ILAC co-organized a conference on the perspectives on freedom of expression in Sweden and Tunisia after the Revolution at the Faculty of Juridical, Political and Social Sciences of Tunis last week. The event was part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Swedish Press Act, the world´s first legislation on freedom of expression and information.
The Ambassador of Sweden in Tunisia, the State Secretary to the Minister for Justice and Migration of Sweden, the Tunisian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and local renowned law academics attended the conference.
Freedom of expression is one of the achievements in the transition to democracy in Tunisia, where ILAC has been active since 2011 on a variety of programs aimed at rebuilding the justice system.
Mr Frédrik Florén, Ambassador of Sweden in Tunisia, reminded that “the universal human right to speak one´s mind is under a growing threat in the world. Swedish embassies cannot celebrate the oldest law on freedom of expression everywhere in the world, but we can do that here in Tunisia”.
The debate was an important occasion for ILAC and Sweden to express the will to continue supporting the Tunisian justice system during the democratic transition.