NGO: Over 800 single mothers in Casablanca face severe legal discrimination

There are over 800 single mothers in Casablanca, with ages ranging from 16 to 17 years struggling with a law that denies the identity of the children born to these young mothers.

This startling statistics was revealed during a recent seminar organized by the Insaf association in Casablanca on Wednesday. The association raised concerns regarding the legal implications of their status.

According to statistics dating back to a study conducted in 2015 by the same association, the number of children born out of wedlock between 2004 and 2014 amounted to approximately 44,000 children in Casablanca alone.

The NGO suggested amending the provisions of the Family Code to align with the constitution, which require the state to provide equal legal protection for all children, irrespective of their family status.

This is to be achieved by eliminating the clause that distinguishes between them and other children (legitimate and illegitimate offspring).”

The advocacy group stressed the importance of safeguarding children from discrimination and shielding them from social stigma. 

The association shed light on the situation of single mothers, stating that in the past three years, the age bracket of single mothers has predominantly fallen between 16 and 17 years. 

The prevalence of this issue is particularly observed in Casablanca and its surrounding areas.

According to the NGO, these young single mothers are compelled into motherhood, assuming the responsibilities of parenthood without being consulted about their willingness to become mothers. 

This plight unforlds in the absence of any familial or community support. This is evident in the increase in the number of single mothers in recent years, compared to that of the 1980s.

The association drew attention to the fact that civil society has begun thirty years ago uncovering the challenges faced by single mothers, identifying them as victims of rape, deceitful temptations, or unfulfilled promises of marriage. 

The majority of these victims hailed from rural areas during the 1980s, according to the NGO.

Contrasting this with the present, the association noted that in the last decade, the number of single mothers surpassed 1600 in the year 2020, with the majority residing in urban areas.

These single mothers typically possess educational backgrounds ranging from middle school to high school, and a smaller percentage has attained a university education.

The right group stressed the recent trends and the significant surge in the number of single mothers who now include women immigrants residing in the country.

According to the association, these mothers find themselves homeless unless they seek assistance from associations dedicated to supporting them and their children. 

Despite that, these women still encounter various forms of discrimination and violence within society.

Such discrimination against single mothers is exemplified by the fact that they are consistently rejected by neighbors due to societal norms, and struggle to find suitable childcare solutions while they are at work.