Rabat – A follow-up study on the implementation of Law 103.13 on combating violence against women, which Morocco adopted in 2018, has called for more effective police responses to acts of violence against women.
Conducted by the Ministry of Solidarity, Social Inclusion, and Family, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund, the study’s findings were presented on Tuesday at the Bouregreg Palace in Sale.
The study urged judicial police to “intervene immediately” after an assault on a woman is reported and to set deadlines for the investigation to be completed.
It also recommended that specialized judicial police units are created and dedicated to cases of violence against women. The study also called for establishing correctional sections specialized in cases of violence against women across Moroccan courts of first instances and criminal sections in courts of appeal.
In regard to the implementation of Law 103.13, the study showed a “significant diversification” of sources and types of evidence adopted by the Moroccan justice system in cases of violence against women, all of which align with international standards.
In order to ensure the effective implementation of the law, the study recommended holding training sessions for the benefit of actors concerned with its application, with the aim of informing them about practical approaches and relevant standards relating to violence against women.
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Ensuring the contribution of women’s associations is equally important, as the study called for establishing specific criteria for the presence of associations that care for women victims of violence, as well as providing them with the necessary resources to carry out their work.
Speaking at the event, Morocco’s Minister of Solidarity, Social Inclusion, and Family Aawatif Hayar highlighted the government’s efforts in protecting and supporting women victims of violence.
Morocco’s Minister of Solidarity, Social Inclusion, and Family Aawatif Hayar speaking at the event
She indicated that Morocco has signed 85 agreements to create centers and shelters for women victims of violence across the country, adding that they include a “social incubator” that aims to “economically, culturally, environmentally, and politically empower women.”
In an interview with United Nations News following the event, the minister spoke of Morocco’s efforts to empower women and reduce the gender gap using technology. The country has launched a digital platform that victims can use to report violence against women and seek assistance and counseling, she noted.
Despite the government’s efforts to address and raise awareness about violence against women, gender-based violence remains a serious issue in Morocco. The COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated this issue, as lockdowns and restrictive Covid measures led to women being trapped in abusive and violent environments.
The country has witnessed an alarming increase in domestic violence cases during the pandemic, up by 31.6% in 2020 after the lockdown compared to the same time before the pandemic in 2019.
