linda Lanzillota, Vice-President of the Italian Senate
- Dr Helga Lukoschat, Director of Europäische Akademie für Frauen in Politik und Wirtschaft Berlin
- Simone Susskind, Belgian MP for the Brussels-Capital Region and President of Actions in the Mediterranean (AIM)
- Karima Taggas, Tunisian MP (Ennahdha)
- Sana Salhi, Tunisian MP CPM PE-Tunisie (Nidaa Tounes)
- Hager Laroussi, Tunisian MP and Vice-President of the Elhorra party for the Elhorra-Machrou Tounes alliance
- Hager Ben Cheikh Ahmed, Tunisian MP (Afek Tounes)
- Souad Bayouli, Tunisian MP (Front Populaire)
- Olfa Jouini, Tunisian MP (L’Union Patriote Libre -UPL)
- Olfa Soukri, unaffiliated Tunisian MP
Background information:
The ‘Tunisian Week’ is a three-day high-level programme focusing on capacity-building as well as political dialogue, featuring a number of workshops.
The European Parliament hosted a 40-strong delegation from the Tunisian ARP, led by its President M.Mohamed Ennaceur, including leaders of the political factions, parliamentarians and high-level staff.
The European Parliament’s Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group (the DEG, co-chaired by Mr David McAllister, AFET Chair and Ms Linda McAvan, DEVE Chair) has selected 8 priority countries since 2015 for parliamentary support and capacity building activities. One of these countries is Tunisia.
Chief Observer Michael Gahler (MEP), has been appointed by the DEG as lead member for capacity-support initiatives and in this context, following preliminary consultations between the Tunisian ‘Assemblée des Représentations du Peuple’ (ARP) and the European Parliament-supported by DG EXPO’s Directorate for Democracy Support.
