# Chouf Minorities

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{{Short description|Tunisian non-governmental organization}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox organization
 | name          = Chouf Minorities
 | logo          = 
 | type          = NGO
 | purpose       = advocates for the bodily and sexual integrity for women
 | region_served = [Tunisia](/source/Tunisia)
 | founded       = {{start date|2012}}
 | headquarters  = [Tunis](/source/Tunis)
}}
'''Chouf Minorities''', also known as '''Chouf''' ([Arabic](/source/Arabic): جمعية شوف), is a [Tunisia](/source/Tunisia)n [non-governmental organization](/source/non-governmental_organization) that advocates for the personal rights of Tunisian people who identify as women and of the LBT (lesbian, [bisexual](/source/Bisexuality) and [trans](/source/Transgender)) community in general.

== Foundation and goals ==
The organisation was first created in 2012<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nswp.org/timeline/event/chouf-minorities-formed-tunisia|title=Chouf Minorities is formed in Tunisia|last=|first=|date=|website=Global Network of Sex Work Projects|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151101184928/http://www.nswp.org/timeline/event/chouf-minorities-formed-tunisia |archive-date=1 November 2015 |access-date=}}</ref> and registered abroad in 2013 "because it was impossible to register in Tunisia as an NGO advocating for LGBT+ rights".<ref>{{cite web|title=Homosexualité : la bataille au grand jour|url=https://inkyfada.com/fr/2015/05/17/homosexualite-bataille-au-grand-jour-tunisie/|author=Sana Sbouai|website=inkyfada.com|language=fr|date=17 May 2015|access-date=23 March 2019}}</ref> It was officially recognized in the country in 2015.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

The organisation defines itself as a collective of activists that use audiovisual tools to give Tunisian female identifying people, and most specifically [WSW women](/source/Women_who_have_sex_with_women), to have a space for speaking and contributing. It has a non-hierarchical and feminist structure.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chouf Minorities|url=http://jamaity.org/association/chouf-minorities/|website=jamaity.org|date=7 January 2016 |language=fr|access-date=23 March 2019}}</ref>

== Activities ==

=== Advocacy and mobilization ===
Engaged in the advocacy for [women's rights](/source/women's_rights) and that of the [LGBT community](/source/LGBT_rights_in_Tunisia), the organisation participated in the drafting of the report of the Tunisian [Individual Freedoms and Equality Committee](/source/Individual_Freedoms_and_Equality_Committee_(Tunisia)) (Colibe) along with other Tunisian organisations.<ref name="fidh">{{cite web|title=Le rapport de la Commission des libertés individuelles et de l'égalité : un pas important pour la promotion des libertés individuelles et de l'égalité|url=https://www.fidh.org/fr/le-rapport-de-la-commission-des-libertes-individuelles-et-de-l|website=fidh.org|language=fr|date=14 June 2018|access-date=23 March 2019}}</ref>

Chouf Minorities is conducting an in depth study, in partnership with Mawjoudin and Damj, on the systematic violations of the rights of LGBTQI + people in Tunisia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sxpolitics.org/study-on-violence-against-lgbtq-individuals/18425|title=Study on violence against LGBTQ individuals in Tunisia|last=|first=|date=15 May 2018|website=sxpolitics.org|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323120201/https://sxpolitics.org/study-on-violence-against-lgbtq-individuals/18425 |archive-date=23 March 2019 |access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.damj.co/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Rapport-UPR-LGBTQI-Tunisie.pdf|title=Rapport UPR LGBTQI Tunisie|website=damj.co|language=fr|access-date=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323160621/https://www.damj.co/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Rapport-UPR-LGBTQI-Tunisie.pdf|archive-date=23 March 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In an open letter co-signed with several organizations and grouped under the name ''Collective for individual freedoms'', the organisation urged directly [President of Tunisia](/source/President_of_Tunisia) to ensure personal rights for people during [Ramadan](/source/Ramadan).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://adlitn.org/ar/node/597|title=Lettre ouverte à l'attention de M. Béji Caïd Essebsi, président de la République tunisienne|last=|first=|date=|website=adlitn.org|language=fr|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323120209/http://adlitn.org/ar/node/597 |archive-date=23 March 2019 |access-date=}}</ref> On 17 May 2018, on the occasion of the [International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia](/source/International_Day_Against_Homophobia%2C_Transphobia_and_Biphobia), the collective called for the end of the use of anal tests and for the [decriminalisation](/source/Decriminalization) of homosexuality.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://omct-tunisie.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/17-mai-2018-Journ%C3%A9e-mondiale-de-lutte-contre-lhomphobie_FR.pdf|title=Journée mondiale de lutte contre l'homophobie et la transphobie|last=|first=|date=|website=omct-tunisie.org|language=fr|access-date=}}</ref> At the end of the report produced by COLIBE, the collective took a public stance for the abrogation of the capital punishment, of the articles 230, 231 and 236 of the penal code.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fidh.org/fr/le-rapport-de-la-commission-des-libertes-individuelles-et-de-l|title=Le rapport de la Commission des libertés individuelles et de l'égalité : un pas important pour la promotion des libertés individuelles et de l'égalité|last=|first=|date=|website=fidh.org|language=fr|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323120201/https://www.fidh.org/fr/le-rapport-de-la-commission-des-libertes-individuelles-et-de-l |archive-date=23 March 2019 |access-date=}}</ref>

The NGO is also known for its deep engagement in the campaigns against [AIDS](/source/HIV%2FAIDS).<ref>{{Cite web|date=August 6, 2019|title=Global HIV/AIDS Organizations|url=https://www.hiv.gov/federal-response/pepfar-global-aids/global-hiv-aids-organizations|access-date=2020-12-03|website=HIV.gov|language=en}}</ref>

Chouf Minorities, in partnership with the organisation Chaml, organised an awareness and advocacy campaign denouncing [street harassment](/source/street_harassment)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nawaat.org/portail/2015/11/18/harcelement-sexuel-un-jour-un-combat/|title=Harcèlement sexuel : un jour… un combat|last=|first=|date=18 November 2015|website=nawaat.org|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122084931/http://nawaat.org:80/portail/2015/11/18/harcelement-sexuel-un-jour-un-combat/ |archive-date=22 November 2015 |access-date=}}</ref> with a video mobilising sixty Tunisian women, including some public figures (such as [Lina Ben Mhenni](/source/Lina_Ben_Mhenni), Amina Chebli and [Bochra Belhaj Hmida](/source/Bochra_Belhaj_Hmida)).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.diversite-europe.eu/fr/news/60-tunisiennes-racontent-leur-harcelement-de-rue-en-video|title=60 Tunisiennes racontent leur harcèlement de rue en vidéo|last=|first=|date=24 March 2016|website=diversite-europe.eu|language=fr|access-date=}}</ref> Chouf also participates in a campaign against the [stereotype](/source/stereotype)s around [bisexuality](/source/bisexuality) with other organisations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpostmaghreb.com/2016/03/04/tunisie-stereotypes-bixse_n_9384060.html|title=Tunisie : un spot pour démentir les stéréotypes sur les bisexuels|last=|first=|date=|website=huffpostmaghreb.com|language=fr|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305100349/http://www.huffpostmaghreb.com/2016/03/04/tunisie-stereotypes-bixse_n_9384060.html |archive-date=5 March 2016 |access-date=}}</ref>

=== Chouftouhonna Festival ===
Every year, the Chouf minorities association organises a [feminist](/source/Feminism) art festival in [Tunis](/source/Tunis), called [Chouftouhonna](/source/Chouftouhonna_Festival). The festival allows for a space for artistic expression for women to claim their rights through a multidisciplinary program.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.leconomistemaghrebin.com/2018/08/27/chouftouhonna-le-festival-des-femmes-artistes-se-tiendra-en-septembre/|title=Chouftouhonna : le festival des femmes artistes se tiendra en septembre|last=|first=|date=27 August 2018|website=leconomistemaghrebin.com|language=fr|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827194756/https://www.leconomistemaghrebin.com/2018/08/27/chouftouhonna-le-festival-des-femmes-artistes-se-tiendra-en-septembre/ |archive-date=27 August 2018 |access-date=}}</ref> For its 4th edition, in September 2018, Chouf Minorities invited more than 150 female artists to the [National Theatre of Tunisia](/source/National_Theatre_of_Tunisia), in the [Medina of Tunis](/source/Medina_of_Tunis).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://kapitalis.com/tunisie/2018/08/25/chouftouhonna-le-festival-dart-feministe-de-tunis-est-a-sa-4e-edition/|title=Chouftouhonna, le festival d'art féministe de Tunis est à sa 4e édition|last=|first=|date=25 August 2018|website=kapitalis.com|language=fr|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827032558/http://kapitalis.com:80/tunisie/2018/08/25/chouftouhonna-le-festival-dart-feministe-de-tunis-est-a-sa-4e-edition/ |archive-date=27 August 2018 |access-date=}}</ref>

=== Self defence courses ===
Chouf Minorities offers feminist [self-defense](/source/self-defense) courses. The certified [martial arts](/source/martial_arts) coach conducts these workshops every week in downtown Tunis. This activity aims to enable women victims of violence not to be powerless in the face of assaults.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://kapitalis.com/tunisie/2015/12/14/self-defense-des-cours-gratuits-pour-les-tunisiennes/|title=Self défense : des cours gratuits pour les Tunisiennes|last=|first=|date=14 December 2015|website=kapitalis.com|language=fr|access-date=}}</ref>

== References ==
<references />

{{Africa topic|LGBT rights in}}
{{Africa topic|Women in|titlestyle=background:#FFCBDB}}

Category:Lesbian culture in Africa
Category:Lesbian feminist organizations
Category:LGBTQ organisations based in Tunisia
Category:Feminist organisations in Tunisia
Category:2012 in LGBTQ history
Category:2012 establishments in Tunisia

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Chouf Minorities](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chouf_Minorities) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chouf_Minorities?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.