Human rights council discusses situation of Moroccan women abroad

2007-03-26

More Moroccan women are living abroad than ever before. Officials in the country organized a seminar to discuss the challenges these women face and to discuss a new council to work actively in response to their unique needs.

By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat—26/03/07

[Sarah Touahri] Participants at the opening session of the seminar

Morocco's Advisory Council on Human Rights (CCDH) organised a seminar in Rabat on Saturday (March 24th) to discuss the challenging and dynamic situation of Moroccan women abroad. Mahjoub El Hiba, Secretary-General of the CCDH, told Magharebia that improving the situation of Moroccan women who emigrate is a fundamental challenge for Morocco. Of the three million Moroccans living abroad (nearly 10% of the country’s population), women make up 50%.

Officials have held an increasing number of meetings over the last few years to discuss the role of Moroccan women abroad and what measures should be taken to help them adapt to life in a foreign country. Moroccan officials want to learn about the real needs of migrant women in order to help improve their day-to-day lives. Although their situation has improved over the years, the reality of life in their host countries can still sometimes fall short of their expectations.

During the opening session of the seminar, Nouzha Chekrouni, the minister-delegate for Moroccans living abroad, talked about the history of the emigration of Moroccan women. She said that before women began to emigrate, "it was men who moved abroad, on their own, in search of a better life. Some settled there and started families, but of course others had to leave their wives and children behind."

By the 1970s women had also begun to emigrate in increasing numbers under family reunification schemes operated by host countries. This meant that their fate was closely tied to that of their husbands.

A few years later a new category of women migrants emerged due to a gradual change in Moroccan society: self-sufficient women who had chosen a life of independence. Following that, another group appeared: second-generation women born in Europe, often with dual nationality, who had spent their entire lives in the host country.

According to researcher Abdelhamid Jamri, "the rising proportion of women migrants has had a major impact on society, particularly with regard to family cohesion. Women no longer hesitate to emigrate, either with or without their families, legally or otherwise."

Chekrouni said that the situation of female Moroccan expatriates varies greatly from one host country to another and that her ministry is in constant contact with officials and organisations in host countries to try to lessen the difficulties they face. Numerous groups have also formed in many European countries in order to help migrants, particularly women, to adapt to the realities of life there and to teach other people about Moroccan culture.

One goal of the seminar was to examine a proposal to create a Council of Moroccans Living Abroad. The principal objective of the proposed council is to respond women’s real needs. To achieve this aim, the CCDH has drawn up a work plan, which will include themed workshops on pressing issues raised by immigration, the creation of a website, direct consultations with women living abroad, and a questionnaire aimed at community figures and researchers working within Moroccan communities.