Morocco to Recognize Rights of Children Born Out of Wedlock in New Penal Code

Addressing the issue during a meeting on Tuesday at the Lafquih Titouani Foundation, the minister said that the biological parents of a child born out of wedlock will be obliged to assume their civil responsibility towards their offspring. "The result of the mistake of two people is this child who is a full-fledged citizen and must be taken care of," he insisted.

And he explained that: "if DNA proves that an extramarital relationship between a man and a woman led to the pregnancy and then the birth of a child, the parents of the latter must take care of him until he reaches the age of 21," he specified.

According to Ouhabi, if it is the father who has custody of the child, the mother will be civilly responsible and will be obliged to pay compensation to the father. "Conversely, if it is the mother who has custody, the father will have to pay this compensation until the child reaches the age of 21," he stressed.

This provision will be introduced in the Penal Code currently being drafted, the minister said. The aim is to put an end to the social phenomenon of children born out of wedlock while making the adults responsible. In this regard, the minister ironically stated: "the one-night stand must be paid for 21 years. It’s better than abandoning the child on the street."