Rabat – Today, as proud Moroccan women, on this International Women’s Day we choose to pause, reflect, and celebrate the Moroccan women in our lives, an opportunity to revel in a day of sisterhood and bond.
With over 50% of Moroccans being women, their empowerment is essential to achieving a more inclusive, open, and prosperous kingdom of Morocco. Empowering Moroccan women to reach their full potential is key to economic growth, political stability, and social transformation. This desire is not held solely by women or any one demographic, party or group. The opportunity for prosperity and improved quality of life is something that all Moroccans want.
Women in rural areas
Today, the advances Morocco has achieved since the millennium have contributed largely to improving many human development indicators, especially for women. The journey to protect Morocco’s women is on the right track thanks largely to the staunch women’s rights movements advocating for social change, but it is far from over. Morocco remains one of the many examples of how societies in the Middle East and North Africa are grappling with balancing tradition and the human imperative of making society more just for women.
Although Morocco has made improvements in women’s rights, challenges remain to reaffirm women’s voices as vital for the present and future of the country. Morocco has the ability and opportunity to improve the conditions of women, fulfill both their international and domestic laws and values. Through the transformative power of legal reforms, for example, the implementation of the reforms at ground level has the capacity to empower women.
Moroccan women protesting
Following generational shifts in attitude towards the socio-economic role of the Moroccan woman, Moroccan society and international communities where the Moroccan diaspora are present have all witnessed an increase in advocacy for women’s rights. Moreover, stigmas relating to women and patriarchal leadership in Morocco continue to be dismantled through cultural means such as cinema and music. The recent FIFA World Cup 2022, where Moroccan female artists were at the forefront of the ceremonies is an example of Moroccan women’s artistic talents transcending geographical boundaries.
Positive and empowering discourse for women and young girls plays a significant role in societal attitudes towards what women and young girls are seen valued at by men, other women, and most of all themselves. So, on this International Women’s Day, we share a collective call for action to the entire Moroccan populace – rural and urban, liberal and conservative, inside the country and diaspora – from Rabat to Washington to support an enabling environment for the Moroccan women in our lives to thrive. Let us reflect and ask ourselves: What does extolling women’s empowerment signify to me? Let us celebrate the achievements of Moroccan women, express gratitude to the Moroccan women in our lives and stand with women and girls’ development.
Women empowerment
