On this page, you will find:
To find organisations working for LGBTQI+ rights, visit our Tunisia LGBTQI+ Resources page.
For Tunisia country of origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents visit our Tunisia COI page.
Refugee protection
Click here to see the numbers and origins of refugees hosted by Tunisia.
The following sections contain information on the most important international treaties and agreements of which Tunisia is signatory, as well as national legislation relevant to the protection of refugees.
Tunisia acceded to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees in 1957 and its 1967 Protocol in 1968. Tunisia acceded to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons in 1969 and to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness in 2000. Tunisia also ratified the 1969 OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa in 1989.
In spite of having acceded to the abovementioned Conventions, Tunisia does not yet have a domestic legal framework governing asylum and refugee issues. Hence, refugees in Tunisia do not enjoy legal protection. Consequently, refugee status determination (RSD) is still conducted by UNHCR under its mandate. Following the change of regime in 2011, the newly established Tunisian authorities decided to look into the possibility of adopting a national law on asylum with a view to take responsibility for granting refugee status and providing protection. Moreover, on 18 June 2011, UNHCR signed a Cooperation Agreement with the Tunisian Government, fully recognizing the role and mandate of UNHCR in Tunisia.
In 2014, impelled by the context of democratic transition, Tunisia adopted a new constitution which recognizes the right to political asylum in Article 25. This took place alongside a project of law on asylum in Tunisia. It was reworked until 2018, but since then nothing has happened. In compliance with international standards, the adoption of this law would permit expulsion or deportation (called ‘return’) to Tunisia including Tunisians but also citizens from third countries. Widely mobilized, the civil society is calling for the establishment of an effective asylum system. (Source)
Legal aid organisations
KAIROUANE
Address: Rue 20 Mars – 3100 Kairouan
Tel: +216 29 80 94 05
Email : section.kairouan@atfd-tunisie.org
SFAX
Address: Rue Mohamed Ali Khfach, Immeuble Présidence « Elkornich » 2éme étage, app Num 21, Sfax
Tel : +216 74 29 66 21 or +216 28 17 59 50
Email : section.sfax@atfd-tunisie.org
SOUSSE
Address: 4 Rue Doc kalimat, 4éme étage D2, 4000 Sousse
Tel: +216 73 20 22 27 or +216 23 89 55 88
Fax: 73 202 227
Email : section.sousse@atfd-tunisie.org
TUNIS
Address: 112 avenue de la liberté, 1éme étage – Tunis
Tel: +216 71 89 00 11 or +216 27 23 36 88
The Association Tunisienne des Femmes Démocrates is an independent activist women’s organisation. Its objectives are the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. The ATFD also has four centers across Tunisia that receive and help women victims of violence, whether through moral or legal support. Below are listed the adresses of these centers:
GABES
MEDENINE/ TATAOUINE
Tel: +216 58 57 45 96
SOUSSE
Tel: +216 50 154 770
SFAX
Tel: +216 56 83 62 72
TUNIS
ZARZIS
Tel: +216 56 83 62 71
To start the asylum application, you need to contact the Tunisian Council for Refugees (CTR) via phone or in person at their office in Tunis (open Mondays to Fridays, from 9am to 4.30pm). The CTR will provide an appointment for asylum-seekers to register.
At a later date, once registration has been completed, a Refugee Status Determination interview will take place in the UNHCR offices, by appointment.
The Arab Institute for Human Rights (AIHR) is an independent regional organization established in 1989 and working for promoting human rights in the Arab region. The AIHR aims to promote the culture of human rights and protect vulnerable categories, including refugees and asylum seekers in Tunisia through capacity building and advocacy towards the adoption of national asylum law. In partnership with UNHCR, the AIHR builds the capacities of policy makers and enforces its specialized networks to advocate for the protection of refugee rights. The AIHR also provides refugees and asylum seekers with counselling and legal assistance as well as temporary accommodation for refugees and asylum seekers pending resettlement.
The AIHR also launched an online platform, called Asile (meaning Asylum) with statistics on asylum seekers, as well as research and testimonies from migrants. It also presents the most recent Tunisian legislation concerning asylum, and lists the upcoming conferences and sessions organised by the institute.
Address: The Coliseum, Staircase B- 2nd floor, 43-45, Avenue Habib Bourguida, Tunis 1000, TUNISIA
Tel: +216 71 258 000/ 71 258 001
Email: contact@ltdh.tn; contact@ltdh-tunisie.org; ayachi.hammami@laposte.net
Tunisia-Ligue Tunisienne pour la Défense des Droits de l’Homme is an association founded by Hassib Ben Ammar in 1976 with the goal of observing and defending human rights in Tunisia. Their areas of work include:
- Womens rights
- Migration and Refugees
- Human Rights Education
- Economic and Social Rights
- Justice
- Youth
- Freedom of Association
- Freedom of expression
Fax: +216 71 791 115
SANAD (from the Arabic word, meaning ‘support’) is a pro-bono direct assistance programme for victims of torture, and/or inhuman, cruel or degrading treatment in Tunisia. This programme was put in place as part of OMCT’s mission and has the following objectives:
- Direct assistance (legal, psychological, and medical) to victims and their reintegration in society
- Support for professionals and civil society actors in protecting Human Rights
- Fight against impunity for torturers
SANAD has two centres in Tunisia:
SANAD KEF
Fax:+216 78 225 052
SANAD SFAX
TUNIS
Hotline for legal and social reception: +216 28 88 33 55
Hotline of the development department: +216 28 85 44 58 and +216 28 86 04 30
Hotline for psychological assistance and support: +216 53 01 69 12
SFAX
Terre d’Asile Tunisie is a Tunisian association, founded by France Terre d’Asile in 2012. Terre d’Asile Tunisie aims to promote the rights of migrants, asylum seekers, refugees, unaccompanied minors and victims of human trafficking. Through its centres in Tunis and Sfax, the association provides legal and social assistance to people in migration, whatever their status, nationality, or the reasons for leaving their homes. The staff of Terre d’Asile Tunisie guide and support those in need, through:
- Legal and social assistance,
- Support for micro-projects for asylum seekers and refugees,
- Emergency accommodation system
The association has several other objectives:
- Strengthening the capacities of civil society organizations and Tunisian public institutions in dealing with migration issues,
- Putting migration issues on the agenda of public opinion and institutions,
- The documentation and sharing of knowledge on the reality of the situations experienced and the needs of migrant populations.
To do this, Terre d’Asile Tunisie supports activities for associations, advocacy, and awareness.
Services:
- Legal support and assistance: information, legal advice, mediation, help with administrative procedures, referral to a network of lawyers, referral to partners, etc.
- Support and social assistance: listening, emergency aid, distribution of hygiene kits, help finding accommodation, referral to institutional partners…
- Detection and reporting of potential victims of trafficking
- Identification and documentation of victims of discrimination
- Support and reporting of threatened minors
- Collective information sessions, awareness raising and mobile information points
- Thematic training
Hotline for survivors: +216 97 99 96 95
The Tunisian Institute for the Rehabilitation of survivors of torture (NEBRAS) is a Tunisian non-profit association founded in 2014 and which aims to promote the rehabilitation of survivors of torture through a specialized institute “NEBRAS”. NEBRAS has broadened its mandate to meet a wider demand from beneficiaries and victims of psycho-trauma since 2018.
Alongside the IOM (International Organisation for Migration), NEBRAS has also put in place a project aiming at improving mental health for refugees and migrants by providing psychological support, especially for migrants having gone through traumatic events.
NEBRAS has the following objectives:
- NEBRAS provides rehabilitation services for survivors of torture.
- NEBRAS offers training and awareness sessions on the different aspects of rehabilitation as well as the prevention of torture and ill-treatment to health professionals and other stakeholders in the field of rehabilitation of torture survivors.
- NEBRAS pleads with public bodies to support the rehabilitation of torture survivors.
NORTH : TUNIS TO SOUSSE
Address: Immeuble La Rive – Rue du Lac Biwa – Les Berges du Lac (Lac 1) 1053 Tunis, Tunisia
Tel: +216 71 963 383
Email: tuntuprotection@unhcr.org
SOUTH : ZARZIS TO MEDENINE
Address: Souihel, BP 172. 4173 Sangho, Zarzis
Tel: +216 75 705 027
Email: TUNZAPROTECTION@unhcr.org
SFAX
Address: A6, Rue Ezzahra, Rue El Boustane, Sfax (Kassas Chaaban, Route Mahdia km 1.5)
Tel: +216 56 836 272
Email: TUNZAPROTSFAX@unhcr.org
GABES
Email: TUNZAPROTGABES@unhcr.org
Registration is made at the UNHCR office in Tunis via appointment delivered by the CTR.
For all refugees and asylum-seekers in the Northern Governorates (Kairouan, Kef, Siliana, Bizerte, Beja, Jendouba, Mahdia, Nabeul, Zaghouan, Sousse, Mannouba, Monastir, Ben Arous, Ariana, Tunis): You can contact the UNHCR in Tunis tuntuprotection@unhcr.org
For all refugees and asylum-seekers in the Southern Governorates (Kasserine, Sidi Bouzid, Sfax, Gafsa, Gabès, Tozeur, Kebili, Medènine, Tataouine), registration is made at the UNHCR office via appointment. Depending on your location, you should contact one of the UNHCR offices.
Organisations providing other support to refugees
Fax : +216 71 88 54 45
The Tunisian Association for Management and Social Stability (TAMSS) is a non-profit, non government development organization established in 2006. It contributes to the regional development of Tunisia through the economic, political and social integration of women and young people in strengthening their intellectual, managerial and financial autonomy as well as their active participation as citizens.
In partnership with UNHCR, TAMSS works for the economic and social integration of refugees and asylum seekers in Tunisia through facilitating their access to work and vocational training, for example through the program Seiras (Social and Economic Insertion of Regugees and Asylum Seekers).
Facebook
Address: 23, rue Taieb Mhiri, 4100 MEDÈNINE
Office hours: Monday – Friday: 8:30am – 12pm and 2pm – 5.30pm.
The Red Crescent and the hostel are not yet referenced on Google map but nonetheless well-known in the city. For more information about the Red Crescent in Medenine, you can contact Dr Mongi Slim.
Email: mongi.slim22@gmail.com
Tel : +216 54 066 660 Email: nejla.slim@gmail.com
The Tunisian Red Crescent is a partner of the Tunisian public authorities relating to humanitarian activity throughout the country. The CRT assists with housing, food and health.
Email: atppluscontact14@gmail.com
L’Association Tunisienne de Prévention Positive (ATP+), a non-profit association created in 2014 aims to improve the conditions of a positive life full of equity and dignity. Its mission is to enhance meaningful participation in the HIV response to influence decision-making and policy-making to live with dignity.
Tunisia LGBTQI+ Resources
Find organisations working for refugee LGBTQI+ rights in Tunisia.
Tunisia COI
Find Tunisia Country of Origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents.
We are always looking to expand the resources on our platform. If you know about relevant resources, or you are aware of organisations and/or individuals to include in our directories, please get in touch.
Last updated September 2023