Morocco Reports 11% Drop in Violence Against Women Cases in 2020

The latest figures were provided by the Director of Public Security at the DGSN, Zaitouni Alhayel, during an awareness-raising day organized under the theme "the challenges and issues of supporting women and girls who are victims of violence". This is an initiative of the General Directorate of National Security and UN Women. Participants included DGSN officials, the public prosecutor’s office, representatives of the relevant government sectors and civil society organizations.

Thus, the department’s services recorded 50,844 cases involving 47,033 victims, of which 9% involve minors. 44,212 cases were handled, a resolution rate of 94%, and 15,806 suspects were brought to justice. A classification of acts of violence indicates physical violence (44%) in the lead, followed by economic violence (26%), psychological violence (20%), sexual violence (9%) and violence committed through modern technology (1%), Alhayel detailed, noting that compared to 2019, the department’s services recorded a total of 57,255 cases of violence against women involving 58,142 victims, of which 8% relate to minors. The official noted that 54,965 cases were handled, a resolution rate of 96%, and 19,664 suspects were brought to justice.

To better understand the extent of the phenomenon, the kingdom has had a standard form in place since 2020 for data collection. The approach is to support the establishment of appropriate prevention and repression mechanisms and to guarantee the fundamental freedoms and rights of the targeted women. Also, Alhayel welcomed the kingdom’s achievements in the empowerment of women at the legal, social, economic and political levels, confirming the country in the international dynamic aimed at combating this scourge.

And he concluded that the DGSN, aware of the serious social, psychological and educational problems caused by this phenomenon, is committed to implementing public policies to curb its practice in the country.