From Dialogue to Parliamentary Action: Advancing Rural Women’s Rights Through Policy Engagement in Tunisia

A recent development following a Joint Programme on Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment (JP RWEE) and UN Women workshop highlights the tangible impact of policy dialogue and advocacy in strengthening rural women’s rights.

Shortly after the workshop, a Member of Parliament who participated in the discussions submitted a formal written parliamentary question to the President of the Assembly and the Minister of Social Affairs. The inquiry focuses on the implementation of Decree-Law No. 4 of 2024 on social protection for women agricultural workers—an important legislative step aimed at improving protections for one of the most vulnerable groups in rural economies.

In her submission, the Member of Parliament acknowledges that while the decree-law has been enacted, the necessary regulatory and implementing texts have yet to be issued. This delay has hindered the practical application of the law, preventing women agricultural workers from fully benefiting from its provisions. The parliamentary question therefore requests clarification on both the timeline for issuing these texts and the reasons behind the delay—marking a critical step towards accountability and effective policy implementation.

This development represents a significant milestone for JP RWEE in Tunisia. It reflects the programme’s broader objective of not only strengthening capacities and delivering services, but also fostering meaningful spaces for dialogue between policymakers, institutions, and stakeholders. By bringing diverse actors together, JP RWEE supports the conditions needed for informed decision-making and concrete action in support of rural women’s empowerment.

The rapid translation of workshop discussions into formal parliamentary action demonstrates the potential of multi-stakeholder engagement to influence policy processes. It highlights how awareness-raising and evidence-based dialogue can empower decision-makers to take ownership of critical issues and advocate for change within formal governance structures.

While this represents only one step in a longer policy process, it offers a powerful example of how targeted advocacy efforts can contribute to strengthening accountability mechanisms and advancing gender-responsive governance. Such outcomes are central to JP RWEE’s aim of promoting enabling environments where rural women’s rights are recognized, protected, and effectively implemented.

June 2026