Geneva, 7 March 2025
Press release in French, Arabic, English (pdf format)
As part of the ongoing cooperation with United Nations human rights protection mechanisms and on the occasion of the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (February 24 – April 4, 2025), a delegation composed of national and international Tunisian civil society organizations visited Geneva from March 4 to 7, 2025. Working meetings were held with experts from the special procedures of the Human Rights Council, representatives of member states, and representatives of governmental and non-governmental international organizations.
The delegation sought an audience with the Tunisian Permanent Mission in Geneva but, unfortunately, received no response.
On 6 March 2025, the Tunisian civil society delegation was received at the Wilson Palace by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Volker Türk. Discussions with the High Commissioner centered on the alarming human rights situation in Tunisia and the need for sustained cooperation and dialogue between Tunisian authorities and UN human rights protection mechanisms, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The delegation emphasized the importance of concrete measures to improve Tunisia’s human rights record, particularly by safeguarding freedom of expression and association, ensuring judicial independence and fair trial guarantees, combating impunity, securing the release of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, reinstating the transitional justice process, and implementing the recommendations outlined in the Truth and Dignity Commission’s (IVD) report.
The delegation concluded its visit by participating in a side event held on 6 March 2025 at the Palace of Nations on the occasion of the 58th session of the Human Rights Council, titled “The Weaponization of the Judiciary in Tunisia.”
During this event, the audience—comprising a significant number of country delegates, media representatives, and NGOs—had the opportunity to hear from the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Ms. Margaret Satterthwaite, who addressed the state of justice in Tunisia, the executive’s interference in the judiciary, and the pressures exerted on judges and lawyers, particularly on the Association of Tunisian Magistrates (AMT) and its President, Mr. Anas Hmaidi. Ms. Satterthwaite also welcomed the release of the President of the Truth and Dignity Commission (IVD), Ms. Sihem Ben Sedrine, while calling on the Tunisian authorities to uphold their international human rights commitments and ensure the independence of the judiciary.
