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Rabat – Morocco’s Ministry of Interior has submitted a document to all Moroccan administrations calling for a simplification of the parental recognition procedures for children born from undocumented marriages.
The Wali general director of local collectivities, Khaled Safir, addressed the document to all regional Walis and governors. The paper invites its addresses to inform communal councils’ presidents as well as officials in charge of civil status documents’ services of the importance of simplifying the administrative procedures for child registration.
Article 16 of the Family Code considers the marriage certificate as the only legal and official proof of marriage. Couples without a marriage certificate face administrative obstacles when trying to register their children in civil records.
The new orders seek to reduce problems related to child registration. They also seek to protect children’s rights and ensure their eligibility for school.
In January 2018, Moroccan administrations launched a campaign to promote the registration of undocumented children in civil records.
The Human Rights’ Ministry stated that the number of Moroccan children who are unregistered in civil records is currently estimated at more than 83,000.
The practice of marriage without a legal certificate, known as “Fatiha” marriage, is still prevalent in Morocco, especially in rural areas. While the marriage is valid from a religious point of view, it is not legally recognized.
Couples without a legal marriage certificate cannot register their children in official civil records. The children, therefore, have no legal identity and can face problems when registering for school.
