Morocco hails first female district officers
2008-07-27
Until recently, women were barred from attending Morocco's elite training academy for district officers. The graduation of the country's first female caids last week is seen as a milestone for equal rights.
By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 27/07/08
 [Sarah Touahri] Interior Minister Chakib Benmoussa praised the performance of Morocco's first class of female caids. |
In what is being called a landmark event for gender equality in Morocco, the Royal Institute for Regional Government has granted training course diplomas to women for the first time since its founding in 1965. The 43rd cohort of new caids (district officers) who graduated Monday (July 21st) includes 19 women out of a total of 107.
According to teachers at the institute, which provides theoretical, military and on-the-job training, the first female caids have dazzled with their ability. One – Loubna Faez – obtained the highest mark in her year and will now be promoted directly to the post of District Chief.
"Women have shown that they’re just as capable as men of running all aspects of national affairs. This first cohort of female district officers is something Morocco should be very proud of," Faez commented.
Interior Minister Chakib Benmoussa chaired last week's ceremony in Kenitra and praised the performance of the female graduates. He also noted that a woman "came first in her year".
The first group of female district officers in more than four decades strengthens the programme and helps build "a modern democratic society to ensure equality between man and woman", the minister said.
"By taking this step based on the values of fairness and equal opportunity, the main foundations of building modern Morocco, the Interior Ministry is determined to move forward on this path to... integrate the female element into the areas of authority and give them the opportunity to assume positions of responsibility," he added.
Women's organisations and NGOs have welcomed the move to bring equality for women. Initiatives of this kind mean that women are finally making their presence felt, noted Samira Bandouri of Together for Development.
"We've been waiting a long time for decision-makers to apply the principle of equal opportunities in all areas. Over the last few years women have finally been given a chance to show what they can do," she said.
Access for women to positions of responsibility demonstrates how Moroccan society has undergone a total transformation, said social science professor Miloud Boussafi: "Women now have a say in family matters. Traditions are changing little by little."
"The appointment of women to key posts has given Moroccan women a huge confidence boost," he added.
Morocco must follow the lead of developed countries with regard to sexual equality, argues political science professor Mohamed Bendahmane. "A true democracy can only be created through effective participation by women occupying positions of responsibility. Officials have realised this over the last few years, and so now more women hold important posts," he told Magharebia.
The lower chamber of parliament now has 34 female members out of 325 under a quota system guaranteeing a minimum proportion of 10%. The current government has seven female ministers.
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Karim Posted 2008-07-27
I am delighted with Morocco’s business efforts, especially those concerning parity. It is clear that Morocco is full of change. More and more, women need to be involved in Morocco’s political scene. Not to parody Aragon, for whom women were “man’s future”, but who does not remember the extraordinary heroine from Driss Chraïbi’s novel, “Civilisation, My Mother!”? This determined and strong woman embodies in herself Moroccan society’s profound evolution and its entry into the modern world via its efforts for education, its the freedom of speech, its will to objectively and rationally analyse, its ability to challenge obscurantism and to prove its courage in the face of cowardly, lazy men. Our women are most potent of riches. When women prosper, families and communities prosper too. The promotion of the strategic power of women from all walks of life drives them to effectively contribute to the world’s knowledge-based economy. By assuring them increasing access to information while promoting cultural diversity, proactive commercial partnerships and the opening of precious international commercial opportunities, women can fully play their role in the future of their country, further becoming beneficial agents of peace and prosperity.
EL BAKI Mohamed Posted 2008-07-28
Another point scored for Morocco. What pride there is in seeing the advancement of women Caids. This is a real revolution and development in our customs towards to parity and equality of rights and duties of men and women citizens. This is a dazzling advancement in the opening of our minds and consciences. His Majesty, Mohammed VI, may God help him, is heading modern policies while remaining faithful to our religion, our convictions, our history and our Arab, Berber and Muslim civilisation. Indeed, I, a French Moroccan, I am proud of my Morocco, which is making progress.
صالح مجدول Posted 2008-07-30
Women aren't€™ good in positions of authority. This is not contempt of them. They might work in the medical sector as doctors or nurses or in the legal sector as lawyers or judges (sitting judges and not standing judges because this might expose them to retaliation since society is very backward). Women can access the educational sector in all its phases, the primary, secondary and higher education. Accessing the police service as a superintendent or the authority as a Caid or member of a fire fighter or gendarme or a judicial police officer or assistant of the prosecutor of the king. Women won't succeed in these sectors reserved only for men. If we impose on women to work in a field which is not suitable to their femininity. The administration should know that people aren't used to seeing women superintendents, a fire fighter leader or member of the auxiliary forces. As regards imitating the developed countries, people are not mature enough for such kind of job. I don't think that it will succeed. Anyway, I think that the best job of woman is her house, raising her kids and making her husband happy. This is the reason for which she was created.
reda yasser Posted 2008-07-31
This is an effort to congratulate! Morocco is moving towards the establishment of real, religiously appropriate equity and justice in male-female relations. Bravo! I hope you keep up the good work!
Moroccan Posted 2008-08-02
It is a positive step toward providing equality between the sexes. We need more women involved in the political affairs in our society. Morocco will not advance without the distribution of half of its population. To n3, you sound like someone from the old ages commenting on the 21th century issues, and I will leave it at that. God Bless
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