Works of 6th LTDH congress open

Under the motto of "Vigilance to Ensure Success of Democratic Transition ," the 6th congress of the Tunisian League for the Defence of Human Rights (LTDH) started its works on Friday afternoon , after eleven years of ban and repression imposed on it by the ancien regime. "The congress of LTDH is held in an exceptional context following the Revolution that emancipated the country from dictatorship and oppression and allowed the League to open up a new chapter in its history," said Chairman of the LTDH Mokhtar Trifi at the opening of the congress, in the presence of Caretaker prime Minister Béji Caid Essebsi. The 6th congress of the LTDH is held after a ban of more than a decade. The last congress of LTDH dates back to 2000. The LTDH was prevented twice from holding its congress during the last ten years, blocked by legal decision, "which were actually political decisions," said the outgoing chairman of LTDH. The Ben Ali regime exerted a severe oppression on the people, hence the need to work to defend citizens' rights with speed and efficiency, added Mr. Trifi. He also said that one of the major gains of today's Tunisia is gender equality. It is out of question, he argued, to waive the rights gained in this area, calling on the interim government to lift Tunisia's reserves on the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and abolish the death penalty which, he said, is no longer justified in Tunisia, especially since the last execution dates back to 1993. The League, he said, claims today an independent justice that fully assumes its role, away from any political  interference and financial or media pressure. Among the priorities of the LTDH, he added, there is the need to contribute to the success of the democratic transition process. He reminded that the LTDH contributes, as part of a coalition with civil society, to the establishment of a national observatory of elections to be tasked with the training of 6,000 observers for the forthcoming election of the Constituent Assembly. Mr. Trifi also emphasised the importance of rehabilitating the security institution so that its interventions be made in respect of citizens' rights and their physical integrity. "We would not accept that such persons benefit of impunity, whatever their responsibilities or their positions may be." Caretaker Prime Minister Béji Caïd Essebsi underlined that the LTDH, a great national gain, "was able to hold its congress thanks to the sacrifices of many activists." Reviewing the decisions of the Interim Government in the last six months, he particularly mentioned the general amnesty. Measures are being implemented to indemnify victims of violations of human rights in Tunisia, he said. The government also lifted some restrictions issued by Tunisia on international protocols and conventions related to human rights, Mr. Caid Essebsi also said. Friday's Cabinet meeting approved two decree-laws authorising the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to open an office in Tunis. It also approved the two decree-laws organising political parties and associations, the prime minister also reminded. "Justice in Tunisia is now independent and it is no longer subject to any interference from the government or the Justice Ministry," he underlined. Mr. Caid Essebsi said that the mission of the interim government will come to end on October 23, on the date of the Constituent Assembly election to be supervised by an independent authority. For the first time in its history, the congress of the LTDH opens, in the presence of a prime minister of the various governments in Tunisia. The opening session was attended, in particular, by government members, ambassadors accredited in Tunis, representatives of national organisations and political parties, as well as of several Arab, regional and international human rights NGOs and networks.