Tunisian women have enjoyed the same voting and eligibility rights than men since 1956.
Several mesures were taken by President Ben Ali since 1987 to widen the participation of women in public life.

In the Chamber of Deputies there are 22.7 women members. They constitute 11.5% of women, as compared with 7% of members in 1994 and 1.82% in 1966.

There are today seven women members of government. They include: The Minister of Equipment, Housing and Territory Development, The Minister of Women, Family, Children and the Elderly Affairs, the Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Secretary of State to the Minister of Women, Family, Children and the Elderly Affairs, in charge of children , Secretary of State to the Minister of Social Affairs and Solidarity, in charge of Social Promotion, the Secretary of state to the Minister of Public health, in charge of public hospitals and the Secretary of State to the Minister of Communication Technologies, in charge of Information Technology, Internet and Free Software.

A woman serves as vice-president of the Chamber of Deputies.

There is a woman governor

Women on municipal councils today represent 27.4% of all elected officials, as against 1.29% in 1957.

Eleven percent of the members of the Economic and Social Council are women, a woman is vice-president of the council, and another woman chairs a commission.

A woman serves as President of the National Accounting Office.

The higher council of the magistracy includes two women among its 15-member core.

A woman was elected chairperson of the International Intergovernmental Alliance in charge of South/South partnership programs for population and development.

A Tunisian woman was, for the third consecutive time, been elected a member of CEDAW.

A Tunisian woman was appointed regional councillor of the African Economic Commission for women's legal and human rights.

A Tunisian woman was appointed Director of Information Development Services of the African Economic Commission.

A women was elected regional governor of the International Environmental Council.

A Tunisian woman was elected Secretary General of the Arab Organization for the Family.