Morocco: New Bill Protecting Women from Abuse

Minister of Social Development Family and Solidarity Nouzha Skalli announced yesterday, during the conference on the elimination of violence against women, the presentation of the long awaited bill that criminalizes violence against women. Skalli announced that the bill would be given to the Secretary General of Government in order to launch the legislative process by end of December. A bill that criminalizes violence against women was previously introduced three years ago but was withdrawn from Parliament by Minister Skalli who considered its components insufficient to condemn or curb violence against women. Skalli worked closely with Women Rights NGOs and jurists to prepare the new bill as an amendment to the penal code.

Morocco: In Morccco, breaking down barriers in the Arab world

boston.com Passport
By Fatema Haji-Taki

May 5, 2009

IFRANE, Morocco -- For the past five days, a group of Moroccan students and young-adult activists from Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Jordan, Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon, Tunisia and Algeria have been working intensely together in workshops building bridges among themselves and improving skills for creating interfaith community programs in their own countries.

From working to ease interfaith tensions in Egypt and Yemen to advancing women’s rights in Saudi Arabia, these activists are dedicated to sharing their expertise and acquiring new skills on how to effectively plan events, launch campaigns, and secure funding for their field work to promote religious and political freedom in their countries. The workshops emphasize how to translate their online activism to real-world organizing and leadership skills that participants can put to work in practical ways in their home communities.

Ironically, some participants were unable to attend because their visa applications were not approved in time, or, in the case of a prominent Baha’i activist from Egypt, it became too dangerous for her to travel. The empty seats were a stark reminder of the lack of religious and political freedom in most Arab countries.

Jesse Sage, Nasser Weddady and Lauren Murphy from Hands Across the Middle East Support Alliance, a Boston-based nonprofit, and I organized and are facilitating the conference, “Interfaith Leadership Seminar: From the Virtual to the Real World,” at Al Akhawayn University, an English-language college in Ifrane.

Jewish in the Arab world

During the conference the participants met Moroccan Raphael Elmaleh, believed to be the only Jewish tour guide in the Arab world. He is also a founder of the only Jewish museum in the Arab world in Casablanca. Elmaleh’s passion in life is to research the Jewish heritage of Morocco and restore the synagogues and other sites that were left behind by the Jews more than 40 years ago.

“I’m proud to be a Jew in an Arab country,” he says. On Sunday, all the participants had a chance to visit Fez while he showed us the old Jewish Quarter and the cemeteries and the synagogues left behind. For many, this was the first time they had been exposed to the Jewish heritage in an Arab country. By the end of the day, the bond that he created with the rest of the group was heartening.

At first, he acknowledged he was nervous talking about his work to a group of Arab young people from across the Middle East whom he had never met before. But working with the group for two days has changed his mind and he is excited to talk about how Jews and Muslims coexisted peacefully in Morocco and what that means for the future. During dinner yesterday, all of the participants gave him a standing ovation for his dedication while the Moroccan students sang the national anthem. The expression on Elmaleh’s face was invaluable.

Freedom of the press in Yemen

Unfortunately, on Monday, we also learned that an independent newspaper run by one of the Yemeni participants, Abdullah Abdulwahab Naji Qaid, was shut down by Yemeni authorities. Abdullah is a founding member and the General Activity Supervisor of the al-Tagheer Organization for Rights and Freedom Defense, an NGO based in Yemen. He has previously participated in seminars on religious freedom which addressed discrimination against Yemen's Zaidi community.


(Fatema Haji-Taki/UUSC photo)

Yemeni journalist Abdullah Abdulwahab Naji Qaid

When the news broke, the mood among all of us turned solemn. It was a grave reminder of the difficult circumstances these activists work in and the challenges ahead of them after they return home. As the night wore on, the solidarity between all of us for Qaid’s work was palpable. Many are working to organize a campaign for him while others are planning to spread the word through Facebook, their blogs and other online networks.

As a non-Arab Muslim-American human rights activist, I am humbled by the work of my peers. Through the last few days, I’ve seen them work together, debate their differences, sing and dance together. They have created a support network for each other. They are all invested in each others’ success because they all are committed to religious and political freedom in the Arab world.

What they have experienced together as a team will stay with them for the rest of their lives. As they go back, they will face obstacles and there will be times when they will want to give up. My only hope is they will remember the solidarity they experienced this past week and keep soldiering on because they are the future leaders of the Arab world.

Morocco: Child Marriage in Morocco Criticized

Magharebia
By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 05/05/09


[Getty Images] Extreme poverty leads families to marry off their underage daughters, experts in Morocco say.

Moroccan associations and human rights organisations want the practice of child marriage to stop. Campaigners from various associations recently criticised the way the Moudawana (Family Code), which was intended to limit child marriages, has been applied.

The legal minimum age for marriage in Morocco is 18 years, although family judges are empowered to allow exceptions. This loophole has enabled thousands of families to marry off their daughters prematurely.

According to figures from the justice ministry, over 31,000 under-age girls were married in 2008, compared with 29,847 in 2007.

Fouzia Assouli, chair of the Democratic League of Women's Rights, stressed that reform of the family code must take place now to restrict and clearly define the judges' powers regarding child marriage.

"Five years after the new family code was passed, Moroccans have certainly grasped the great importance of women's rights, but we're still lagging behind society's expectations," she said.

Samira Boufaracha, who belongs to the association Together for Women's Development, stated that the basis upon which exemptions are granted by judges is often unclear. "Almost every request is granted, which just encourages families to continue this practice, even though when the Moudawana first came in, we thought things would change."

The Moroccan Women's Democratic Association's legal chair Saïda Amrani Idrissi said that the law gives judges tremendous room for manoeuvre.

The justice minister says that judges are not automatically granting permission for child marriages, citing the 7% of requests that are rejected.

"The fact that some requests are rejected proves that approval is not a foregone conclusion. Requests are granted according to the particular social situation of the girls concerned," stated Justice Minister Abdelwahed Radi.

Jamal Badaoui, a sociologist, explained to Magharebia that it is proving difficult to change Moroccan attitudes overnight, particularly in rural areas. "Mindsets are much harder to change than laws. Parents living in the midst of poverty and illiteracy continue to believe that girls must be married off as soon as possible. They can't imagine a future outside marriage."

He added that things would not change unless there are targeted public awareness campaigns to explain the harm caused by early marriage and to stress the importance of learning in girls' lives, both in urban and country areas. "An improvement in families' economic circumstances will also help to limit the phenomenon. In fact, there is a series of causes on which the authorities and civil society must take action to change the situation."

Morocco: Fund Supports Fourteen Projects to Finance the Representation of Women

Le Matin, 04.28.09
After the establishment of a fund to support the representation of women, and the installation of its committee members, the decision was taken to sign several agreements to finance eligible projects. 9 political parties and 5 associations will benefit from the funds. The parties who will benefit are: organization of Istiqlalian women, Party of Justice and Development (PJD), the National Rally of Independents (RNI), the Popular Movement (MP), the Socialist Union of Popular Forces ( USFP), the Constitutional Union (UC) Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), the Women's section of the Progress and Socialism Party (PPS) and the Socialist Unity Party (PSU). The associations are: Azzahraa forum, Abbas Kabbaj Foudation, The National Association for the Protection of Children and Families, and the renewal of the consciousness for women.

Morocco: Perspectives: Morocco's family code, 5 years later

Common Ground News
Hakima Fassi-Fihri and Zakia Tahiri

Rabat - In February 2004, Morocco was praised for significant progress in the field of women's rights, particularly for revising its 1958 family code – the "Moudawana". This reform was the result of many years of work between academics, theologians, activists and legal experts.

Five years later, it's time to assess whether this praise was warranted.

The 2004 reform was made in a spirit of equity between men and women within the family unit, with the aim of protecting children's interests while respecting the balance between tradition and modernity in a country that is highly attached to its family-based identity.

For example, a young Moroccan woman can now marry freely without permission from her father. The family is also considered the joint responsibility of both spouses and not solely the husband's as before.

Additionally, polygamy – which was a husband's absolute right under the previous code – became subject to the judge's approval and, above all, is allowable only under strict legal conditions which make the practice almost impossible.

The growth in the number of female family judges, along with a clear rejuvenation of the magistracy, are also part of the noteworthy changes resulting from the 2004 reform.

However, additional change is still needed.

Indeed, if at its early stages the Moudawana had a dissuasive effect on polygamy and marriage involving minors, people quickly realised that it was not difficult to get dispensations from judges.

In fact, although the new code stipulates that the legal age for marriage is 18, today in Morocco 10 percent of marriages involve minors. There was a dramatic increase (over 50 percent between 2006 and 2007) in marriages involving youth, especially in rural areas.

In addition to the necessity to properly enforce 2004 reforms, notably by training judges to declare verdicts in line with the new laws, new reforms are still needed to close the gap in gender equity.

For example, when it comes to inheritance and succession, it is neither sensible nor appropriate in cases of female heirs to force them to share their portion with an uncle or male cousin.

Morocco would benefit from intensifying the debate, perhaps with a view to a new Moudawana reform.


Imagining a reversal of gender roles by Zakia Tahiri

Casablanca, Morocco - Five years after the 2004 family code reform, Moroccans are still debating the identity of the Moroccan family. "Nawal", a young Moroccan woman, is proud of these reforms. For her, like for many Moroccan women, it is a victory. But other Moroccan women, such as "Ilham", do not understand much about it. And "Najat" is opposed to it because she has been told it does not comply with God's will. Female opinion is divided.

"Rachid", a young Moroccan male, refuses to get married because he's heard that in the event of divorce he would have to divide his assets with his wife. And the "Mustafas" of Morocco feel they've lost their dignity since the family is now under the shared responsibility of both husband and wife.

These diverse opinions are reflected in the 2008 film, Number One, so named because its main character is a male manager – or the "Number One" – of a clothing factory operated by 50 female workers. The Moudawana is a recurring theme throughout the film, which portrays the discussion of gender equality in Morocco in a new light.

Thousands of women watched this film: among them, women who, for lack of means or interest, had never been to the cinema before. They came because other women told them that it was about them, about their everyday lives.

Many women identified with the situations pictured in the film. They recognised their husbands, their cousins, their bosses. Men's perspectives too were shattered. One man told me after watching: "I realised I was a male chauvinist too when I saw the film." Another said, "I want my daughters to see this film so that they will never accept what they think is their fate."

Five years after the Moudawana, Number One is using humour and entertainment to open discussions and challenge traditional views of male and female roles in Moroccan society.

Morocco: Al Ahd Ad-Democrati Elect 6 Women in its Politburo

Assabah, 4.3.09
After receiving the final receipt from the authorities, the party elected 6 women to its politburo which consists of 35 members. The new configuration of the politburo included several new faces coming from other political formations other than the dissolved Al Ahd party.

The new party demanded many constitutional reforms such as including regionalization in the constitution, tackling issues of identity and reinforcing the role of the parliament in the legislative arena and limiting the government stronghold over it.

Morocco: Women progress but 'could do better': activist

CASABLANCA, Morocco (AFP) — It was backed by the king and finally passed, a hotly disputed reform to empower women, cast off their vulnerability and set a trend in Muslim North Africa -- Morocco's landmark 2004 family law.

Five years later, the reform of "Mudawana", as it is called, is "positive overall" but still falls short of expectations, according to the rights' activist and outspoken head of Morocco's Democratic League for Women's Rights (LDDP), Fouzia Assouli.

Moroccans today have "embraced the idea of women's rights but we are still behind in terms of society's expectations," she told AFP in an interview ahead of International Women's Day on March 8.

Her group was created in 1993 and today counts 13,000 members in this North African country that, much like Turkey, often acts as a link between the Arab and Western world.

"There is no longer the same sort of opposition as before," Assouli conceded, "but it's time to make changes to the family code to restrict and clarify the power of the judges."

The 2004 reforms gave women the right to divorce their husbands and to own assets and property obtained during marriage, and clamped down sharply on a man's ability to repudiate his wife.

But Assouli said two other points are crying out for more change: the marriage of minors and the practice of polygamy, which are still allowed under a judge's discretion in this country of 34.3 million where an estimated 31 percent of the population is under 14.

Today, 10 percent of all marriages in Morocco involve minors and the LDDF has documented a dramatic increase -- more than 50 percent between 2006 and 2007 -- in unions involving underage girls in rural areas, Assouli said.

"Initially, Mudawana had a dissuasive effect ... but people quickly realised that it was not difficult to obtain dispensations," she said.

"We have therefore proposed recommendations that the legal age of marriage, 18-years-old, be respected and that dispensations be the exception, not the rule," she said.

She railed against one provision in the penal code that still allows a man accused with rape to avoid punishment if he marries his victim.

"It is high time to reform that because it is tantamount to a double rape: the first by the man, the second by society in legitimising the crime," she said.

On the sensitive issue of polygamy in a country where the religion once allowed a man to have up to four wives, she applauded the fact that it was now sharply limited but deplored what she said were too many exceptions.

"We see judgements in which a husband can maintain two families if the (first) wife gives her permission." But, asks Assouli, "if this woman has no other resources and is financially dependent on her husband, what choice does she have?"

She cited similar "contradictions" concerning the guardianship of children.

The Mudawana "placed the family under the authority of both parents but it is the father who is the chief. The woman comes second. To enroll children in school, you need the father's permission. The same goes if you want to change their school," she said.

Likewise, Assouli says the laws on inheritance need revamping. "It's unreasonable today, if your only heirs are daughters, to require that they share their inheritance with an uncle or (male) cousin.

"This is no longer acceptable; times have changed and women must have the same rights as men," she said.

The reforms to Mudawana, which is based on Islamic Sharia law, were pushed through by King Mohammed VI -- who is also the religious authority in this constitutional monarchy -- but only after a first failed attempt three years earlier.

Bitter opposition from conservative Muslims saw the government back down. That's when Mohammed VI, who has forged a reputation as a moderniser, stepped in.

Like his late father Hassan II, who maintained an iron grip over politics, he is keen to maintain the image of this former French protectorate as a bulwark of stability in a region stalked by religious extremism. Morocco is not only a NATO ally hailed by Washington for its role in the US-led war on terrorism but has aspirations to join the European Union, its main trading partner, where a backward role for women would not be welcome.

At the time, the king told parliament the reforms would "respond to concerns that the iniquities hanging over women be lifted", in a speech that was roundly applauded by the press. "History will remember that he presided over a major social change," the independent weekly Le Journal wrote afterwards.

But even Moroccan feminists concede the issue, at times, means walking a thin line in a country where religion still holds sway .

When asked about the interior ministry's recent refusal to allow a French feminist group, "Ni Putes, Ni Soumises" (Neither Whores Nor Submissive), to open a branch in Morocco, Assouli understood.

"The name of this group is very provocative," she said. "It would never work in Morocco, society would refuse it, women wouldn't join... I wouldn't even dare to translate the name into Arabic."

But Assouli also saw a religious dimension. The ministry, she said, "was maybe also acting out of fear of giving ammunition to extremists or Islamists, who might use this for false campaigns or to harm women."

Morocco: King retracts CEDAW reservations

Morocco has retracted its reservations on the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), King Mohammed VI announced during a speech on Wednesday (December 10th), the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"Our reservations," the monarch said, "have become obsolete due to the advanced legislation that has been adopted by our country."

The long-awaited move drew praise from civil society; the women's movement had made repeated calls for officials to take the necessary steps to apply the convention in Morocco.

Professor and researcher Malika Benradi noted that Morocco ratified the convention in 1993 with reservations, refusing to enforce any clauses opposing national or Islamic law. For example, Benradi explained that Article 9 deals with the right of a mother to transmit her citizenship to her children; a form of discrimination that Morocco abandoned in 2007.

Article 16 states that both spouses are equal at the moment of, during, and after the dissolution of a marital union. For example, under Moroccan law, there is no true equality between the spouses in terms of providing for one's household, which is solely the husband's duty. Benradi noted that "the retraction of reservations allows for progress, but it is already being debated, particularly with regards to religious issues such as inheritance."

Minister of Social Development, Family and Solidarity Nouzha Skalli expressed her satisfaction with the King's message. In her view, the move confirms Morocco's desire to be forward-looking in terms of women's rights. She added that "the withdrawal of the country’s reservations coincided with a number of other plans launched by Morocco," and "the country is well on the way to becoming an upholder of human rights."

The Moroccan Human Rights Organisation likewise welcomed the move. "Arrangements need to be put in place to enforce this international convention," said the president of the organisation, Amina Bouayache. She added that "Morocco now finds itself in a new set of circumstances. Other initiatives must also be taken, in particular reforms to the constitution and domestic law regarding civil rights and other forms of equality."

Khadija Riyadi, president of the Moroccan Human Rights Association, commented, "The Family Code needs to be amended, especially with regards to those articles that discriminate against women." She added that examples of discrimination pertain to "marriage with foreign nationals, the fact that legal guardianship is always granted to a child's father, inheritance, and polygamy."

The president of the Union for Women’s Action, Nezha Alaoui, noted that in withdrawing its reservations, Morocco "has removed all barriers to the establishment of full equality between men and women in the areas of economic, social and political law."

The president of the Democratic Women's Rights League, Fouzia Assouli, said that "the move was a minor revolution in terms of establishing the principle of equality between men and women – a principle for which the women's movement has fought for many years."

However, not everyone was pleased with the king's announcement. Mustapha Ramid, head of the Justice and Development Party's group in parliament stated that issues pertaining to Islamic law cannot be replaced. "We cannot lift all reservations to the point of achieving total equality, because this point is governed by sharia."

-- By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat

Morocco: Moroccans react strongly to fatwa authorising underage marriage

Moroccans and rights groups are speaking out against a recent fatwa that would allow parents to marry off their underage daughters.


Moroccan Cheikh Mohammed Maghraoui has caused indignation among rights groups and citizens who denounce his recent fatwa authorising the marriage of nine-year-old girls.

Opponents to Cheikh Mohammed Maghraoui's fatwa say the marriage of nine-year-old girls is a violation of human rights in general, and children's rights in particular.
Maghraoui said that at the age of nine, girls are capable of marriage, just like Aisha was when the Prophet Mohammed married her.

"We thought we were rid of those problems after the passage of the family code, which included a number of guarantees to protect children from early marriage, and after setting up the Fatwa Council," the Democratic League of Women’s Rights (LDDF) said in a statement.

The fatwa "endorses rape and child abuse of a nine-year-old child," the LDDF statement continued, adding that the organisation believes the fatwa goes against the children rights' convention and the traditions of the Moroccan people.

Morocco's new family code states that men and woman are eligible for marriage only at the age of 18. It also states that marriage for individuals below the legal age can be sanctioned only by a judge. The law allows the judge to grant such an authorisation only if he finds the marriage to be in the best interest of the parties involved, and only after consulting with the minor’s parents or legal guardian and with consideration paid to medical counselling and the findings of social research.

Cheikh Maghraoui's fatwa was issued in response to a question on whether a woman can get married before reaching the age of menstruation. In his answer, El Maghraoui said that marriage was not linked to menstruation. According to El Maghraoui's website, the fatwa had received 1,642 reads as of September 9th – more than other fatwas on the site – after it was picked up by several local newspapers.

Attorney Mourad Bakouri told the press on Thursday (September 11th) that he filed a lawsuit against Maghraoui for calling for the abuse of minors.

"I have lodged a complaint against this infringement upon the Family Code, the rights of children and the risk of rape," said the lawyer.

"It made us feel the danger that is threatening our families and social stability," said Najat Anwar, president of the Don't Touch My Child association. Religious leaders such as Maghraoui should not be allowed to issue such verdicts freely, she said.

Islamic scholar Abdelbari Zemzem told reporters that the fatwa is unacceptable from a religious point of view. The marriage of underage girls is inapplicable to modern societies, he said, where no ethical, religious or social interest could possibly authorise the marriage of a nine-year-old girl.

Many Moroccan citizens agree.

University student Khaled Najib said such fatwas distort religion and "give enemies of Islam a good reason to attack us and call us backward-minded."

Housewife Fatima Banani said "I do not think any two sane parents who care about the best interests of their daughter, who is still below the age of menstruation, will marry her off, even if the suitor is a good and honourable man."

By Imane Belhaj for Magharebia in Casablanca

Morocco: Moroccan students attend international youth conference in US

[Iman Belhaj] Youths returning from an international conference in the United States talked to Magharebia about representing their homeland and learning about other cultures.

By Iman Belhaj

A delegation of Casablanca high school students recently spent several days in the United States for an international youth conference aimed at increasing global co-operation at the grassroots level.

Ten Moroccan teenagers joined students from Mexico, the United Kingdom, Iraq, India and other countries at the Sister Cities International Youth Conference, held July 16th-19th in Kansas City, USA under the theme, "Global Action: Taking Community Service Abroad".

The youth delegation's trip from Morocco to Missouri was organized by the Casablanca-Chicago Twinning Association. Director Boubker Mazoz said that the students selected to attend the international conference were "outstanding achievers in school in general, and in English in particular".

He explained that the students' secondary schools – Muhamad VI High in Sidi Momen, Muhamad V High in Darb El Sultan Al Fidaa and Ibn Mseek High – are all "twinned", or partnered, with sister schools in Chicago, USA.

"It was a great opportunity for young people our age, a truly unique opportunity. People of various nationalities got together and exchanged views, and we learned about different world civilizations. We hope we managed to convey a good image of our homeland," said 17-year-old Chaimaa Bourrou.

"We did not just represent the Association. Rather, we represented Moroccan youth, who all share the same dreams and aspirations to change things and send out a message of love and tolerance to all nations and individuals," the first year bac student said. She added that the American young people she met were "really thirsty" to learn about other cultures.

The talented young people had a challenging itinerary during their five-day trip. Jihane Dakir, 17, another bac student, said they participated in several social operations, such as sending school supplies to Iraqi children and observing how prison convicts are re-integrated into US society.

"We learned a lot, and it can truly be regarded as an asset to our stock of knowledge," said Awatif Elmelijy. Like other delegates, Awatif was very excited about the conference, telling Magharebia that her trip helped "correct some notions about Americans and the US".

The conference helped present the real image of Morocco and the country's progress in advancing volunteerism and social service, 18-year-old Ilyass Boujnane said.

"We met tolerant American youth," he told Magharebia. "Contrary to what we see on TV, they are people who want to live in peace, just like we do. Despite some challenges incurred by the difference in culture and religions, we managed to overcome that barrier and communicate freely," Ilyass added.

Another student, Khadija Agnaou, had misgivings before the trip about how other young people in the US would react to her as a veiled young woman. She was delighted to see their warm response to her and their acceptance of her ideas. The Moroccan delegation's easy interaction with peers from many cultures was noted by participants in the Sister Cities International Youth Conference.

Many found the performance of the Casablanca teenagers at the concluding ceremony to be very moving. Dressed in traditional Moroccan clothing, the ten high school students went onto the stage at Rockhurst University with their national flag held high to sing Morocco's national anthem.

Representing more than 2,300 communities in 127 countries, Sister Cities International aims to increase global co-operation at the grassroots level. Bringing together youth from around the world, the exchange program promotes peace through mutual respect, understanding and co-operation by focusing on sustainable development, youth

---Magharebia.com

Morocco: Mauritanian women journalists attend capacity-building workshop in Morocco

Nine Mauritanian women journalists are attending a workshop in Rabat, within the framework of the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC), a co-operation programme between UNESCO and the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO), UNESCO's Office in Rabat said on Friday (July 25th). The journalists are members of the Network of Mauritanian Women Journalists. The workshop, which runs through July 30th, focuses on the basics of journalism, writing and radio production, according to a UNESCO press release.

---Magharebia

Morocco: Morocco hails first female district officers

By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat

Until recently, women were barred from attending Morocco's elite training academy for district officers. The graduation of the country's first female caids last week is seen as a milestone for equal rights.

In what is being called a landmark event for gender equality in Morocco, the Royal Institute for Regional Government has granted training course diplomas to women for the first time since its founding in 1965. The 43rd cohort of new caids (district officers) who graduated Monday (July 21st) includes 19 women out of a total of 107.

According to teachers at the institute, which provides theoretical, military and on-the-job training, the first female caids have dazzled with their ability. One – Loubna Faez – obtained the highest mark in her year and will now be promoted directly to the post of District Chief.

"Women have shown that they’re just as capable as men of running all aspects of national affairs. This first cohort of female district officers is something Morocco should be very proud of," Faez commented.

Interior Minister Chakib Benmoussa chaired last week's ceremony in Kenitra and praised the performance of the female graduates. He also noted that a woman "came first in her year".

The first group of female district officers in more than four decades strengthens the programme and helps build "a modern democratic society to ensure equality between man and woman", the minister said.

"By taking this step based on the values of fairness and equal opportunity, the main foundations of building modern Morocco, the Interior Ministry is determined to move forward on this path to... integrate the female element into the areas of authority and give them the opportunity to assume positions of responsibility," he added.

Women's organisations and NGOs have welcomed the move to bring equality for women. Initiatives of this kind mean that women are finally making their presence felt, noted Samira Bandouri of Together for Development.

"We've been waiting a long time for decision-makers to apply the principle of equal opportunities in all areas. Over the last few years women have finally been given a chance to show what they can do," she said.

---Magharebia

Morocco: Women as local governors

For the first time in the history of Morocco, women become local governor or the so-called Caid, who are the representatives of the ministry of interior at the local level.

This year’s cohort of the Royal Institute of Territorial Administration was marked by the graduation of 19 women local governors that will be appointed in different regions of Morocco at a later stage.

Chakib Ben Moussa, minister of interior who presided the graduation ceremony said that “Morocco is determined to ensure professionalism and good quality of services in the territorial administration by the integration of women in the authority sphere.”

---Aujord'hui le Maroc (article in French)

Morocco: Women qualify as civil servants for the first time

Rabat, 23 July (AKI) - For the first time in Morocco's history, 19 women have qualified as civil servants, pan-Arab daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat reports.

Previously only men could qualify as civil servants in Morocco.

According to the daily, the 19 women are among 107 new civil servants who qualified on Tuesday in the city of Quneitra, 40 kilometres north of the Moroccan capital, Rabat.

"The presence of women in the civil service reinforces our government's policies aimed at building a modern and democratic society where women and men are equal," said Morocco's Interior Minister Shakib Binumsi.

Binumsi vowed these and other women will in the future be able to reach senior positions in the country's civil service.

Fouzia Amansar in October 2006 became the first female governor of the prefecture of Ain Chock, Casablanca. She was appointed by to the post by King Mohammed VI.

---Adnkronos International

Morocco: Morocco's telecommunications sector booming

Morocco's telecommunications sector booming

By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 02/07/08

Ten years after the beginning of liberalisation in Morocco's telecommunications sector, indicators for the industry are all green. Business has increased rapidly over these ten years, although telephony and internet are not developing at the same pace. Turnover has surged from 8.5 billion dirhams in 1999 to 30 billion in 2007, equivalent to more than 7% of gross domestic product (GDP).

Liberalisation – a process undertaken ten years ago in the telecommunications sector – has made it possible to transition from a monopoly to a competitive market, and has helped Morocco become a regional leader in the industry.

According to Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi, the sector is booming. "It has allowed the creation of 37,000 direct jobs and around 120,000 indirect jobs and represents half of the direct foreign investment made over the past five years," he said.

The number of landline subscribers reached 2,393,767 in 2007, compared with 1,266,119 subscribers in 2006 – an increase of 89%. Competition between the three private operators has had a beneficial effect on prices. The number of fixed residential lines has increased 136% during the same period. For mobile telephone subscribers, the number has increased from 16,004,731 in 2006 to some 20,029,030 by the end of 2007, an annual increase of 25%.

Despite the developments, telephony remains in its earliest stages, according to Azdine El Mountassir Billah, Director-General of the National Agency for Telecommunications Regulation (ANRT).

"All sectors in the economy are turning to the new technologies," he said. "Potential for development in the sector is still considerable."

Internet use has also increased, but not enough, the ANRT says. The number of ADSL subscribers is increasing constantly, with an annual growth rate of 57.6% in 2006 and 21.9% in 2007, but there are just 600,000 internet subscribers and 6 million internet users in total. Despite a population of more than 33 million, only 7,000 internet cafés are found in Morocco.

"I think the most important obstacle relates to a problem with content. This still falls short of what it is needed," El Mountassir Billah told reporters. "When an internet user is offered a number of online services, internet access will grow at practically the same rate as mobile telephone use. The sector requires some massive investment."

Although a good many Moroccans have fears over the security of their personal data on the net, El Mountassir Billah is keen to reassure them.

"The ANRT will work to narrow the digital gap," he said, "to encourage the development of support content, to protect people's private lives and to instil digital confidence to support electronic certification, business and the Administration."

---Magharebia.com

Morocco: Leading Woman Entrepreneur to Serve as Corporate Ambassador in Morocco

As a female entrepreneur starting a business in 1979, Kathleen K. Diamond didn't listen to the word "No". Now, with a 30-year track record of innovative business decisions and a passionate commitment to living her dream, Diamond is recognized as a leading U.S. female executive, successful entrepreneur and business advocate for women around the world.

On June 9 and 10, Diamond, along with 2 other top U.S. female executives, will be participating in the International Conference on "Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Growth" in Casablanca, Morocco. Based on their experiences, they will share strategic business development and corporate growth issues as well as those topics specific to the Middle East and North Africa region. More than 200 Moroccan businesswomen and men will participate in this exciting Con-ference (see also LLE).

The forum is part of a program designed by the U.S. State Department's Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and the Vital Voices Global Partnership. Association de femmes chefs d'entreprises du Maroc (AFEM), is the local partner for the Conference. The Corporate Ambassador program was designed to develop women entrepreneurship overseas by connecting high-level female executives from the U.S. with rising businesswomen leaders from other coun-tries. Skills, including business development, marketing and management, are addressed to equip women to grow their business, provide for their families and successfully create employment opportunities in their own communities.

"I am extremely honored and humbled to participate in such an important and well designed program", says Diamond. "Empowering women across the world with thought leadership, analysis and guidance from diverse business backgrounds is vital for a healthy international economy."

Diamond is conducting an educational workshop on how organizations can effectively use information technology to grow their business and reach new markets. She founded her technology-driven organization, LLE, in 1979 with a mission to deliver excellence in foreign languages. Interested parties, who wish to learn more about Kathleen Diamond, or LLE, are encouraged to call (877) 405-8764, extension 213; or visit www.lle-inc.com.

-- PRNewswire

North Africa: Unemployment to blame for North Africa protests

RABAT- Unemployment disproportionately affecting young people is to blame for violent protests over the weekend in Morocco and Tunisia that killed one person and injured dozens, observers said.

"Endemic unemployment among young people from the Maghreb (northwestern Africa) is the cause of the protests that broke out in the past few days in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia," said Aziz, an activist from the Moroccan city of Sidi Ifni who asked not to be identified by his full name.

Clashes between security forces and young unemployed protesters erupted on Saturday in the Moroccan fishing port city 100 kilometers (60 miles) southwest of Rabat.

The national unemployment rate stood at 9.7 percent in 2007, according to government statistics, but four out of 10 of these jobseekers were younger than 25.

In Tunisia, the national unemployment rate reached 14 percent in 2007, according to a Tunisian government official.

"Youth unemployment, especially among thousands of graduates in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia is the common denominator in the three countries where demonstrations periodically take place in cities," Khalid Cherkaoui, president of the Moroccan centre for human rights (CMDH), said.

Sidi Ifni saw its first such protests in 2006, young people in the area said.

The violence this weekend left 44 people injured, including 27 police officers, according to hospital sources in Sidi Ifni. CDMH estimates however that between one and five people died as a result of the clashes.

The Moroccan government denies this. "There was not one death," said spokesman Khalid Naciri.

In the southwest Tunisian city of Redeyef, one person was killed in protests on Friday and several were injured.

Here the demonstrations were ignited by allegations that the region's main employer had doctored a recruitment campaign. Protesters believed that officials from the Gafsa Phosphate Company had manipulated a selection process to their own advantage.

In Sidi Ifni, where fishing is the primary source of income, police used force to unblock the port where 89 trucks waited with loads of some 800 tonnes of fish.

The blockade had begun May 30 when the results of a recruitment campaign were unveiled and three successful candidates randomly picked. After the draw, around 120 angry youths moved towards the port and blocked operations, said socialist deputy Abdelwahab Belfkih.

Another elected official, Lahcen Achouad, said the "demands of the young people are socio-economic in nature. They are asking for an equitable distribution of the city's wealth."

-- Middle East Online

Morocco: Morocco actively fighting cancer

Television campaigns in Morocco attempt to raise awareness that the early detection of breast cancer through screenings can result in a full recovery in 90% of cases.



The battle against cancer in Morocco has escalated in recent years. The number of those affected by the disease is still unclear, but specialists take on an estimated 30,000 new cases each year, 12,000 of which are treated in oncology centres.


Awareness-raising campaigns are increasingly widespread. The latest large-scale campaign on the importance of breast cancer screening is running throughout the month of May. This national campaign was launched by the Lalla Salma Cancer Research Association (ALSC) with a budget of 3.5 million dirhams. According to the programme organisers, some 7,000 breast cancer cases are reported each year – an average of twenty per day.


ALSC Executive Director Rachid Bekkaly told Magharebia that cancer remains little-known and screenings are approached with fear because the illness is associated with death. He stressed that cancer, if caught in its early stages, can be cured in 90% of cases, and that products for its treatment are available and provided free of charge for those on low incomes and those not already on treatment programmes.

"We want to encourage women to go for early diagnosis before the disease reaches its more serious stages," he said.

The current campaign is distributing information about the disease, to spur people into action on the early detection of breast cancer. In addition to posters and televised announcements, entertainers have become involved in the campaign, with a promotional song broadcast by TV channels and radio stations.

The chairman of the ALSC’s scientific committee, Moulay Tahar Alaoui, said the health ministry is working, in collaboration with the association, to develop oncology centres in several of Morocco's regions, with new clinics opening up in Fes, Marrakech, Oujda, Agadir and very soon in Al Hoceima, to add to those in Rabat and Casablanca.

In addition, a drug-purchasing fund for the needy will be introduced to improve the accessibility of treatment.


Also as part of the national effort, the nation's first breast and cervical cancer screening centre was inaugurated May 6th at the Souissi Maternity Hospital in Rabat. This flagship centre, set up by the ALSC, the health ministry and Rabat University Hospital (CHU), with support from the Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaers regional council, can see up to 30,000 people per year. Patients are referred by the various health centres across the region for more specialised mammography, biopsy and colposcopy examinations, as well as for specialist gynaecological consultations.


The centre will make it possible to see patients flagged during screening, perform a diagnosis and then refer them on to specialists for treatment as needed.


Breast and cervical cancer were emphasised because, according to the ALSC, these two varieties affect 50% of cancer sufferers in Morocco.

By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia

Morocco: Women pin hopes on 2009 communal elections

A Moroccan woman examines a blank chart of constituencies. Associations throughout Morocco are rallying efforts to give electors more women candidates in the 2009 communal elections.

Moroccan women hold only a half-percent of the country's local political positions, run just 127 of 1,497 communes and serve as mayor of only one town. In the run-up to Morocco's 2009 communal elections, civil society is now rallying to change this situation.

The effort to increase women's political representation at the municipal level is finding support from an alliance of nearly 1,000 associations across Morocco. Under the banner, "The One-Third Movement", the new federation has launched a large-scale campaign aimed at convincing politicians to amend the electoral code. Activists want the law to require that women comprise at least a third of listed candidates in the upcoming municipal elections.

"The most important thing for us is that women participate more. We’re not even talking about equality, just a third," says Khadija Rebbah, president of the Casablanca branch of the Moroccan Women’s Democratic Association.

Nouzha Skelli, the Minister for Social Development, the Family and Solidarity, says it is time to give women the place they deserve at the local level. If women are left on the sidelines, she asserts, half of society will find itself marginalised.

"Women have a lot of potential and they must be given the opportunity to show what they’re capable of," she tells Magharebia, adding, "It’s absolutely essential that we get above the level of 0.56%".

According to the president of the Moroccan Human Rights Organisation, however, the communal elections pose a major problem for improving women’s representation. "This is due to the absence of all-women lists, as happened during the legislative elections," Amina Bouayache explained.

The new federation's plan to raise awareness within parliament, political parties and the government is already beginning to see results. Some political parties now promise to give women greater participation during next year's elections.

Said Ameskane, a spokesman for the Mouvement Populaire, told Magharebia: "My party will give women a big opportunity. However, priority will be given to those who work at the grassroots level and are popular with voters."

The National Rally of Independents will also attach great importance to fielding women candidates, said party official Anis Birou.

"You feel that there is the political will at the national level to give women the place they deserve within decision-making authorities," political science professor Ahmed Badri explained, noting that "the appointment of seven women to the government proves this". Still, he added, "efforts need to be pursued at the local level so that the country can rise up the international rankings".

"Morocco is ranked 92nd in the world in terms of women’s representation," he said.

Voters disagree as to women’s ability to run public affairs. While many young people say they will make their choice based on clearly-defined criteria, irrespective of the candidate’s gender, older people make no secret of their preference for male candidates.

"I think it doesn’t really matter whether the candidate is a man or a woman. The main thing is that they should be honest, hold at least the baccalaureate, and be committed to serving their region," medical student Amine Belghiti told Magharebia. "I’d be happy to vote for a woman."

50-year-old nurse Mohamed Farkhati has a totally different opinion: "Politics isn’t for women. They will never be able to run things better than men. I will not allow a woman to run the affairs of my commune," he told us. His view is shared by a large number of other voters, both male and female.

To change this well-entrenched perspective, awareness-raising activity will continue at the regional level by associations and at the local level by political parties.

The "One-Third Movement" plans to step up its efforts over the next few months, as the municipal elections in Morocco draw near.

- Sarah Touahri, Magharebia

Tunisia: Meeting promotes female journalists in union leadership

A Tunisian journalist gives a presentation at a recent meeting in Tunis organised to advocate women journalists' participation in professional unions.

At a recent meeting in Tunis, women journalists from across the Maghreb announced an upcoming campaign called "Women in Union Leadership". The initiative aims to encourage women to participate in unions and to "promote to decision-making positions inside these unions through training, networking, communication and formation of pressure groups".

The forum, held April 17th-19th, was organised by the International Federation of Journalists (FIJ) and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. Attendees participated in a series of dialogues in which women journalists representing 14 Arab countries and Iran related their experiences in unions and leadership.

"The message of our meeting is clear – to encourage women journalists in the Arab region to join unions, to take part in their elections, and to run for leadership positions," Algerian Sarah Bouchetob told Magharebia.

Bouchetob, who is responsible for Arab world projects, said that she is already optimistic about developments in Tunisia, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. She added that she looks forward to the next elections in Algeria, "so that we may see whether we have advanced in a good way".

At the last conference of the National Union of Tunisian Journalists held in January, three out of nine victors were women. In Morocco last March, five women acceded to the 19-member panel at the head of the journalists' syndicate.

Many attending the conference said, however, that conditions of female journalists are still below expectations in some countries. Journalist Adel Bouhlal said Tunisia has women who "enjoy enough professionalism and competency to lead and make decisions", but there has yet to be a single woman editor-in-chief, in either official or privately-owned newspapers.

Mounia Belafia, Vice-Secretary-General of the Moroccan National Press Syndicate, told Magharebia there are still "pockets of resistance" in Arab society keeping women from these positions of authority. Opponents of gender equality attempt to minimise what they view as risks by ideologically exploiting women, she added.

"There are many calls... to make women wear veils," she said, "but [also] calling for allowing women to take off their clothes in order to exploit them. We find ourselves with a choice of two traps; the first is the veiling and hiding, and the other is pornography and sexuality. Both are different forms of extremism," she said.

The meeting concluded with the identification of a set of goals and principles on which the journalist unions and syndicates will work in co-operation with the FIJ. The most prominent of these goals is "the need to increase the representation of women journalists in leadership positions in the unions and associations, with the adoption of a quota system. This is in addition to the enhancement of abilities of women journalists in unions through training."

Participants in the meeting agreed on the need "to involve male colleagues in all gender-related issues, enhance the union policies and trends in order to guarantee union rights of women journalists, and to protect them against all forms of violence and harassment they face in their work. This is in addition to ensuring the integration of the social gender approach in collective bargaining and common agreements."

By Jamel Arfaoui for Magharebia in Tunis