Landmark Tunisian law aims to protect women from violence

A Tunisian woman holds up a flag during a march to celebrate

International Women's Day in Tunis March 8, 2014

Photo by Zoubeir Souissi/Reuters

Tunisia has been a pioneer for women's rights in the Arab World since 1956, when it approved divorce and outlawed polygamy. Now, it's taken another major step forward with new protections against domestic abuse — outlawing violence against women and enacting new penalties against their abusers. Rothna Begum, who researches women's rights in the Middle East and North Africa for Human Rights Watch, says the law will have important implications for the whole region.