Law targets violence against women in Morocco
2007-02-08
A new bill to combat violence against women aims to provide them with protection and safe harbour. In addition to spousal violence, the bill targets sexual harassment and other forms of economic and social violence.
By Imane Belhaj for Magharebia in Casablanca – 08/02/07
 [Getty Images] The new draft law targets violence against women in Morocco. |
The Secretariat of State for the Family, Childhood and the Handicapped has sent a draft bill on combating violence against women to various Moroccan women’s associations requesting suggestions and observations.
According to the secretariat, the bill is considered "an important step in the continuous establishment of the legal framework for protecting women’s humanitarian rights and strengthening this protection". It primarily aims to provide protection and safe harbour for women victims of violence.
"Daily practice revealed the existence of several holes and problems connected to the legal texts or the social reality, and it’s necessary to counteract them and to put forth solutions and answers. Further, reality showed new forms of violence linked to economic, social and cultural circumstances … But the law remained limited in combating this phenomenon," Bouchra Abdou, a member of the national office of the Democratic League for Women’s Rights, said.
In addition to spousal violence, the bill targets sexual harassment and other forms of economic and social violence, and recognizes the role undertaken by listening centres and associations.
The new law further stipulates that women employees or workers who are victims of violence shall benefit, within the bounds of their workplaces, from reduced work hours or temporary cessation of work when necessitated by their psychological state or state of health. The women's rights and benefits are guaranteed under the Labour Law. Further, women victims of violence are given priority in changing work location when doing so is necessary to protect them, on the condition that the need for these exigencies is verified by a report from specialised medical authorities.
Abdou says the new law must set down a clear concept of violence directed against women that encompasses all of its forms -- including psychological violence, such as "all verbal attack, shouting, mockery or using censure or social ostracism, detention, or intimidation, also encompassing verbal threat or any exploitation for the purpose of controlling another person".
In a memo filed with the secretariat and the interior and justice ministries, the Democratic League for Women’s Rights called for the law to extend to "all places". The league also deemed it necessary to add a clause related to providing training and professional qualification opportunities to battered women, along with creating social assistance institutions to benefit women victims of violence at health centres and the prosecution office of the judiciary police.
The anticipated law for combating violence against women includes four sections with 26 texts, identifying violence and its forms and the places where it is perpetrated and clarifying the penitentiary procedures for violence.
Email to a friend
Print version
M.el-Khoumsi Posted 2007-02-09
I welcome 100% this law,
aicha sbaiti Posted 2007-02-10
This is a unique magazine!
fatma LASSAR Posted 2007-03-14
I have to comment on this article, it's funny to see and to read that in the same Baddou family, the sister who makes laws to protect women from physical violence, and me, you won't believe it, this woman's brother, ambassador in Rome, made me suffer from physical violence. I've been working for 14 years for the embassy and the consulate in Rome, and in 2004, after all those years, I decided to denounce corruption and very serious affairs relating to my job, and I wasn't rewarded, I was fired, in 24 hours, with no cause or notice. I sent a letter to our King, God bless and glorify him, in 2005, and I've been waiting until today for Zoulikha Naciri to pass the letter. We can see solidarity between women in morocco, it doesn't exist, it's just a lie. We, moroccan women, are very far from democratic speech, but not from democracy. Thanks
chaabaoui halima Posted 2007-03-17
Could you please send me adresses, websites and phone numbers of human rights associations. I have been looking for long for women rights associations in order to open a debate about women experiencing problems. I look forward to receiving an answer. Best regards. Chaabaoui Halima.
صفاء Posted 2007-03-22
No No No
émilie Posted 2007-09-20
I am married to a Moroccan man, but I do not now Morocco’s legal system—I am French.
gilles lerare Posted 2007-09-23
This is most especially just to encourage you to be the first to open up a dialogue with your spouses.
لبحيح علي Posted 2007-12-17
Firstly, in our Sahraoui community, woman is sacred and respected to a high degree. We can't tell her anything, in the case of disagreement we take her hand back to her family, because she was entrusted to us. Therefore, woman should be given her value, and man is the only one who controls this value so that it doesn't breach it in order to preserve the manly effect otherwise she will be prone to problems and unexpected results. Finally, woman should consult with the man in every thing so that there is an everlasting happiness and life full of understanding on the right way and correct method. God grants success. May God make you and us among those who listen to advice and do it.
wiam Posted 2008-01-26
Hello everyone I'm a bac student and I'm working on a project wich treat the women's human rights especially violence against women in our country ,i've been influenced lately bu this subject and i wish i could give a good critik about it so if you have any information ,study or anything else please send them to me i really do need them ... with respect
Saida Posted 2008-03-23
To Èmilie: Hello, Here is the address to contact in order to find out more about Moroccan law: www.lddf.ma
We welcome your comments on Magharebia's articles.
It is our hope that you will use this forum to interact with other readers across the Maghreb. In order to keep this experience interesting, we ask you to follow the rules outlined in the comments policy. By submitting comments, you are consenting to these rules. While Magharebia.com encourages discussion on all subjects, including sensitive ones, the comments posted are solely the views of those submitting them. Magharebia.com does not necessarily endorse or agree with the ideas, views, or opinions voiced in these comments. This is a moderated forum. Comments deemed abusive, offensive, or those containing profanity may not be published.
Magharebia's Comments Policy