Following the 2011 revolution that ended decades of authoritarian rule, Tunisia embarked on a path toward democratic governance and human rights reform. Significant legal advancements were made, particularly in the protection of women’s rights and access to justice. However, Tunisia’s criminal justice system faces severe challenges, including a high pretrial detention rate and prison overcrowding. As of 2021, pretrial detainees comprised approximately 54.9% of the prison population. Prison overcrowding has reached levels as high as 180%. These conditions exacerbate poor living standards and limit access to legal representation. Women in conflict with the law are particularly vulnerable, often lacking legal assistance and facing social stigma.
In response, IBJ launched the Advancing Access to Justice in Tunisia (AAJT) initiative, in 2023, to address critical challenges in legal representation and strengthen access to justice. In partnership with the Tunisian Bar Association, the Tunisia Young Lawyers’ Association, and the Tunisisan Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES), this project is bridging systemic gaps in Tunisia’s legal system, ensuring that both lawyers and marginalized accused individuals receive the legal support they need.
Through specialized training, digital solutions, and rights awareness campaigns, we are enhancing the capacity of legal professionals, equipping them with the essential knowledge and tools necessary to provide high-quality defense. Simultaneously, we are ensuring that vulnerable accused individuals have skilled legal representation throughout every stage of their criminal proceedings. This project goes beyond legal aid–it seeks to cultivate a more just and equitable legal system in Tunisia.
Success Stories:
A Female Lawyer’s Story:
IBJ’s training for criminal defense lawyers, recently held in Tunis, left a powerful imprint on my legal journey. As a Tunisian female lawyer with limited exposure to the resources available to defense lawyers globally, undergoing the three-day intensive training was empowering and transformative. It was inspiring to interact with so many formidable women defenders, all sharing my passion for providing legal protection to vulnerable accused persons in Tunisia.
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Becoming a lawyer has always been a cherished childhood dream of mine, ever since my aunt, a lawyer, told me about her profession. She emphasized the scarcity of women in the field and encouraged the need for strong women, fierce in their advocacy, advocating for people’s rights. That is when I decided I wanted to follow in her footsteps and join the fight against all forms of injustice in my country. I strongly feel that this training has catapulted me forward toward becoming a better defender, moving me even closer to the realization of my dream.
The training opened uncharted territories relating to criminal law practice and exposed me to new litigation techniques. Through guided practical exercises, I was able to reflect on and reevaluate my own case management methods. I learned more effective trial advocacy strategies and efficient case management approaches.
It was also eye-opening for me to learn of the significant role defenders like myself can play during crime scene investigations. I always thought that this area was reserved for law enforcement officials and the prosecutor. The training made me realize not only that there is no legal impediment preventing defenders from visiting crime scenes but also that doing so is critical to the accused person’s case. This newfound knowledge has emboldened me to go beyond recorded testimonies to seek out the reality on the ground, enriching the depth and accuracy of my defense case.
I am glad I attended this amazing training. It was worthwhile and, aside from gaining knowledge and skills, which will undoubtedly benefit my work as a defender, my passion to serve indigent accused persons was reinvigorated. I felt connected to IBJ’s global movement of defenders working all over the world to ensure that accused persons are aware of their rights and that due process rights are upheld. I am eager to make a difference in Tunisia and carry forward my aunt’s commitment to being a voice for the voiceless.
Montasser Ennefzi’s Story – Lawyer:
“The training on the rights of the accused and the means of investigation was necessary and interesting: Necessary because, as a young lawyer, many criminal procedures are still unknown. Interesting because it enlightened me not only about what the law provides for in terms of defense, but also about what it doesn’t provide for, and that I had to invest myself in investigating and enlightening the judge in favor of a defense that respects rights and procedures.
It’s a course that I would describe as ‘continuous’, because it has encouraged me to read criminal procedure texts in a dynamic rather than static way”.
Hazem Maghraoui’s Story – Student-Lawyer:
“As a young student lawyer, I will be called to the bar in a few months’ time, and the course helped me to better understand judicial practice in terms of the rights of the accused.
The training was interesting in terms of the practical complications encountered by the lawyer and the procedure to follow to get round them and ensure a better defense.
The trainer explained all the criminal procedures in favor of the defense (from the police station to the hearing), giving examples of files and penalty notices.
The training obviously benefited me; as a future practitioner I will be able not only to prepare a result-oriented defense but also to get round all the real difficulties that can prevent a fair trial”.
Impact in Numbers:
- 115 lawyers trained in criminal defense and rights-based representation
- 58% of lawyers trained were women
- 100% of trainees reported enhanced criminal defense knowledge
- 1 Digital Case-Management App launched
- 1,000 copies of the Tunisia Criminal Defence Practice Manual distributed
- 90,384+ people reached via radio campaigns
- 854,819+ people engaged through social media
- 256 legal cases handled
- 14,202 viewers accessed our online rights awareness campaign
- 1,824 clicks/ views on our Know Your Rights (KYR) brochure
Defender Resources:
The Tunisia Criminal Defence Practice Manual is a comprehensive legal resource covering all aspects of Tunisia’s criminal justice system, including client rights, procedural and evidentiary rule, lawyer duties, as well as pre-trial trial, sentencing and appeal processes. Focused on Tunisian procedural and criminal law, the manual is primarily designed for criminal defense lawyers that are representing clients facing charges in Tunisia. As the first of its kind, this impactful legal document–printed 1,000 times and distributed to lawyers–provides a tangible resource for direct acces to essential legal guidance and support. Beyond its immediate use, the Tunisia Criminal Defence Practice Manual and the establishment of a specialized task force of defenders creates the foundation for long-term legal reform. These efforts not only address immediate goals but are part of a broader strategy to ensure that effective and competent legal defense becomes the standard for marginalized and indigent populations in Tunisia.
- IBJ’s Tunisia Criminal Defence Practice Manual:
- DefenseWiki – references, legal codes, and assessments
Rights Awareness Campaign:
IBJ launched the Rights Awareness Campaign alongside the inaugural training for defenders at the Ramada Plaza in Grammarth, Tunis. This event allowed IBJ to engage with key implementing partners that reaffirmed their commitment to engaging in and amplifying IBJ’s Rights Awareness initiatives. The Rights Awareness Campaign represented a pivotal milestone in the project, successfully increasing legal rights discourse in Tunisia and consolidating 19 key legal rights through radio outreach. This campaign went beyond just raising awareness; it serves to dismantle barriers and challenge the status quo that have long hindered individuals from knowing, understanding, and asserting their legal rights.
Timeline:
September – October 2023 : Training session n.1 for lawyers
36 lawyers were trained in a three-day intensive training program.
November 2023 – January 2024:
3 Follow-up Training Sessions for Lawyers were held
September 29 2023 :
The Radio Rights Awareness Campaign successfully launched in Tunis, reaching an estimate of 30,132 and 90,384 people via radio and 854,819 via social media.
April 2024:
The JusticeHub App was developed and ready for case management use.
IBJ’s Approach:
Through our strategic partnerships and development of innovative resources and services, our project continues to expand access to legal protection for vulnerable accused individuals in Tunisia, even beyond its completion. With the joint efforts of our partners, we are strengthening IBJ’s rights awareness campaigns to, in turn, ensure all individuals are informed of their basic legal rights and have access to skilled legal representation in criminal cases–a key step toward achieving justice for all.
Our program plays an essential role in reshaping Tunisia’s legal landscape, particularly by promoting gender inclusivity and empowering marginalized communities within the legal profession. By providing lawyers with the essential tools to enhance their legal defense skills, we have fostered a new generation of legal professionals who are both highly competent in their practice and committed to representing the communities they serve. This progress has contributed to redefining the lawyer-client relationship, emphasizing that criminal defense is not a privilege but a fundamental right–one that must be accessible to all, especially the most vulnerable.
Partners & Support:
- Tunisia Bar Association (ONAT)
- Young Lawyers Association (ATJA)
- Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES)
- National Center for State Courts (NCSC)
The diverse partners, who affirmed their buy-in and support for the Rights Awareness Campaign, include:
- Organisation Nationale des Avocats de Tunisie
- Association Tunisienne des Jeunes Avocats
- United Nations Development Programme
- Forum Tunisien pour les Droits Économiques et Sociaux
- National Center for State Courts Tunisia Office
- Institut Arabe des droits de l’Homme
- Ligue Tunisienne des Droits de l’Homme
- Syndicat National des Journalistes Tunisiens
- Association Tunisienne des Femmes Démocrates
- Avocats sans Frontières
What we need:
There are many ways to get involved, to help make a long term difference. Please get in touch.
- Become an IBJ supporter
- Contact us at internationalbridges@ibj.org