Under Mohammed VI, the Kingdom made major advances in women’s rights, with significant legislative and social reforms. The Sovereign’s commitment has modernized the country, strengthened gender equality and women’s access to education and politics.
The constant desire of King Mohammed VI to promote women’s rights in Morocco is well established. He made this cause a priority, and he affirmed it many times. “Since my accession to the throne, I have been keen to improve the status of women, to open up prospects for advancement and to enable them to take their rightful place in society.” Ains spoke to the Sovereign two years ago, on the occasion of the Feast of the Throne. And in fact, from 1999, the King initiated a profound transformation of Moroccan society, by tackling gender inequalities through major legislative, economic and social reforms, despite the conservatism that could reign in mentalities then, and which still persists today. The revision of the Family Code in 2004 is one of the most emblematic changes. Hailed internationally as a model of modernization in the Muslim world, this revision has been rightly described as a “gentle social revolution” by the current head of government, Mr. Aziz Akhannouch. From the moment of ascension to the Throne, the tone was set: women are holders of inalienable rights, they are full citizens and the major advances of the Kingdom will not be made without them. “Morocco’s progress depends on the status of women in society,” said the King on July 31, 2022. Progress at all levels Thanks to his enlightened directives, polygamy has been strictly regulated, and subjected to conditions so rigorous that it has become almost impractical. The minimum age for marriage has been standardized at 18 for both sexes. Repudiation is no longer a male prerogative and divorce procedures have become fairer. Women were recognized as adults at 18, in the same way as men: a clear break with their previous status as perpetual minors. The overall development of the country depends on these small legislative adjustments: “How can we hope to achieve progress and prosperity when women, who constitute half of society, see their interests violated? » declared the King a few years ago. In 2011, Morocco experienced a wave of demonstrations, much less virulent than among its neighbors. However, citizens demanded more social justice, denounced corruption and demanded change. Feminist associations made themselves heard, and in response to the demands, the King promulgated a new constitution, which for the first time, formally stated the principle of equality between men and women. Introduction of female electoral lists, promotion of parity in politics, the objective was clear: to guarantee increased representation of women in decision-making bodies. The female presence in the public sphere has been strengthened: which is no small thing considering that political parity is one of the main indicators of the level of democratic progress of a society. However, let us not hide the major role of Moroccan feminist organizations which, active, determined and well organized, have been able to mobilize the population and raise awareness among political decision-makers. Morocco, keen to strengthen its stature on the international scene, was keen to respond diligently to the expectations of international organizations in terms of human rights. The ratification of treaties such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination (CEDAW) reinforced this commitment. This United Nations body, responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Convention and often considered an international charter of women’s rights, examines the progress of state parties in relation to women’s rights. In 2022, the substantial changes accomplished under the high directives of the King received, in 2022 in Geneva, the congratulations and encouragement of the committee’s experts. Morocco is on the right track. Early marriages are decreasing, policies to combat violence against women are showing positive results, after the adoption of law 103-13. Let us also add that women’s access to education has seen marked improvements, with an increasing enrollment rate for girls. More graduates and executives In this regard, the National Program to Combat Illiteracy has enabled many women, especially in rural areas, to access education. The Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity has created networks which have greatly improved the schooling conditions of rural girls. The goal? eradicate illiteracy, break the cycle of poverty, and provide women with the means to be active in society. The HCP data bears this out. In the 2021 study “Moroccan women in figures: 20 years of progress”, we note that the percentage of women with a higher diploma increased, between 2000 and 2020, by 7.2 percentage points. Another example: the proportion of women occupying senior management positions and liberal professions increased from 2.1% in 2010 to 8.6% in 2020. The merit and wisdom of the King is to deal intelligently with this social conservatism to which a large part of the population remains attached. Its progressive strategy is to always ensure the balance between the traditionalism of minds and the universal principles of human rights.
