Morocco association launches project to combat violence against women
2007-11-23
An educational plan in central Morocco will teach young people about gender equality and women’s rights.
By Naoufel Cherkaoui for Magharebia in Rabat – 23/11/07
 [Naoufel Cherkaoui] Lahcen Afkir said his association's approach focuses on prevention through education. |
A project to spread a culture of gender equality and combat violence against women began Tuesday (November 20th) in the central Morocco region of Fez-Boulmane. As part of the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights, the EU-funded program will offer law, civic education and women’s rights workshops to some 4,620 middle school and high school students and 3,900 women in poor areas.
President of the Chourouk Association for Social Development, Lahcen Afkir, told Magharebia, "We have chosen young people who study in two middle schools located in the same area where our association headquarters is based, and also from two other middle schools located in villages on the outskirts of the city, where we've been operating since 2001. As for the women, they have been selected from some of the neighbourhoods where we've run programs to combat illiteracy."
"We have created a methodology and identified our vision," he added. "We have also drawn up an action plan extending to 2012 because we want to be more accurate and professional."
The Chourouk Centre has been operating in the Fez region for seven years to enhance the status of women and young people. The centre started with combating illiteracy, Akfir explained, then moved on to legal and civic education.
"Our aspiration is to combat violence against women in a new way, not to wait until violence has taken place. We do this by spreading a culture of gender equality and promoting women's rights. We have chosen the category of young people on purpose because we wanted to deal with the roots of the problem. We hope to eradicate the problem once and for all by educating young people to respect women from an early age."
Akfir’s group also created a network of associations to shed light on the new family law and strengthen co-ordinated efforts in the Fez region. The centre receives contributions from the British embassy in Rabat and Oxfam-Québec, a Canadian non-governmental organisation working in the field of sustainable development.
The Cherouk Association contributes about 10.32% of funding for the 109,843-euro education project.
"The preparations for the project, which will extend over a three-year period, started last September by forming the project team, preparing workshops and attracting boosters," Afkir added, saying that through a partnership with the Ministry of National Education, the group will be allowed to use school halls from 6:00 to 8:00 PM daily.
Fatiha Hassouni of the EC Mission in Rabat commented, "Since 2004, the EU has been funding several projects aimed at raising awareness about women's rights and equal opportunities for women in political fields."
"Moreover, gender equality is basically a part of human rights and represents a social justice issue."
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د ح م Posted 2007-11-25
Salam alaikoum, my dear brother. I also support this project. No to violence against women. But we shouldn't forget that these days we hear about violence against men and no one talks about it. Tell me why- has man become without value, or is it a provocation of women against men?
abbas Posted 2007-11-26
The equality of sexes is one of the fundamental parts of human rights and represents a problem is social justice. But, women are at the base of our country’s under-development: anytime there is a problem they use their gender to get out of it.
Nadia Serhani Posted 2007-11-30
Lahcen is the most passionate, most hard-working and effective social worker i ever met. Hats off to you Lahcen. You inspire more people than what you think. Your dedication to the cause of women and their well-being is a model for all of us. Keep it up, we need more people like you. Take care...Nadia.
solafa Posted 2007-12-04
Salam alaikoum, why are we women always paying the price, why do we always have to suffer, why are our rights always breached? Do you think that associations and institutes that are rebellious with words will find a solution? No! A thousand times no! Because suffering is suffering and violence is violence. We have God, we have God.
bouchaib Posted 2007-12-30
I tell you that women have rights. That is why they should not be abused . So, let us respect women and respect human rights.
radouan Posted 2008-01-17
I want the mail and phone of this association.
nawal iysaouy Posted 2008-05-07
I would like this association’s address and phone number.
om_nada Posted 2008-07-14
Where are these rights? By God I have been suffering of my husband for 20 years. No justice or associations were of any help. I am asking the rescue of God and those who claim that women have rights to help me and grant me justice. I am enduring all forms of humiliation and insults everyday. There is no rescuer. Where are the associations? Where is the family law? Where is the family code? Where is…? I ask and rather beg you to help me as soon as possible.
om_nada Posted 2008-09-06
Salam alikum. This is the second time I write you hoping that I will find attentive ears. We don’t want slogans or lectures. We want a position through which we can take what we have and what we should do. We want a position through which we can live in dignity and respect. We want the family law to be implemented not be just words. By God, I want help and guidance. But where should I go? Oh mercy, mercy my Lord.
sanaa Posted 2009-02-28
Salam alikum I have a woman relative who has a problem. She married three months ago. He took her alone to a house where there is no WC and shower. He ties her, rapes her, beats her, he ties her hands and feet. He tortures her and treats her like an animal. When her mother went to see her, she found her tied with a wire and made a plan to take her out. Now he is suing her in court with her mother. Do you think that justice will be granted to her?
KARIM de Casablanca Posted 2009-03-04
In response to Sanaa’s comment- This is with regards to the parent. Someone was married and had a husband who beat her, tortured her and tied her up and then, according to Sanaa’s words, her mother saw to her being freed from that prison. Did her mother get evidence of the state of her daughter? Did she file a charge with the police in order to get a ruling on the situation? If not, it seems that the mother was in the wrong and the wife’s place is right beside her husband. If there is a problem, then try to follow the law and do things within the rules. There are organisations to support her and punish the husband. If the scenes that were recounted were true, then, as the proverb goes, “To judge is to misunderstand”: before pronouncing anything, the husband would have to be heard and the beaten wife would have to be visited in order to ensure this is the case. But, we are never to judge without having both versions of the story from both parties in the conflict or at least the eye witnesses or the courts, and God only knows the truth.
Amina tafrawt Posted 2009-03-04
In my opinion there are still women who don't have their rights.
ام ملاك Posted 2009-03-31
Peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you. I am a single mother. I want to say that I need your help. Thank you.
hajar Posted 2009-05-04
Very good. Please, I would like to get into contact with you because our schoolteacher told us to get more news in order to find out more about your school. –Thank you so much, so very much
شيلان من كوردستان عيراق Posted 2009-05-12
Thank you for your efforts to fight violence against women because violence against women is mainly a problem of authority and control. Many forms of violence are used as means to subjugate women to men and preserve the inequality between sexes. Working on this requires many efforts. Therefore, I appreciate your work and encourage everyone who works on eliminating this horrific phenomenon which threatens the whole world. Therefore, we say together: yes to equality between men and women, preserving the dignity and independence of women.
مغربية Posted 2009-05-25
I want to get in touch with this association because I am a victim of permanent violence. Please does anyone have the phone number of the association?
ام نزار Posted 25 days ago
Peace and mercy of God be upon you. I have a friend who has a dominating and snippy man. He beats her, insults her and insults her family. She has a disabled girl whom he insults as well. He takes her monthly wage. Every year he threatens to take her to Morocco and leave her. By the way, her the daughter has a problem. It is allergy to flour. He tells her to give her to eat from what they eat without caring about the consequences of that. She begs God and you to help her in case he throws her in Morocco without substituting for her, her daughter and little boy who is two years and half. Now she lives in Italy. Thank you very much.
حنان Posted 21 days ago
I am from Agadir. I need the phone number of the association as soon as possible. Thank you very much.
حنان Posted 15 days ago
In the name of God the most gracious the most merciful. My name is Hanane from Agadir. I was victim of violence from my husband for 9 years. However today I have overcome my fear and went to my parents'. He sued me in court for discord divorce. To preserve my rights and the rights of my children, I want your help. May God reward you with good.
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