Moroccan Women’s Rights Federation calls for stronger laws and protections against gender-based violence

The Moroccan Federation of Women’s Rights Associations (FRDAF) has called for a comprehensive approach to combat gender-based violence, citing persistent structural inequalities and rising violence against women. The federation said piecemeal legal reforms are insufficient and urged a thorough review of laws, practices, and public policies.

FRDAF recommended criminalizing all prevalent forms of violence, including marital rape, economic abuse, and digital harassment.

According to statistics compiled by FRDAF in coordination with the Engad Network against Gender Violence and the Solidarité Women’s Network, psychological abuse accounts for 47% of reported cases, followed by economic and social violence at 23%. Other forms of violence include legal abuse (10%), physical violence (8%), digital abuse (7%), and sexual violence (5%).

The report, covering July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, found that among acts of physical violence, assault and battery represented 57%, while verbal abuse dominated psychological violence at 23%. Marital rape accounted for 21% of sexual violence, while failure to enforce legal entitlements constituted 17% of legal violence, and online verbal abuse made up 28% of digital violence.

FRDAF highlighted ongoing challenges in accessing justice, citing weak procedural support and insufficient psychological and medical assistance for victims. These gaps, the federation said, exacerbate the social, economic, and psychological impact of violence on women and their children.

While the number of child marriage requests has declined, FRDAF warned that legal loopholes, such as the revival of marriage validation procedures past the legal deadlines, still undermine protections. The federation also reported continuing political and electoral violence against women, including harassment of activists in public and online spaces.

The federation drew attention to rising femicides and violent attacks against women, noting that perpetrators are often strangers (66.8%), followed by spouses (24%), and family members including children and siblings (8%). FRDAF said this highlights the persistent dangers women face in public and domestic spaces, as well as the limitations of protective measures under Law 103.13.

FRDAF also emphasized that maternal and infant mortality, especially in rural and mountainous areas lacking adequate medical infrastructure, remains a critical indicator of the fragility of Morocco’s health system.

The federation concluded that gender-based violence remains a structural issue across all spaces, including digital platforms, and called for stronger enforcement of legal protections alongside improved preventive and support mechanisms.