Tunisia - annual report 2013
- Details
- Published: May 21, 2014
General – Conceptual orientation
Conference in Tunis on the International Criminal Court
Legal policy starting point
The ongoing post-revolutionary process in Tunisia remained difficult in 2013, but there were also first signs of hope. The security situation has slowed the restructuring process through two politically-motivated attacks and to some extent warlike clashes with extremist Islamic groups. The adoption of a Constitution was delayed in 2013; it was however possible to bring the process to a conclusion one year later than planned, in January 2014, after two years of discussions, and this was also welcomed by many international players. The continuing political and institutional reform process is taking place against the background of undiminished problems in economic development, which is typified amongst other things, by a high level of youth unemployment. Because of its generally stable security situation, Tunisia was nonetheless able to benefit from a considerable increase in tourism in the summer of 2013. Even if the situation in Tunisia is difficult, there are still sufficient signs that permit one to be optimistic. With a manageable population of approx. 11 million inhabitants and a comparatively high level of education, there is a willingness to enter into dialogue and to make compromises despite all the social and political differences.Cooperation to date
The IRZ's work, which commenced in 2011, was largely unaffected by the political turbulences. On the contrary, it can in fact be said that its development has been excellent. Existing contacts were developed and new partners acquired. Despite the partly turbulent political situation, rule-of-law cooperation was characterised by continuity. The Tunisian Government impressively proved its willingness to be transparent and to reform at a conference that was organised by the IRZ on the reform of the prison system. Speaking in front of approx. 400 participants from the State and from civil society, the President of the constitutional assembly, the Minister of Justice, as well as senior civil servants publicly and critically sized up the condition of the prison system in the presence of Tunisian and international television and press representatives. As a result of the conference, the Tunisian Government established four Reform Commissions which have constantly been carrying out their work since then. Cooperation with the prison authorities has developed to some extent a small and successful tradition through various seminars and mutual study and delegation visits in Tunisia and in Germany since 2011. What was new in 2013 was the cooperation with the Tunisian Chamber of Notaries. In cooperation with the Federal Chamber of Notaries and the German Association of Notaries, the IRZ was able to provide valuable aid in this field in the reform of the Tunisian notariat by means of seminars and study visits to Germany. Central questions on the reform related amongst other things to the structure of notarial service supervision, the relationship with the legal profession as well as requirements in terms of expertise and further training. As a result of the cooperation that had been initiated by the IRZ, the German Chamber of Notaries and the German Notary Association each adopted a bilateral cooperation agreement with the Tunisian Chamber of Notaries. What was also new in 2013 was a project funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with the title "Modern administrative and private law". In the context of a cooperation agreement that had previously been concluded with the Law School of the University of Sousse, German speakers from the judiciary, the legal profession and Academia shared knowledge amongst other things in the field of international commercial law, contract law, fundamental rights, administrative courts as well as constitutional law. This was followed by the opportunity for selected participants to expand their knowledge through an internship in Germany at law firms and academic institutions. The programme will be continued in 2014. The IRZ was also able to show the way forward in international civil law cooperation. In cooperation with the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference, the IRZ organised an event on the improvement of international cooperation in the context of the Hague Convention, attended by representatives of nine Arab states. A follow-up event is planned to take place in Morocco in 2014. The IRZ held a conference in the field of international criminal law, attended by high-ranking representatives, with the objective of promoting the transposition of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court into national Tunisian law.Major partners
- Ministry of Justice
- Prison authorities
- Steering committee of the administrative court
- Board of the Chamber of Notaries
Strategy and method
The need for reform in Tunisia exists regardless of which group forms the government at any particular time. This means that it is one of the principles of the IRZ to work with all counterparts which acknowledge the internationally-recognised principles of the rule of law and democracy. The topical interest of the partners in the government and the judiciary was reflected amongst other things by the constitutional debate in Tunisia. Topics such as the independence of the judiciary and the standing of the public prosecution office, or questions of the formulation of the fundamental right to freedom of assembly, are a few of the legal policy and judicial questions which were discussed at the IRZ's events. The most important principle of the IRZ's consultation work is dialogue on an equal footing. The joint development of reform approaches determines the mutual relationship since Tunisia has a long constitutional law tradition and developed institutions. Both Tunisian and German speakers therefore make equal contributions at all the events. The IRZ only makes offers which are based on actual German and European experience. It is the Tunisian partners who ultimately decide what of this is adopted into Tunisian law, if any.Foci of activity in 2013
German-Arab Forum on judicial reform: Birgit Neumann-Becker, Land Commissioner for the Records of the State Security Service of the former GDR; Prof. Dr. Angela Kolb, Minister of Justice of the Land Saxony-Anhalt; Patrick Schneider, IRZ; Gert Himmler, interpreter (left to right)
Civil and commercial law
- Regional conference with the participation of nine Arab states in cooperation with the Hague Conference on Private International Law, HCCH
- Cooperation with the Tunisian Chamber of Notaries: Launch event in Tunis on selected topics of the German and Tunisian notariat
- Study delegation visit by Tunisian notaries to Germany
- Seminars in Tunis on selected topics related to the law on notaries
- Event in the area of international law concerning parent and child matters in Tunis in cooperation with the International Social Service (ISD, Berlin)
- Event in Tunis on selected topics of commercial and banking law Administration of justice
- Workshop together with participants from Egypt on the topic of "Asset recovery"
Public law
- Two-week colloquium entitled "Modern administrative and private law" in cooperation with the University of Sousse
- Event on the topic of protection of freedom of opinion and of assembly in constitutional and administrative law
Criminal law and the law on the prison system
- International conference on the reform of the prison system with 400 participants in Tunis
- Three seminars in Tunis with German practitioners from the prison system and the judicial administration
- Study delegation visit by Tunisian prison staff to Germany
- Conference in Tunis on the transposition of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court into national law Basic and further training
- Events on educational methods for judges providing training
- Internship in Germany for judges from the civil and criminal courts