Study: Over 50% of Moroccan Women Experience Violence, Hindering Development

Ahmed Reda Chami deplores that the many awareness-raising campaigns have not really borne fruit. For him, "a country cannot claim any development if half of its active force is excluded or subjected to violence in any form." While specifying that violence against women constitutes a flagrant violation of human rights, the president of the CESE drew attention to the irreversible psychological consequences that such acts can have, not only on the victims, but also on society, reports the MAP.

He also pointed out that if violence against girls and women still resists, it is also due to the place given to this issue in public policies, the difficulties of access to justice or the persistent weight of stereotypes. Ahmed Reda Chami also called on society to focus more on improving the situation of women, strengthening their participation in active life and fighting the violence they suffer. The CESE is in line with the logic of helping to achieve these objectives.

The representative of the UN Women Multi-Country Office for the Maghreb, Leila Rhiwi, for her part, explained that violence against girls and women is one of the most serious violations of human rights, especially since the Covid-19 crisis has contributed to the intensification of this violence. She nevertheless welcomed the efforts made and the progress made in this area in Morocco, thanks to the commitment of civil society and public policies. She hopes that the draft law 10.16 amending and supplementing the penal code will be able to further help fight discrimination against women.