Morocco Launches Digital Civil Registry System for Births and Deaths

With Law No. 36.21, relating to civil status, health facilities as well as hygiene services have the obligation to make birth and death declarations electronically. Civil and military hospitals and local authorities are also affected by this new provision.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, these measures take effect, pending the publication of all the implementing decrees provided for in the new law on civil status. Each newborn Moroccan or foreigner will be assigned a national identifier upon declaration of birth.

It is for the ministry to play its part in the modernization of the Moroccan administration, by simplifying procedures and formalities. Article 1 aims to create a "national digital system and a national civil status register with content such as date of birth, death, marriage and/or dissolution of the marriage act. Article 34 of the law prohibits the attribution of a name that could "undermine good morals or public order", or a name that is ironic or that of a city, village or tribe.