The global Forum on Gender Equality was organized in Tunis, on April 24th, 25th and 26th, 2019 and revolves around the goal of ensuring integration and equality and making international commitments, a reality on field.

UNFPA Tunisia participated in Side Events and Panels. In this regard, Dr. Rym Fayala, the Assistant Representative of the UNFPA Tunisia office, served as a panelist in two sessions, one for reproductive rights and the other on the importance of comprehensive sexuality education in the school environment to ensure gender equality.

UNFPA also organized a Side Event on the prevention of violence against girls and women.

The panel organized by UNDP, UNFPA and the Center for Reproductive Rights brought together representatives of civil society, government and UN agencies, to present the best practices on how to guarantee the reproductive rights of women and girls by the power of the law and the strengthening of the provision of services.

Were present at the panel: The Center of the rights of reproduction of Asia (Nepal), the National Office of the family and the population (Tunisia), Initiative "The Women's Alliance, a leader" (Kenya) and the "Center for Reproductive Rights" (Sweden), in addition to the UNFPA Tunisia Office Assistant representative.

The aim was to create a space for dialogue to formulate concrete key recommendations for reproductive rights promotion in order to achieve gender equality and respect for human rights for all.

For UNFPA Tunisia, this panel was an opportunity to recall the advent in 2019 of ICPD @ 25 and the 50th anniversary of UNPFA and to emphasize the importance of pursuing the unfinished business in reproductive rights. Reproductive rights are normative, need to be protected, and not only reduce health problems but are essential for women's empowerment and necessary for the realization of human rights.

UNFPA presented how it supports the implementation of these reproductive rights in countries, through support for legislative reforms by facilitating political dialogue, strengthening the provision of SRH services, especially for the most vulnerable populations and by promoting partnership with civil society and South-South cooperation.

The different countries presented the tools and policies that allow the evolution of reproductive rights from a demographic point of view towards reproductive health and then towards the reinforcement of the quality of the services of the SSR. It was stressed that young people's access to information on SRH requires the redesign of social norms and should be reinforced by the establishment of mechanisms and policies that strengthen the freedom to dispose of one's body.

In addition, the representative of ATHENA said that the fight against VAW, including domestic violence, violence in the public space, feminicide and female genital mutilation, requires a human rights-based approach.

UNFPA Tunisia organized a Side Event on the sidelines of the Forum on April 25, 2019 under the theme "Prevention of violence against girls and women". This event brought together representatives from different ministries, civil society organizations, youth, researchers and the media.

This Side Event reminded the importance of the inclusion of men and boys in the prevention of VAW with the presentation of the key results of the study of social representations of violence against women in men (youth and adults) carried out by the CREDIF and the awareness campaign carried out by the Ministry of Women, Family, Childhood and Seniors, with the support of UNFPA.

It is also an opportunity to demonstrate the importance of integrating Comprehensive Education into Sexuality (CSW) in schools as a means of prevention.

This dialogue has highlighted key recommendations to ensure that prevention is developed with an inclusive and comprehensive approach by all actors with special attention to the issue of preventing violence against women and girls.

UNFPA was present in a panel organized by the Youth Club Tunisia, on April 26, 2019, which aimed to study and promote gender equality through education in Tunisia, to this end the following topics have been developed:

• •The sexism conveyed through textbooks and the wearing of aprons,
• •The role of comprehensive sexuality education in the teaching of gender equality,
• •Gender equality in education: path to economic growth.

In particular, UNFPA spoke about ECS and its role in promoting gender equality, through early awareness of the concept of gender and awareness of the existence of gender stereotypes.. It was also recalled that the ECS integrates the themes related to human rights and life skills that are the pillar of respect for the other, openness, but also good decision-making, negotiation and critical analysis that will help young people to have non-discriminatory attitudes and overcome gender inequity