Ouahbi asserts drug consumption is not a crime, emphasizes need for medical approach

At the closing ceremony of the “Improving housing conditions for juvenile detainees in Morocco 2021-2023” program in Rabat on Tuesday, Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi addressed the complexity of childhood issues in Morocco, integrating legal, social and religious perspectives on numerous matters, namely drug abuse.

An active member of the Family Code review body, Ouahbi highlighted the specific challenges of Moroccan criminal law, especially pertaining to minors.

Referring to the delicate question of the legal age, Ouahbi highlighted this issue, noting that the age of criminal responsibility and marriage was 16 in Morocco, but with regard to voting, it has been raised to 18.

The Minister of Justice took the floor after an official introduction, expressing his disagreement on several points mentioned earlier. He stressed the need to harmonize the legal age in Morocco, underlining the implications of such a decision.

In this respect, he asserted that any person under the age of 18 could only marry if they were mature enough to assume responsibilities towards the administration, the State and the family.

Ouahbi then pointed out an inconsistency: while the legal age is set at 16 for marriage and the capacity to plead, it is set at 18 for real estate and financial matters.

On the subject of paternal recognition, Ouahbi spoke of scientific advances, such as DNA testing, while outlining the dilemmas society faces in recognizing paternity and filiation.

“We’re at a stage where we’re going beyond simple scientific analysis, calling into question its ability to accurately determine parentage between a child and its father. This situation raises many questions,” Ouahbi stated.

He also raised some crucial questions: “In a self-respecting state, is it acceptable for some of our fellow citizens to have neither an identity nor an official name? How can a structured state tolerate citizens wandering its streets without a national identity card? Despite our scientific advances, why can’t we legally establish a child’s parentage?”

On the subject of juvenile delinquency, Ouahbi stressed the need to treat these young people as patients in need of care, rather than as criminals. He criticized the stigmatization of drug-addicted minors, stressing that addiction is a medical condition rather than a crime.

The Minister also mentioned the challenges facing minors who are victims of sexual violence, insisting on the need to better protect these young people and to raise the level of consideration for childhood in Morocco. He concluded by warning against the risk of creating a generation of children deprived of their fundamental rights.

The speech took place during a colloquium organized by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and the General Commission of Penitentiary Administration, to raise awareness of youth-related issues in Morocco.