Safa Belghith

Short bio

Safa Belghith is a PhD researcher at the Human Rights Centre at Ghent University. Her research is focused on victim participation in the transitional justice process in Tunisia, as part of the larger ERC project “Righting victim participation in transitional justice”, under the guidance and supervision of Professor Tine Destrooper.
Safa received her Master’s degree in International Relations from the Higher Institute of Human Sciences at Al-Manar University. The focus of her MA thesis was the effect of media bias and agenda setting on the transitional justice process in Tunisia. She also has a degree in English Linguistics, Literature and Civilization from the University of Manouba.
Safa also worked as an independent journalist and research consultant on issues related to Tunisian politics, women’s rights and transitional justice. She was also active in several Tunisia-based civil society organisations working on women’s issues, political prisoners and human rights.

Education

University Degrees

• 2019 – ongoing: Doctorate of Law, Faculty of Law & Criminology, Ghent University
• 2013 – 2017: Master’s Degree in English and International Relations, High Institute of Human Science. Dissertation title: The Effect of Media on Public Opinion.
• 2011 – 2013: Master Courses in English Linguistics, Faculty of Letters, Humanities and Arts in La Manouba (no diploma)
• 2009 – 2011: License in English Literature, Civilization and Language, Faculty of Letters, Humanities and Arts in La Manouba
• 2008: Baccalaureate in Arts, Ali Balhouene high Schools

Professional Positions

• PhD researcher at Ghent University, Human Rights Centre: 09/2019-ongoing
• Co-Director of the Tunis Exchange: 2013 – Present
• A bi-annual conference that brings together analysts, academics and professionals from around the world to discuss the key issues facing Tunisia and the wider region.
  Contributing writer and trainee for OpenDemocracy: 2018 – 2019

Consultancy work:

• 2015: International Relations Workshop: The London School of Economic and Political Science (LSE). “Capacity Building in International Relations Didactics” Workshop as part of the Academic Collaboration Project between LSE Middle East Centre and Tunis Business School (TBS)

Research assistance & interpretation work:

• • 2018: Princeton University – History of the Tunisian Military and National Guard
  • 2018: Durham University – Democratic Transition and Citizenship
  • 2017: Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy – Democratic transitions and the evolution of political Islam. Dr. A. Kadir Yildirim
  • 2017: BICC Bonn International Center for Conversion – Pollution and civil society networks in Sfax and Gabes
  • 2015: Yale University – The post revolution judiciary reforms in Tunisia.
  • 2014: Every Casualty Worldwide – Report on the victims of the 2011 Tunisian Revolution
  • 2013: Cambridge – Centre for the Study of the International Relations of the Middle East and North Africa & Al Jazeera Center for Studies.
    Project: Media in Political Transitions: Tunisia as a case study. PI: Dr Roxane Farmanfarmaian
  • 2013: King’s College London
    Resisting State Crime: A Comparative Study of Civil Society, Dr. Ian Patel.
    Civic Education in Tunisia, Dr. Charis Boutieri

Featured Publications

• 2019: Tunisia: Ben Ali left without facing justice, OpenDemocracy, 26 September 2019
• 2018: Transitional justice in Tunisia: the truth behind the trials. OpenDemocracy, 22 November 2018.
• 2018: The story of Saida Manoubiya: A Tunisian feminist icon. OpenDemocracy, 12 July 2018.
• 2018: Tunisia: selective feminism and the marginalization of women’s struggles. OpenDemocracy, 5 February, 2018
• 2017: Yes, the choice to wear a hijab is also a woman’s right. Middle East Eye, 31 August 2017.
• 2013: Leagues for the Protection of the Tunisian Revolution. OpenDemocracy, 25 June 2013: Co-author with Dr. Ian Patel