Tunisia

Compared to other countries in the region, Tunisia harbors internal cohesion, social achievements, and social equity. The government also has set aside a budget for expenditures on social policies. The level of these expenditures has remained high even in years of less stability. The enhancement and continuation of these expenditures are becoming more important now that recent statistics show that 80% of the country's population is middle class and that 64% of the country's population is under 35 years of age. These demographics will need the continuance of strong government expenditures to continue thriving.

The government will need to find a way to battle poverty. Recent statistics show that 14% of the population is unemployed. If unemployment remains high for years to come there will be negative effects on the population including social tensions and deterioration of economic and social status. The government needs to deepen its partnership with the EU and become more integrated in the world market. Opportunities for its citizens will then increase. Better jobs for higher-skill workers will be generated, and at the same time less skilled workers will encounter greater difficulties in finding and retaining jobs.

Poverty in Tunisia is centered around rural areas. Recent statistics show rural poverty at 13.9% compared to the 3.9% of urban areas. Rural areas hold less than 40% of the population and account for 70% of the countries poor. The government needs to find a way to equalize these disparaging numbers. The main issue keeping rural areas poor is its vulnerability to nature. Droughts in the region have a heavy impact on rural villagers who depend on agriculture for wages and food. The droughts of the early 90's increased poverty in rural areas by 60,000 individuals.

Lack of education is also a leading cause of poverty. Over 60% of poor households have a head of the household with no formal education, compared to about 40% for non-poor households. Poor rural households engaged in production activities typically have access to land, but their land holdings are small, rarely irrigated, and often exhibit low productivity, especially in rain-fed areas. The urban poor are mostly wage earners in low-skill occupations. They face thin job prospects as employment opportunities have been shifting toward higher skills while, owing to high dropout rates from the primary school system, the ranks of the unskilled working age population have grown.

The greatest human rights offenses involve political prisoners and detainees charged with terrorism or political crimes. A new law was enacted in December on combating "terrorism" which raised concern throughout the region about human rights. Torture continues to be reported and hundreds of political prisoners, including prisoners of conscience remain in prison. Alleged and real political opponents of the government continue to face unfair trials, resulting in long an inhumane prison sentences. The Tunisian judiciary completely lacks independence. Judges oftentimes ignore torture allegations and procedural irregularities, convicting defendants predominantly on the basis of confessions secured under duress and unfair conditions. For example, a Tunis court on April 6, 2004, sentenced six men from Zarzis in the south of the country to nineteen-year prison terms for plotting terrorist attacks. The defendants claimed they had been tortured into confessing and into implicating each other and that the police had falsified the place and date of their arrest. The judge refused to investigate these allegations, even though these "confessions" constituted the main piece of evidence in the file. On July 6, an appeals court reduced the sentences to thirteen impacts.

Those prisoners who are released are denied privacy rights and are subjected to administrative control limiting their freedom of movement and right to work. While the government recommends improvements in prisons and detention centers, solitary confinement and a denial of medical care continue to be reported.

Tunisia is still lacking a fully egalitarian society, particularly regarding women. The government did not sign a recent protocol to the UN Women's Convention and only signed with reservations the UN Women's Convention highlighting rights of women that need to be realized.

The nation had a quick response to HIV as soon as first cases of infection were reported in 1985. The responses included the establishment of a national multisectoral committee for AIDS prevention and control in 1987. A more recent plan was developed in 2005 to include more participation of the civil society and the private sector. The same framework will be used in a plan that will take effect up to 2010. The responses impact the currently 8700 people living with aids. 8600 of those people are aged 15 and over, 1900 of which are women. The country estimates less than 200 deaths caused by aids and HIV.

The national response is essentially funded by the State, which in particular provides universal coverage of antiretrovirals free of charge. The contribution from donors is limited and mostly directed towards preventive activities and non governmental organizations.

The countries main challenges for the future include being accepted in the Global Fund and grant assistance programs that help treat HIV and AIDS patients. In addition education and surveillance methods need to be created in order to stabilize HIV and AIDS and ensure decline.
Other diseases found commonly in Tunisia include malaria, bilharzia, plague, sandfly and dengue fevers and hookworm.

Tunisia's environment is in need of aid. Erosion and the degradation of range and forest lands because of overgrazing or over cutting of timber for fuel are major concerns. Erosion threatens 76% of the nation's land area. Adding to these issues is the overcrowding and poor sanitation in urban centers which also cause environmental problems. Pollution from industry and farming activities threatens the nation's limited water supply. Only 58% of the people living in rural areas have pure drinking water. The nation's cities produce about 0.9 million tons of solid waste which is not properly disposed of. Inadequate disposal of toxic and hazardous wastes poses health risks.

The animal population is also in danger. Recent statistics show that 11 of the nation's mammal species and 6 bird species are endangered. Six types of plants are also endangered. Endangered species in Tunisia include the Barbary hyena, Barbary leopard, two species of gazelle (Cuvier's and slender-horned), the Mediterranean monk seal, oryx, and Mococcan dorcas gazelle. The Bubal hartebeest has become extinct. The A World Wildlife Fund project succeeded in rescuing the Atlas deer from near extinction.

On becoming independent in 1956, Tunisia inherited a small but efficient educational system based on French and, to a lesser extent, Islamic influence. In 1958, the government nationalized most of the existing facilities. The remaining private institutions were subject to government regulation.

Also in 1958 the government began a comprehensive plan for educational development to achieve universal, free, compulsory primary education and a significant expansion of the secondary school system. Arabic is the language of instruction in early primary grades but is later replaced by French. The University of Tunis was founded on March 31, 1960 and is among 6 universities in the nation.

The illiteracy rates are extremely unequal and show a social problem involving male and female education levels. Recent illiteracy rates show 18.6% for males and 39.9% for females. That is no where close to equal and much of the disparagement arises from the way the conservative population views women as belonging in the domestic sphere. Recent statistics show public expenditure on education was estimated at 7.6% of GDP.

Hunger Free World - International Cooperation, Development Issues International Awareness, Cultural Exchange, Environmental issues, Peace and Pacific Conflict Resolution

Federation de Tunis de Solidarite de Sociale - Economic and social promotion of unpriviliged social categories and especialy wemen and youth living in urban aeras of Tunis, Capital of Tunisia Promotion od the sustainable development in poor urban areas. Financial and material assistance to unsupported categories ( elder people, single mothers, disabled people etc..)

Action Feminine pour le Developpment Durable - Civil society women'S rights devlopment.

African Development Bank - The African Development Bank is the leading development finance institution on the African continent and the key development partner for its 53 Regional Member Countries. It is also a leader and partner in major sub-regional and continent-wide initiatives such as the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), the Infrastructure Consortium for Africa, and the African Water Facility. The Bank is currently implementing a transformation program with the overarching goal of enhancing its development impact and delivering improved results for its client countries. The transformation aims at building a high performance institution with greater operational effectiveness and efficiency and with a stronger focus on the key development challenges faced by its regional member countries, while creating a supportive environment that empowers its staff. It also aims at making the Bank a center of reference on African development issues.

APNEK - Contributing in sustainable development through - advocacy; - idea, experience and visit exchange; and - field projects.

Volunteers For Peace - VFP offers over 2400 affordable short-term voluntary service projects in 90 different countries. These programs are an opportunity to complete meaningful community service while living and interacting in an international environment. Participants live and work with an international group for 2-3 weeks, providing a diverse cultural exchange with the other volunteers as well as the local hosts. Most workcamps are limited to age 18 and over with over 250 programs available for volunteers under age 18, mostly in France and Germany.