Morocco: Government seeks to criminalise violence against women

A newly-launched initiative by the Moroccan government to crack down on violence against women ranges from setting up more battered women's shelters to revising the Penal Code in order to criminalise gender-based violence.

Minister of Social Development, Family and Solidarity Nouzha Skalli, who announced the action plan on March 27th, said it includes establishing 16 new centres this year for women who have been the victims of violence, conducting a national survey to determine the prevalence of gender-based violence and setting up a pilot rehabilitation centre aimed at helping men control violent behaviour caused by psychiatric problems.

Preparing a draft bill to outlaw violence against women, however, will be the primary focus, said the Ministry's director for women’s affairs, family and children, Naima Benyahya. Although the Moudawana, or Family Code, was expanded in 2006 to give women more rights in marriage and divorce, it is now time to re-open the debate and expand the Penal Code, she said.

"We need to give a precise definition of violence against women, add new provisions to the Penal Code to combat this problem and repeal others such as that concerning the proof which women must provide in cases where violence has occurred in isolation, with no witnesses," Minister Skalli explained to Magharebia, adding that a woman’s word should be taken as proof, as happens in other countries.

She also highlighted the fact that the draft law was inspired by the principles of Islam, the values of Moroccan society and the progress already made by the country in protecting women’s rights.

Officials say a number of gaps in the law are hindering the campaign against violence. In addition, any plan to reform existing law and assure implementation of new legislation is compromised by a lack of specialist judges and staff experienced in social action.

Statistics from the last three months are also creating a sense of urgency. According to the Ministry, monitoring services have already recorded some 17,000 cases of violence this year, 78.8% of which were committed by husbands.

Domestic violence stems from a male chauvinist mentality, Skalli argues, which is why her department, in partnership with the ministries of Education and Islamic Affairs, plans to launch awareness-raising campaigns to foster a culture of sexual equality.

Siham Badawi, a member of the NGO "Dialogue for Development", told Magharebia that only state intervention can ensure that women are protected.

"We’re eagerly awaiting legal reforms imposing tough penalties which will act as a deterrent for the great majority of men," she said.

-- Magharebia