Nobel prize winner gives insight into life at Amman conference

AMMAN — Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ouided Bouchamaoui said the best moment in her life was when she heard the Tunisian national anthem played at the Nobel Prize ceremony in 2015.

“I knew then that I was able to shed more light on my country Tunisia,” Bouchamaoui said.

Bouchamaoui inaugurated the discussions of the “Women on the Front Lines Conference — MENA Chapter”, organised by the May Chidiac Foundation in Amman with a fireside talk.

She was interviewed by Ricardo Karam, president of RK Productions and founder of TAKREEM.

Bouchamaoui, who was the former president of the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (TCITH), said that although she was supported by many in TCITH, she decided not to run again for elections.

“I decided to give others the chance to assume the post, and for new blood to take over,” Bouchamaoui said.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner gave the late Tunisian president Habib Bourguiba, all the credit for women’s advancement in her country.

“It all started in 1956 when our former president Bourguiba decided to give women in Tunisia their full rights. I am honoured to belong to Tunisia, where Habib Bourguiba ruled justly,” Bouchamaoui explained.

 She added that Bourguiba insisted on introducing a “fair personal status law that ensured full equality for women and banned polygamy”.

Turning to her family, Bouchamaoui said her father was her main supporter in life.

“My father wanted always to ensure that we excelled at school, and that we always worked hard on ourselves and on developing our talents and hobbies. This helped me tremendously in my life and career,” she said.

 Bouchamaoui concluded by saying, “I hope people will always remember me and remember the sacrifices the Tunisian people went through to get their freedom and full equality.”