UN hails Moroccan progress with gender equality reforms
2008-01-25
Morocco presented a combined report on the status of its reforms to promote gender equality to a UN committee in Geneva on Thursday. Initial feedback has been positive, saying that Morocco will soon achieve its goals.
By Imane Belhaj for Magharebia in Casablanca – 25/01/08
 [Imane Belhaj] Nouzha Skalli, Minister of Social Development, Family and Solidarity in the middle during the briefing in Casablanca |
Morocco presented two reports on its official efforts against gender discrimination to an ad hoc UN committee on Thursday (January 24th) in Geneva.
The UN committee reviewed Morocco's third and fourth periodic reports on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The Moroccan delegation highlighted the efforts it has made for the elimination of gender-based differences, including the lifting of reservations on certain provisions of the convention.
Moroccan women, according to the panel, have made significant advancements in terms of equality and economic and social rights. Committee Chairperson Dubravka Simonovic hailed the country's progress, saying Morocco will soon achieve gender equality.
During a preliminary briefing held January 18th in Casablanca, Minister of Social Development, Family and Solidarity Nouzha Skalli said she was optimistic about the positive strides made in Morocco since ratifying the CEDAW in 1993.
She also discussed the reservations Morocco has lifted on several convention provisions, based on feedback from the two previous CEDAW reports presented to the UN in 1995 and 1999. The successful changes concern the harmonisation of domestic laws to international conventions; accelerating reform of the Family Code; establishing a limit to provisions of discrimination in terms of legal rights; speeding up ratification of citizenship law; increasing women's representation in decision-making circles; and reforming labour and criminal law.
Naima Ben Yahia, Director of Women, Family, and Childhood Affairs in the Ministry, said the findings included in the last two reports are the product of extensive efforts made by women's associations in Morocco, in a society that looks forward to justice, equality and democracy.
The two June 2006 reports consist of three sections. The first covers reforms to promote the defence of human rights through democracy and the rule of law. These reforms have taken the form of restructuring the Advisory Council for Human Rights and the creation of Grievances Board, the Royal Institute for Amazigh Culture and the Authority for Equity and Conciliation.
The second section addresses 16 articles related to combating violence against women; changing women's and men's social and behavioural norms; combating the exploitation of women; equality in political and public life on the national and international levels; laws governing citizenship, education, work and health, social security, rights of rural women and child labour.
The third section, meanwhile, includes provisions on monitoring Morocco's implementation of previous recommendations. These include the Beijing Platform for Action - which promotes the integration of gender equality-based development policies and programs - and the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.
Some 185 states have ratified the CEDAW since its adoption by the UN General Assembly in 1979.
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ALAIN Posted 2008-01-27
This is absolutely appalling!… congratulating a country that is last in its class for the progress it is making with regards to respecting and defending women’s rights. This is shameful. It is easy to make progress when you are still in the Middle Ages. There is most definitely and assuredly some corruption in this Moroccan atmosphere that is allowing for such a flagrantly false declaration.
alain Posted 2008-01-28
Exactly right! Morocco is always subject to the censors: critical commentaries are not welcome here. You have no choice but to go with the grain.
hamid serret Posted 2008-01-28
How can the UN congratulate Morocco on its gender equality while the majority of the Amazigh are imprisoned and being tortured in Moroccan prisons just for having defended their own identity!? What a catastrophe! The UN is a despot!
Alainbio Posted 2008-01-28
The majority of people continue to taste the misery of impoverishment. Morocco has a rich king but its people are poor. I am for progress, development and gender equality to achieve this, but since Independence in 1956, I have not seen a single woman show a smile that really came from her heart. Sorry, but what we are seeing today is just our utopian ability and will to move forward and leave our future generations an image of a strong and prosperous Morocco.
rachid Posted 2008-01-29
It is first necessary to criticise oneself before criticising others, my dear Ali (Alain). And, in so doing, one makes amends with oneself, myself included. My name is Robert. The Sahara is a matter belonging to all Moroccan, in the country or outside of it.
HAFIDA Posted 2008-02-04
Both the UN and Morocco should stop playing sticking their heads in the sand and hiding behind their reports, simple theories and so-called “fieldwork”! Today, the real Morocco is one of ever increasing prostitution, paedophilia and—at the risk of shocking some people—homosexuality!!! Nevertheless, we are an Arab-Muslim country! What are the women’s associations doing in Morocco? What is the ministry that is supposed to deal with family matters doing? What exactly is Miss Ben Yahia doing? And, the State itself does not say a thing! Tomorrow, Morocco will be confronted with a problem even bigger than this, and that is going to mess things up even more! And, that problem is none other than public health in the form of AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s). Children subjugated to the sexual monstrosities of adults, what will become of them? How are they going to recompose themselves? Who is really concerned for the fate of Amazigh women? You are right, Alainbia, the King is rich from having so impoverished his people! The Prophet—blessings and peace be upon him—as an intermediary gave this sign: “The commandments will come down upon those who are least worthy.”
gol Posted 2008-02-06
Yet another demagogic discourse by an extremist recently converted to Ben-Laden-style Islam. Enough, Hafida! And here I will say “God save us!” He does not know how to criticise others, thinking that he is perfect and possesses flawless locution! He explains to us that there are problems of poverty, pedophilia, AIDS and so on as if those problems only exist in Morocco, even thought these problems have always existed and will always exist no matter the country.
HAFIDA Posted 2008-02-09
You, Gol (or whoever you are), have taken to an Islamophobic discourse, both heinous and deprived of any sense! You pretend that problems like paedophilia and prostitution simply exist and should be left to do so! What shamefulness! This is has always existed!!! Whatever!!! You have no right to judge me or to treat me like an extremist just because I referenced the prophet, peace and prayer be upon him! May God protect us from people like you!
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