Violence against women campaign launched in Morocco

28/11/2006

The 4th national campaign on violence against women was launched in Morocco on Monday. The aim is to raise awareness of the damaging effects of violence on families.

By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat -- 28/11/06

[File] Women can turn to the help centre to seek legal and psychological help.

The Moroccan state secretariat for the family, children and handicapped people, working with the UN Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) marked this year's World Day Against Violence Towards Women by organising the 4th awareness-raising campaign. Moroccan Prime Minister Driss Jettou launched the campaign at a meeting on Monday (November 27th).

The campaign will be based on audiovisual media and will target conjugal violence and sexual harassment. Television and radio clips were launched, as well as CDs and first-hand accounts from victims. A 13 minute documentary will feature the services they offer and will include the free telephone number. Rural regions will also be reached with campaign buses. UNFPA and the Canadian International Development Agency have also set up a range of communications media -- advertisements, conferences, and posters in urban areas.

A report will be drawn up at the end of the campaign to evaluate its impact on the frequency of violence. According to the communications department of the state secretariat for the family, children and handicapped people, the figures, which are already available, will be checked and circulated.

The objectives of the campaign are to protect women against all forms of violence, and ensure help and justice. According to Naïma Benyahya, from the women's division, the campaign will respond to several imperatives, on the international and national scenes, as part of the secretariat's strategy to combat gender-based violence.

According to Benyahya, a great effort has been made in recent years to combat violence against women. Recently, Morocco has set up a national observatory to guide, co-ordinate, monitor, evaluate and strengthen national policies.

The launch of a toll- free telephone hotline several months ago has made contact between the public ministry and victims of violence much easier. "It offers and opportunity to many women, especially those who are underprivileged, to express themselves and to benefit from counselling and psychological support," explains Fatima Maghnaoui, a member of the executive office of the union for women's action, and director of the Annajda centre.

The hotline, in addition to referring women to the relevant services (police, hospitals, help centres), helps find gaps in the law and to put together statistics lacking in Morocco.

Saida Drissi, an officer at the Nejma centre, which is run by the Moroccan women's democratic association, stresses that the lack of statistics is because many women keep quiet about the violence they suffer. "It's time to change this state of affairs. Communication campaigns are an effective way of changing mindsets."

Several steps have been taken by the justice ministry -- communications departments within each ministry with help centres, training for these centres on legal procedures and knowledge, training for public magistrates in handling cases connected with violence towards women, and legal aid for the underprivileged.