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Join on Telegram Rabat – The project “Baraka: Chabab Contre Les violences” is a Moroccan initiative to counter violence against women that started in December 2016 as part of Oxfam’s global campaign: “Enough! Together against Violence.”
The initiative is under the leadership of the Oxfam association in Morocco in partnership with the Federal League for Women’s Rights (FLDDF), and the Gorara Association for Arts and Cultures which receives funding from the European Union.
The bootcamp was an occasion for young people to work together to create audio-visual content that rejects violence against women, and raises awareness about the issue. The content created circulated around social media to reach a larger audience.
The project involved collaboration between FLDDF-Marrakech organizations and the Gorara Association, which are both committed to fighting gender-based discrimination.
FLDDF was responsible for sensibilization campaigns, whereas Gorara was in charge of participatory and interactive theater to ignite change and progressiveness in youth mentalities and contribute to the remodeling of social and cultural norms that limits women empowerment.
Kamiliya Raouyane, Oxfam’s representative, spoke to Morocco World News about the initiative’s aims and concrete efforts to improve the situation for women in Morocco.
“Our vision is that of a fair and egalitarian Morocco that rejects all forms of discrimination, especially those based on gender, on different levels, economic, social, political, cultural and environmental,” she explained.
She added that Oxfam seeks to promote women’s rights and counter gender-based violence through channels of arts and culture.
Oxfam’s campaign and framework intends to influence public policies to promote women’s equality and eliminate discrimination against them.
According to the project leaders, the establishment of this project comes as a response to the prevalence of gender-based violence, as documented by statistical data provided by the Higher Commission for Planning (HCP), and the Ministry of Justice.
Oxfam’s goal is to deconstruct the patriarchal structures that continue to stifle young women and prevent them from thriving in an egalitarian society.
In 2019, Oxfam launched a study highlighting links between the societal norms and institutionalized violence targeting women and girls.
According to the study, societal practices play a dominant role in justifying and normalizing violence against women. Therefore, gender-violence may be linked to patriarchal norms fixed in the public consciousness that encourage violence against women.
Oxfam’s work hopes to help contribute to a “more egalitarian and just Morocco” that gives equal opportunities for development to both women and men, with no discrimination, marginalization, or violence.
Oxfam hopes to help alleviate social and economic inequalities that primarily affect young women and help them reach their full potential.
“We recognize that women are often among the most marginalized social groups and are deprived of access to resources, justice, and power,” said Kamiliya. The activist feels that it is essential to address discrimination and injustice that women face to ensure they have equal access to resources and power.
Oxfam’s work recognizes that advocating for women’s rights cannot be done without addressing the social and economic inequalities that impede women’s progress.
To this end, Oxfam focuses on enabling women to take on leadership roles as a means of getting out of poverty, and advocating for their rights. This strategy will allow sustainable and effective progress in the long run as it will enable women to have access to opportunities that will empower them both economically and socially.
When asked about the concrete steps that the project aims to implement to encourage “policy changes in favor of young girls and women,” Kamilya underlined the project’s three stages of intervention.
On one level, this project aspires to strengthen the organization and outreach of civil society organizations which play an essential role in the development of women’s rights.
Additionally, the project targets young audiences and seeks to sensitize them to the forms of violence women face, while encouraging them not to ignore the problem, but to work on its solution as well.
The last level of intervention encompasses the advocacy for reform of present laws and policies that perpetuate violence against women, such as the fight against physical or emotional abuse directed at women or the marriage of minors.
This last step of advocacy also requires a sensibilization of the general public and a fight against harmful cultural practices and beliefs that normalize the existing structures and legislation.
According to Kamilya, other projects are in development in other parts of the kingdom, Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceima, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, and Casablanca Settat.
“The main objective of these projects and campaigns, including the “Women’s Voice and Leadership” project funded by Global Affairs Canada and in partnership with the CNDH, is to improve the conditions of women and girls through, in particular, the promotion of a culture of equality and the fight against gender-based violence,” she concluded.
