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Tunisia considers conscripting women

A bill is being considered in Tunisia which would require both men and women to do military service.

Women are not excluded from joining the armed forces but the country鈥檚 one-year military conscription is in practice reserved for men. Proponents of the bill say it would promote gender equality.

But human rights activist Nawres Douzi says that sexism is a huge problem in many areas of public life - and the bill may not make it through parliament anyway.

"Most of the male MP's are now insulting women, encouraging under-age marriage and verbally and physically abusing women MPs, so I don't think such a parliament will approve such a bill."

(Photo: A woman Tunisian soldier makes a formal salute. Credit: Anadolu Agency)

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