Two major Moroccan women’s rights organizations are urging authorities to move from promises to action, calling for sweeping legal and policy reforms as the country marks International Women’s Day on March 8.
In separate statements released Saturday, the Democratic Association of Moroccan Women (ADFM) and the Federation of the Democratic League for Women’s Rights (FLDF) said there is still a clear gap between official slogans about equality and the daily reality faced by women in Morocco.
The groups said they are concerned about delays in reform and urged what they described as a “comprehensive review” of the country’s legislative and institutional systems.
At the center of the demands is a deep revision of Morocco’s Moroccan Family Code (Moudawana), a law that regulates family matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance.
The NGOs said the code must be updated to fully align with Morocco’s constitution and the country’s international commitments to gender equality.
They also called for a framework law on equality that would ensure all existing legislation complies with constitutional principles.
Such a law, they said, should include a clear legal definition of discrimination in all its forms and provide stronger protection and rehabilitation for victims.
Beyond legislation, the groups said Morocco needs a coordinated national equality strategy involving multiple government sectors and civil society organizations.
The women’s groups criticized what they described as weak results from current public policies.
The Democratic Association of Moroccan Women said the government’s promise to build a “social state” has not been matched by concrete measures to empower women.
According to the group, many reform programs have failed to place women’s rights at the center of planning and implementation.
Both organizations also pointed to legal gaps in several Moroccan laws, including the criminal procedure code and the country’s law on combating violence against women, known as Law 103.13 on Violence Against Women.
They said the legislation still falls short of international standards and lacks strong protection mechanisms for victims.
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