NGOs push for Moroccan law protecting women from violence
2007-12-05
To call for a law prohibiting violence against women, international group Global Rights has partnered with ten Moroccan NGOs for a two-week national campaign.
By Imane Belhaj for Magharebia in Casablanca – 05/12/07
 [Imane Belhaj] Global Rights will compile a series of drawings of Moroccan women's suggestions to fight violence. |
To promote laws protecting women from violence, the Morocco office of international organisation Global Rights will conduct a national enlightenment campaign until December 10th. The human rights NGO, based in New York, has been working to defend women's rights around the world for 29 years.
Ten Moroccan NGOs began holding meetings with women November 25th to obtain their views, priorities and suggestions concerning a law prohibiting violence against women. The organisations, which put forth their own proposal for what such a law should encompass, will produce drawings representing the suggestions of Moroccan women.
Global Rights will compile these drawings in a poster to be widely distributed across Morocco. The "Advocate a Law to Fight Violence against Women" poster will be adopted as a mechanism for NGOs to enlighten citizens. The groups will also advocate the proposed law through public conferences and meetings with local officials.
"It has become necessary to give women the chance to make their voices heard, so that any legislation whatsoever may respond to their true state of affairs and actual needs," said women's rights advocate Meryem Zemmouri. This campaign, she said, "will try to identify the views and expectations of the greatest possible number of women".
Halima Oulami, who believes that "violence against women is a violation of human rights," explained that the campaign "will be about household violence". She added, "We will set up a 3-day educative and advisory tent in the Sidi Yusef Ben Ali quarter in Marrakech to speak with women about the phenomenon. We will rely on international mechanisms for communication and enlightenment."
In preparation for the current campaign, Morocco's Global Rights team organised a primary workshop for local NGOs in late September. Female activists from Morocco, the United States, Eastern Europe and India met in Fez to exchange strategies on stopping violence against women and discuss impediments to legislation.
Cheryl Thomas, a US human rights activist attending the workshop, said that any legislation must be strict in terms of intolerance of violence against women, provide protection to the victim and children, and also hold the perpetrator responsible for his acts.
Ahmed Arehmouch, a lawyer and activist who helped organise the workshop, explained that the need to incriminate perpetrators of violence against women stems from flaws in Moroccan law.
"Criminal law, for example, identifies only physical violence that causes injuries." The law, he said, "overlooks psychological and sexual violence, violence between spouses or household violence [and] holds women accountable when leaving the marital home, even as a result of husband's violence."
Arehmouch believes that any new law should address a definition covering all aspects of violence against women and specify deterrent penalties.
Organisations involved in this project include: Amal Association for Women and Development (Hajib), Amane Association for Women Development (Marrakech), Touaza Association for Defending Women (Tetouan), Association for Initiative Activation (Taza), Tafokt Sous Association for Women Development (Agadir), Amazighi Network for Citizenship - Women Committee (Rabat), Association for Young Lawyers at Khemisset (Khemisset), Bades Association for Social and Economical Activation (Hseima), Taffilalt Oasis Space for Development (Risani) and Wadi Deraa Development Association (Zakoura).
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مصطفى Posted 2007-12-12
Please, I need the addresses of some human rights associations which fight violence against women in Casablanca. Thank you very much.
نورالهدى فلسطين Posted 2007-12-15
In the name of God, we ask you to help us to continue our university studies. Your sister Mona from Palestine.
طالبة علم Posted 2008-01-18
Salam alaikoum. Do you pretend the ideology of democracy...a change in the concept of your religion. Islam has guaranteed every psychological, sexual and physical right for woman and other living creatures. And before addressing the topic of running away from the house of the husband whatever the reasons, it has ensured the right of dialog, difference, negotiation and discussion…between the two spouses, notwithstanding societies and other countries…The issue isn’t a rejection of human development of similar terms such as adapting to modernity, it's a failure to implement on this earth the method of life which was legislated by the creator of laws and constitutions in the right way, our ignorance of our religion, taking it as an order and not through analysis and creating ideas to which it orient us…And we come today and say that the method of life ‘Islam’ hinders life itself???? Please accept from your sister in God, excuse me.
x Posted 2008-01-21
Please I need the addresses of some human rights associations which fight violence against women and children in the city of Casablanca. Thank you very much.
bouchra Posted 2008-02-12
I want addresses of human rights associations to protect the rights of minors from violence in all its forms.
دكتورة معنفة Posted 2008-02-15
If you were really an association condemning violence against woman, come on and give justice to the unemployed woman who is daily besieged in front of the doors of parliament and is subject to the worst forms of material and moral violence, including beating, kicking, insults. This offends a doctor, an engineer with a high diploma.
هاشم Posted 2008-02-23
Please I need the addresses of some human rights associations to fight violence against women in the towns of Oujda or Berkane.
BAHIJA Posted 2008-03-10
I need the address of an association that helps women in the city of Marrakech. Thank you
najibi Posted 2008-03-21
Please I need the addresses of some human rights associations that fight violence against women in Casablanca and Marrakesh. Many thanks.
أحمد أكاديري Posted 2008-04-02
If we are talking about violence in general, no one talks about the practises against Jamaa Al Adl Wa Al Ihsane in Morocco, the acts perpetuated against the women of Al Adl Wa Al Ihsane recently is something very serious to the simplest human writes. For more information, visit this site
فيروز Posted 2008-04-03
This struggle between man and woman will persist as long as life continues, accusations will always be present between the two sexes because we are living in chaos and no one believes anymore in his role in life what are his rights and obligations? Therefore, the problem is still present and isn’t solved with violence. We want a radical solution not a temporary one. This man who will be stopped by imprisonment for example could only become more violent and aggressive towards others. I think therefore that the solution is education through school and raising awareness through the media, without these two tools, you will only see the worst.
فاطمة الصنهاجي Posted 2008-04-03
Please advise me to save my mother who lives in miserable conditions with my brother and his wife who banned all my brothers and sisters from visiting my handicapped mother. By the way I don’t have the means to take her to live with me. Please inform me to save my mother and take her to live with me. Thank you.
sara Posted 2008-04-27
Please, I need the addresses of some organisations that fight against violence against women in Marrakesh as soon as possible. This is very urgent. Thank you for your help.
سعيد Posted 2008-05-04
Salam alikoum. I want the address of an association which fights violence against women in Rabat. Thank you very much.
samira Posted 2008-05-29
Salam alikoum. Please give me the phone number of this association in Casablanca as soon as possible. I need it so much. Thank you very much.
lina Posted 2008-06-17
Please, I would like to have the address of an organisation in Rabat that fights against violence against women.
fahd Posted 2008-07-11
It is possible to talk about the conflict between woman and man. However, the core of the conflict is what we stir in the discussions by giving high importance to topic which made of it the disease of the era. Discussion of this conflict has exceeded the differences imposed by the nature of the relationship which is sometimes governed by routine. I think that these conflicts are a moral outlet for both sides and then life continues.
khadija Posted 2008-09-01
Salam. I thank all assistance offered in this title. I would like your help to get the address of an association fighting violence against women in the town of Lakhmissat or Tifelt and which concerns the family in general. Thank you very much. This is very important.
sara Posted 2008-09-04
Please I want addresses of Child associations in order to solve a problem in which the victim is a young girl. Please, if you want to help.
aziza Posted 5 days ago
Please help me! I do not know anyone who can help me! I was assaulted and raped by a man who sells hashish. I did not have the courage to tell my family. They saw the scars on body, but the biggest scar is in my heart. I do not sleep at night because I am afraid of the darkness. I do not trust men. Can anyone help me get the police after them? Help me!
خالد Posted 5 days ago
I want please the addresses of some organizations which fight violence against women in Marrakech and the phone number of this organization.
Dziri58 Posted 3 days ago
To sister Aziza. My heart goes out to you my sister for the nightmare you are enduring and i deeply share your pain and sorrow. I hope Allah will give you strenght and courage to report this evil monster to the law and i pray to Allah to heal your scars and soothe your heart with comfort. May Allah bring you smiles and happiness again in your life. Have faith in Allah and you will feel a lot better Inch Allah.
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