Rabat – The US Charge d’Affaires David Greene commended Morocco for its efforts in stopping gender-based violence and working to support the health of Moroccan women. Morocco’s United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative Luis Mora met with Greene to further the conversation on the topic.
Morocco has been a big proponent in supporting women on issues such as maternal affairs and is actively working to reduce still prevalent domestic gender-based violence.
Noting the growing importance of midwives delivering care after giving birth in Morocco, the UNFPA lauded Morocco’s work in protecting mothers during pregnancy.
“[The] UNFPA began supporting Morocco’s midwifery programmes around 2000, partnering with the health ministry and local midwifery groups including the Moroccan Association of Midwives and the National Association of Midwives.
In 2017, “Morocco’s maternal mortality rate for 2017 was 70.00, a 2.78% decline from 2016,” according to a report by MacroTrends. The report studies “the number of women who die from pregnancy-related causes while pregnant or within 42 days of pregnancy termination per 100,000 live births.”
On the topic of gender-based violence, the Moroccan government is working to establish a culture of safety for women in Morocco.
Article 22 and 23 of Morocco’s 2011 constitution relate to the physical harm of another person and prejudice. “The physical or moral integrity of anyone may not be infringed, in whatever circumstance that may be, and by any party that may be,” states the constitution.
In 2018, Morocco’s parliament passed a law on violence against women.
Law No. 103-13 states “any act based on gender discrimination that entails physical, psychological, sexual, or economic harm to a woman.” However, the law does not explicitly define domestic violence or include marital rape.
Morocco still has a long way to go before reaching complete equality between men and women. According to a national survey conducted in 2019, 54.4% of Moroccan women have experienced violence in both public and private spaces.
The US and Morocco will continue to work together on issues such as maternal affairs and gender-based violence as both countries continue to develop relations across all disciplines.
