Tunis Events Calendar: Week of March 9-15, 2020

An illustration of activist Lina Ben Mhenni commemorating the 40th day after her death resulting from chronic health issues.

Every Monday, Meshkal compiles a calendar of political, cultural, and economic events taking place in Tunis for the week. No events included appear to require an entry fee EXCEPT for the book presentation of the former finance minister on Wednesday at ATUGE. Some events are announced during the week and so may not be included at the time the events calendar is published.

Monday, March 9:

9:30 – Parliament’s Committee on Elections is scheduled to open candidate applications for the renewal of half of the members of the National Anti-Torture Authority, according to Marsad Majles, the parliamentary watchdog project of NGO Al Bawsala.

13:30 – Parliament’s Committee on Administrative Reform, Good Governance, Anti-Corruption and Oversight of Public Finance Management is holding a hearing with the director of customs, according to Marsad Majles, the parliamentary watchdog project of NGO Al Bawsala.

14:00 – Parliament’s Committee on the Affairs of Disabled Persons and Marginalized Groups is scheduled to hold a meeting on its work schedule, according to Marsad Majles, the parliamentary watchdog project of NGO Al Bawsala.

14:30 – Parliament’s Committee on Tunisia Diaspora Affairs is holding a meeting on bilateral and multilateral agreements, according to Marsad Majles, the parliamentary watchdog project of NGO Al Bawsala.

??:?? – Hearing in the military trial of lawyer Abderraouf Ayadi. Human rights activists tell Meshkal he is being tried for insulting a public official. A campaign has been launched to support him and call for an end to military trials for civilians.

Tuesday, March 10:

9:00 – Workshop on the protection of Sebkhet Sijoumi and its biodiversity. Location: Hotel Mechtel, Tunis.

9:00 – Parliament is schedule to hold a plenary (full) session to assess draft law No11/2020 relating to a loan signed by the Ministry of Finance and local banks and draft law No77/2019 on approving an African intellectual property statute signed in Addis Ababa on January 31, 2016, according to Marsad Majles, the parliamentary watchdog project of NGO Al Bawsala.

9:00 – Parliament’s Committee on Elections is scheduled to open candidate applications for the renewal of half of the members of the National Anti-Torture Authority, according to Marsad Majles, the parliamentary watchdog project of NGO Al Bawsala.

Wednesday, March 11:

9:00 – Day one of a three-day international colloquium on the topic of “Forms of Resistance and Social Critique in the Arab World Post-2011.” Location: Faculté des sciences humaines et sociales de Tunis, Boulevard 9 Avril, 1938.

9:00 – Parliament’s Committee for the Organization of the Administration and Armed Forces Affairs is scheduled to hold a meeting on draft law No73/2019 regarding the transfer of goods over land borders, according to Marsad Majles, the parliamentary watchdog project of NGO Al Bawsala.

9:00 – Parliament’s Committee on the Rules of Procedure, Immunity, Electoral Laws and Parliamentary Laws is scheduled to hold a meeting on amendments to the rules of procedure, according to Marsad Majles, the parliamentary watchdog project of NGO Al Bawsala.

9:30 – Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture, Food Security, Trade and Related Services is scheduled to hold a hearing with the chambers of commerce UTICA and CONECT on draft law No79/2019 on the social solidarity economy, according to Marsad Majles, the parliamentary watchdog project of NGO Al Bawsala.

9:30 – Parliament’s General Legislation Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing with the UGTT, the National Order of Lawyers, the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT), the Association of Tunisian Judges, and the Syndicate of Tunisian Judges on draft law No25/2015 on Prosecution of Abuses Against Armed Forces, according to Marsad Majles, the parliamentary watchdog project of NGO Al Bawsala. The draft law has been condemned by several human rights groups and activists.

18:30 – Former Finance Minister and Prime Ministerial hopeful Hakim Ben Hammouda is presenting his new book entitled “Social Democracy or Conservative Revolution? Tunisia After the 2019 Elections.” Event is being hosted by ATUGE, the alumni association of the grandes écoles. There is an entry fee of 10 dinars and registration is requested in advance. Location: ATUGE.

Thursday, March 12:

9:00 – Day two of a three-day international colloquium on the topic of “Forms of Resistance and Social Critique in the Arab World Post-2011.” Location: Faculté des sciences humaines et sociales de Tunis, Boulevard 9 Avril, 1938.

9:00 – Parliament’s Committee on the Rules of Procedure, Immunity, Electoral Laws and Parliamentary Laws is scheduled to hold a meeting on amendments to the rules of procedure, according to Marsad Majles, the parliamentary watchdog project of NGO Al Bawsala.

9:00 – Parliament’s Committee on Finance, Planning and Development is scheduled to hold a hearing with the Minister of Finance and the governor of the Central Bank on draft law No39/2017 on excessive interests rates, according to Marsad Majles, the parliamentary watchdog project of NGO Al Bawsala.

9:30 – Parliament’s General Legislation Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing with representatives from civil society on draft law No25/2015 on Prosecution of Abuses Against Armed Forces, according to Marsad Majles, the parliamentary watchdog project of NGO Al Bawsala. The draft law has been condemned by several human rights groups and activists.

10:00 – Parliament’s Committee on Youth and Cultural Affairs, Education and Scientific Research is scheduled to assess documents transferred to the committee, according to Marsad Majles, the parliamentary watchdog project of NGO Al Bawsala.

Friday, March 13:

9:00 – Day three of a three-day international colloquium on the topic of “Forms of Resistance and Social Critique in the Arab World Post-2011.” Location: Faculté des sciences humaines et sociales de Tunis, Boulevard 9 Avril, 1938.

9:00 – The Higher Judicial Council is hosting a forum, with the support of the Friedrich-Ebert Foundation Tunisia chapter, on the its role and the challenges to an independent judiciary. Registration was required in advance by March 6. Location: Hotel Laico.

9:00 – Forum debate on moving towards a new model of local and regional development in Tunisia hosted by the Jasmine Foundation for Research and Communication and the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) at the Hotel Golden Tulip El Mechtel, Tunis.

10:00 – Parliament’s General Legislation Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing with the Justice, Defense, and Interior ministers on draft law No25/2015 on Prosecution of Abuses Against Armed Forces, according to Marsad Majles, the parliamentary watchdog project of NGO Al Bawsala. The draft law has been condemned by several human rights groups and activists.

17:00 – A ceremony is being held in honor of deceased activist Lina Ben Mhenni. The event is being organized by her family and friends in commemoration of the 40th day since her passing. Location: Culture City

Saturday, March 14:

14:00 – A climate strike is being organized by Youth For Climate Tunisia. Location: Bab Bhar.

15:00 – Tarek Bakri will give a presentation on his visual documentation project entitled “We Were and We Still Are Here,” connecting Palestinian diaspora to their land. The event is taking place as part of the “Week of Resistance to Zionist Colonialism and Apartheid,” running from March 9-14. Location: Ibn Rachiq Culture House.

15:00 – A discussion on the “Tunisian left, Between Theoretical and Experience,” hosted by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (associated with the right-wing Christian Democratic party in Germany) is being held. Two other local associations are also hosting the discussion, including one called The Tunisian Girl Association and another called Readers without Borders. Location: Espace Carmen, near Ministry of Higher Education.

18:00 – Opening of the Tunisia Environmental Film Festival, which runs from March 14-20. The first film screening will be of “The Great Green Wall” by Jared P. Scott. Location: Culture City.

Sunday, March 15:

14:00 – Day two of the Tunisia Environmental Film Festival, which runs from March 14-20. Screening will be “Our Planet” by BBC. Location: Culture City