RNI, Istiqlal parties present vision for family code reform before specialized body

On Friday in Rabat, the body responsible for revising the Family Code held a hearing with the National Rally of Independents (RNI) party and the Istiqlal party, who presented their vision and proposals on the reform.

“The Istiqlal Party considers the reform of the Family Code to be a highly participatory process”, said the Party’s secretary general, Nizar Baraka, in a statement to the press at the end of the meeting.

The proposals put forward by the PI are mainly aimed at strengthening family cohesion, preserving the best interests of children and consolidating women’s rights, while respecting the provisions of Sharia texts and jurisprudence, he noted.

He also stressed the need to work within the framework of this project to put in place accompanying measures to improve the situation of families, including the institutionalization of family reconciliation, the development and strengthening of family courts and public policies promoting employment and the empowerment of women.

At the end of the first hearing, Amina Benkhadra, President of the RNI’s National Women’s Federation, stressed that Morocco has made significant progress on the regulatory and legislative front over the past two decades. Numerous reforms have been implemented, considerably improving the overall situation of the family, the country and the population.

“It is pertinent to mention two major laws in this respect, namely the Family Code of 2004. Its introduction represented a genuine revolution and a significant advance for women’s rights, recognizing the restoration of their responsibility within the family,” she said in a statement to Hespress.

Moreover, the 2011 Constitution, hailed by the Sovereign on numerous occasions, reinforced the essential advances introduced by the Family Code over the past two decades, she continued.

“However, it is regrettable to note that despite this significant progress, the Family Code has encountered difficulties in its implementation and has been confronted with several problems of execution”, adds Benkhadra.

In this regard, she recalls that King Mohammed VI has repeatedly called for the Family Code to be revised in a spirit of responsibility and sharing between men and women, notably in the Throne Speech of July 2022 and in the Royal Letter of September 2023.

With regard to the proposals, she points out that “we advocate equity and shared responsibility in family management, while advocating as an entity for family solidarity, the protection of children’s rights, and the maintenance of a balance within the family.”

“Our aim is to preserve an environment in which the family remains the central pillar of society, emphasizing the need to preserve family solidarity and the fundamental rights of children.”

The Federation has formulated proposals on several aspects that it considers crucial concerning various points of the Family Code. In conclusion, Amina Benkhadra stresses that “we remain open to the development of this dossier in collaboration with all stakeholders in society”.