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.
In separate statements released Saturday, the Democratic Association of Moroccan Women and the Federation of the Democratic League for Women’s Rights said there remains a clear gap between official rhetoric on gender equality and the daily reality faced by women in Morocco.
Both groups expressed concern over delays in reform and called for what they described as a “comprehensive review” of the country’s legislative and institutional frameworks.
At the center of their demands is a deep revision of the Moroccan Family Code (Moudawana), which governs family matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance.
The organizations said the code should be updated to fully align with Morocco’s constitution and the country’s international commitments on gender equality.
They also called for the adoption of a framework law on equality to ensure that all 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 mechanisms for victims.
Beyond legislative changes, the groups said Morocco needs a coordinated national strategy on gender equality involving multiple government sectors and civil society organizations.
The Democratic Association of Moroccan Women criticized what it described as limited results from current public policies, arguing that 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 initiatives have failed to place women’s rights at the center of planning and implementation.
Both organizations also pointed to gaps in several Moroccan laws, including the criminal procedure code and Law 103.13 on Violence Against Women.
They said the legislation still falls short of international standards and lacks sufficiently strong protection mechanisms for victims of violence.
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