Answering the magazine’s question “what do you think of Tunisian women today?”, Mrs. Ben Ali underlines that they “are tenacious, persevering, active and very attached to their rights. They have become full-fledged partners to men. More efforts are still needed to change attitudes and behaviours but the political will to promote them does exist. I do not think a reversal is possible.”

Asked about her role as First Lady, Mrs. Ben Ali recalls that she chairs a number of charities, including Basma (“smile”, in English), which seeks to integrate the disabled in society and invest in palliative care centers.

The French magazine also points to Mrs. Leila Ben Ali’s Presidency of the Arab Women Organisation (AWO). The First Lady specifies, in this regard, that this organisation, which brings together fifteen first ladies under the aegis of the Arab League, is now preparing for the forthcoming meeting due to be held in October 2010 in Tunis and focus on : “Promoting Arab Women in the Sustainable Development Process.”

”We have also called, she went on saying, for setting up an observatory of social and political legislation on women’s condition and a convention on elimination of all forms of discrimination against them, in association with the Arab League and the United Nations.”

Mrs. Leila Ben Ali and causes of Arab women in “Madame Figaro” article, 14th November 2009

“The wife of the President of the Republic reviewed the major indicators that reflect the reinforcement of Tunisian women’s participation in the development process and their presence in different production sectors and in public life.

She also pointed out that President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali’s new electoral programme has dedicated a special place to women, one that is essentially meant to raise women’s presence in decision-making positions from 30% to at least 35% by 2014, as part of a comprehensive and complementary vision aimed, particularly, to further promote rural women’s status.

She also pointed out that President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali’s new electoral programme has dedicated a special place to women, one that is essentially meant to raise women’s presence in decision-making positions from 30% to at least 35% by 2014, as part of a comprehensive and complementary vision aimed, particularly, to further promote rural women’s status.”

Mrs. Leila Ben Ali gives interview to “Al-Sharq Al-Awsat” daily, 21th October 2009

One of the major sources of pride of the New Era consists in the special care, the high status and the renewed confidence offered by President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to women.

Indeed, never before had Tunisian women been in a better situation or in a higher status.

Equal chances and opportunities are now offered to men and women in all fields. Their roles have become complementary in all positions of work and responsibility. For indeed, the conditions of society can be set right only if the conditions of women are tackled. Besides, the process of reform and modernization can be enhanced only when women are an essential element in its stimulation and consolidation. Moreover, development can be equitable and comprehensive only if both men and women share its efforts and fruits.

Considering that reluctance to adopt a clear and audacious approach to women's status still constitutes a major obstacle impeding the progress of several societies in the world, Tunisian women deserve to be proud of the fact that they have transcended the stage of liberation and the claiming of rights, and have attained the stage of full-fledged partnership with men in the management of the affairs of the family and of society, in political action which is an integral part of the rights of citizenship, and in commitment to serving the public interest, especially in light of the prospects offered to them by the New Era to participate in the Chamber of Deputies, in municipal councils and in regional councils.

Tunisian women have, in fact, been offered a coherent system of rights, measures and initiatives that has consolidated their presence in all fields and placed them in a higher status within our society, a status that many international experts consider an excellent example worth following in various regions of the world.

While it represents for Tunisian women a source of pride and honor, this prestigious status invests them with further duties and responsibilities, as they are always required to prove that they deserve this honor and all the decisions and encouragements offered to them by the President of the Republic, to improve their conditions and reinforce their integration within the dynamics of development.

The status of women is essentially measured by their constant awareness and competence in all the functions, positions and responsibilities with which they are entrusted.

Therefore, Tunisian women should always be a constructive element and a force of generosity, at home, in the public service, in factories, in fields, as well as in the associative fabric and the components of civil society. They should contribute, with their intelligence, knowledge and creative and innovative skills, to stimulating the process of development in its various educational, pedagogical, cultural, social, health and economic sectors. They should also hold, with their high performance and efficient work, advanced leadership positions.

Address by Mrs Leïla Ben Ali
at the closing of the electoral campaign
Le Kram, October 22nd, 2004