Domestic violence rates soar across Tunisian households

Tunisia has recorded an alarming rise in domestic violence, with reports increasing by 70 per cent in the first half of 2024, up from previous years’ rates of 51 to 58 per cent, officials announced yesterday.

National Guard spokesman Hossam Eddine Jebabli revealed that specialised police units have processed 60,000 judicial reports of family violence this year. Speaking at a conference on violence prevention, he noted that 80 per cent of child abuse incidents occur within family settings.

“The figures we’re witnessing are unprecedented,” Jebabli said during the National Guard’s study event examining anti-violence measures.

Authorities have deployed 128 specialised investigation teams nationwide, with 58 units under National Guard operation and 70 managed by National Security.

Cases of elder abuse within families have nearly doubled, rising to 3.8 per cent from 2 per cent in 2022.

The Interior Ministry has initiated a cross-departmental response, working alongside the ministries of Women, Health, Justice, and Social Affairs, in partnership with civil society organisations.

Social scientists attribute the surge in domestic violence to mounting economic pressures facing Tunisian families amidst the country’s financial challenges.