Article byOmar Fassatoui in Anti-Black racism in North Africa, Tumult, n°63, Éditions Kimé15 November 2024

Article summary:

This article explores the judicialisation of racism in Tunisia, highlighting the advances and limitations of Law 50-2018 on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination. Adopted in response to growing pressure at both national and international level, this law aimed to transpose the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination into Tunisian law, an initiative made possible by the post-revolution democratic opening of 2011. The article examines the process of adopting this law, highlighting the challenges encountered in a country where official recognition of racism has long been absent. It qualifies the contribution of a strictly legal approach to the issue of racism, arguing that it is insufficient given the deep-rooted nature of the phenomenon in Tunisian society.
Despite the legislative advances, the effective implementation of Law 50-2018 remains limited, as illustrated by the low number of convictions since its adoption and the failure to set up the structures it provided for, such as the National Commission to Combat Racial Discrimination. Although the law represents a significant step forward in the legal recognition of racism in Tunisia, a more holistic approach, which would include educational, media and social measures, would be more appropriate to effectively combat racism and promote a more inclusive Tunisian society.

Introducing this special issue of Tumult in collaboration with CAREP Paris