What's Next for Women's Health (And Rights) in Tunisia and Egypt?

02.03.2011 By Anna Clark

Egypt and Tunisia actually had decent family planning under their dictatorships. Where might they move forward under Democratic government?

It is unsettling, but true: the autocratic regimes of Tunisia and Egypt, now overthrown by democratic revolutions, had, in fact, carried forward what are among the most progressive reproductive rights policies in the region.

While the idea of offering any public funds at all to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America incites debate in the current U.S. legislature, both Tunisia and Egypt have government-sponsored programs that for decades have offered free or nearly free contraception to citizens—not just condoms, but intra-uterine devices (IUDs) and birth control pills.

Tunisia, which legalized abortion five years before the U.S, also has freely available morning-after pills, Pap smears, and breast exams at both local and mobile clinics. Both North African nations can boast of robust publicly supported education programs in sexual health for adults and youth. Both nations were among the first to sign CEDAW (the treaty of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women) back in 1980; Egypt ratified the declaration a year later and Tunisia, with a few reservations, in 1985. (The U.S. is one of seven nations that have not ratified CEDAW.) The policies and practices for most basic reproductive health services in Tunisia and Egypt has become a social norm, and are unlikely to face contention in the emerging governments. Indeed, they have a significant opportunity to expand. Read more >>