Moroccan women’s rights group criticizes 2026 draft budget for lacking social, gender equality vision

A leading Moroccan women’s rights organization has criticized the draft 2026 Finance Bill, saying the government’s spending plan fails to offer a social vision capable of addressing the country’s structural economic and social challenges.

 In a statement, the Democratic Association of Moroccan Women said the bill, now under debate in Parliament, “arrived without equality or a public policy agenda that reflects real social change,” despite rising protests among youth and women calling for action on poverty, corruption and discrimination.

The group said fiscal policy should serve as a tool to advance equality, particularly for women, girls and vulnerable populations in rural, mountainous and marginalized urban areas. 

While acknowledging that the draft budget seeks to reassure public opinion by raising health and education allocations to around 140 billion dirhams, an increase of 21 billion from 2025, the association said legislative debates reveal “no integrated reform vision” to tackle social fragility, territorial disparities, widening gender gaps or persistent imbalances in taxation and wealth distribution.

The statement argued that the 2026 bill remains constrained by a “narrow technical approach” focused on macroeconomic indicators such as growth projections of 4.8 percent, an inflation target of 1 percent and a deficit goal of 3 percent. 

According to the group, these targets fall short of constituting a fair or inclusive foundation for addressing citizens’ needs, including those outlined in Morocco’s New Development Model.

The association called for “accelerating comprehensive and structural reform” of public financial policy, urging a shift toward investment in human development. 

Its recommendations include prioritizing women, girls and vulnerable groups who lack access to employment, education, health services, social protection and housing. The group also urged faster integration of gender equality into public policy to ensure equitable resource distribution and stronger social protection, especially for single mothers, domestic workers, caregivers, elderly women and female agricultural and textile workers who remain without any safeguards.