Morocco seeks to criminalise violence against women
2008-04-01
Moroccan officials announced last week that work is in progress on a draft bill outlawing domestic violence. The ministries of Social Development, Education and Islamic Affairs will also partner on a campaign aimed at fostering a culture of gender equality.
By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 01/04/08
 [Sarah Touahri] Morocco's Minister of Social Development, Family and Solidarity Nouzha Skalli said she would partner with other ministries in a campaign aimed at fostering a culture of gender equality. |
A newly-launched initiative by the Moroccan government to crack down on violence against women ranges from setting up more battered women's shelters to revising the Penal Code in order to criminalise gender-based violence.
Minister of Social Development, Family and Solidarity Nouzha Skalli, who announced the action plan on March 27th, said it includes establishing 16 new centres this year for women who have been the victims of violence, conducting a national survey to determine the prevalence of gender-based violence and setting up a pilot rehabilitation centre aimed at helping men control violent behaviour caused by psychiatric problems.
Preparing a draft bill to outlaw violence against women, however, will be the primary focus, said the Ministry's director for women’s affairs, family and children, Naima Benyahya. Although the Moudawana, or Family Code, was expanded in 2006 to give women more rights in marriage and divorce, it is now time to re-open the debate and expand the Penal Code, she said.
"We need to give a precise definition of violence against women, add new provisions to the Penal Code to combat this problem and repeal others such as that concerning the proof which women must provide in cases where violence has occurred in isolation, with no witnesses," Minister Skalli explained to Magharebia, adding that a woman’s word should be taken as proof, as happens in other countries.
She also highlighted the fact that the draft law was inspired by the principles of Islam, the values of Moroccan society and the progress already made by the country in protecting women’s rights.
Officials say a number of gaps in the law are hindering the campaign against violence. In addition, any plan to reform existing law and assure implementation of new legislation is compromised by a lack of specialist judges and staff experienced in social action.
Statistics from the last three months are also creating a sense of urgency. According to the Ministry, monitoring services have already recorded some 17,000 cases of violence this year, 78.8% of which were committed by husbands.
Domestic violence stems from a male chauvinist mentality, Skalli argues, which is why her department, in partnership with the ministries of Education and Islamic Affairs, plans to launch awareness-raising campaigns to foster a culture of sexual equality.
Siham Badawi, a member of the NGO "Dialogue for Development", told Magharebia that only state intervention can ensure that women are protected.
"We’re eagerly awaiting legal reforms imposing tough penalties which will act as a deterrent for the great majority of men," she said.
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Amina El Bakkar Posted 2008-08-15
It is sad to see such a large number of cases of violence reported in such a short time, not to mention that the statistics correspond only to cases that were able to break taboo and able to find their expression. The near future will perhaps reveal even more dramatic statistics once all the women this phenomena effects manage to recognise it for what it is and consider its denunciation. But, on the other hand, it is gratifying to note such great awareness of the importance of making the move to concrete actions—real actions taken to counter such violence through a law that will sanction the National Security’s and Court’s actions on a daily basis in order to save both women and their children from tragic situations. (It is said that those who are violent with their wives are violent with their children, as they live in a climate of violence.) If we want our country to win over a large part of itself, a part that has been so injured throughout history, and to have that part be healthy, peacefully enjoying in its rights and living in dignity, then it is truly time to punish all acts of violence against women. In the end, the ball is in the women’s court; it is up to them to seize upon the importance of such a legal project and to welcome their own participation in its reinforcement.
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