RAJA KHAYRAT

Morocco- Al-Nakheel Association for Women and Children, a Moroccan non-governmental organization, has made great efforts to integrate a gender equality perspective in society and to ensure the active implementation of laws protecting women from violence in Morocco since it was founded in 1997. Amina Fanan, a human rights activist and member of the association, says the association has been working to promote gender equality and legal, socio-economic and social rights for women and girls.

 The association has nine centers providing support to women and girls in Marrakech and seven cities of Morocco. “Until now, these centers have reached about 19,500 women. The association provides support to women at courts, police stations, hospitals and health centers. The association also provides psychological and legal support to women and children victims of violence. Moroccan women have a national network consisting of many women’s organizations and human rights organizations such as the women-led initiative called Spring of Equality and Spring of Dignity to fight for gender equality in Morocco.”

 They work for amendments of laws  

 Speaking about the need for a reform in the Moroccan Family Law and Article 475 of the Moroccan Penal Code, Amina Fanan said, “Article 475 says a rapist should not be punished if he marries the victim.” Pointing to Moroccan Law no. 103-13 combating violence against women, she said, “The members of the network have been waging a struggle for the amendments of many laws that violate women’s rights and to promote the political rights of women and youth and achieve parity.”

‘Our aim is to empower women’

 Commenting on women’s political participation, Amina Fanan said, “We have held courses to increase women’s participation in politics. Until now, 4,565 women have attended our courses. The association has also held seminars and meetings in order to achieve parity, as it is a constitutional right, according to Article 19 of the Moroccan Constitution of 2011. The association has held many training courses as part of its projects to support women in starting their own businesses. Our aim is to motivate and empower women to develop their own projects and achieve financial independence.”

 Amina Fanan also said that Al-Nakheel Association for Women and Children has been making efforts along with women’s organizations to perpetuate values based on human rights principles and to prioritize vulnerable groups. “The association has played an important role in building participatory democracy and a bridge between non-governmental organizations and elected councils in the region. The aim of the association is to integrate a gender equality perspective in society and to ensure the active implementation of laws protecting women from violence in Morocco.”