UN Partners Mobilize to Support Fight Against Gender-Based Violence in Morocco

Rabat – The UN Development System in Morocco is actively joining forces with its partners as it prepares for the 33rd edition of the global “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign.

Running annually from November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to December 10, Human Rights Day, the campaign has evolved into a major worldwide movement, garnering widespread participation and support.

To date, more than 6,000 organizations across nearly 187 countries have mobilized in the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign, raising awareness among over 300 million people worldwide.

Tackling gender-based violence in Morocco: a call for global action

In Morocco, gender-based violence remains a critical issue. A 2019 report by the High Commissioner for Planning (HCP) revealed that over 82.6% of women—nearly eight out of ten—have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime. In the year leading up to the report, more than 7.6 million women were victims of violence in various forms and contexts.

A recent instance that gained prominence all over Moroccan social media is the Moroccan police arresting a 15-year-old boy for his involvement in a sexual assault case against a woman in Tangier.

The disturbing video showed teenagers surrounding the woman, grabbing her arms, touching her inappropriately and lifting her dress up. The assault took place while passersby, both men and women, looked on.

In response to this crisis, the US Secretary-General’s initiative, “Tous UNiS pour mettre fin aux violences faites aux femmes et aux filles d’ici à 2030” (All UNited to End Violence Against Women and Girls by 2030), continues to drive global efforts to raise awareness, advocate for stronger action, and promote innovative solutions to combat gender-based violence.

Launched in 2008, the initiative calls on governments, civil society, the private sector, the media, and the entire UN system to unite in addressing this global pandemic of gender-based violence.

This year, as the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (Beijing+30) approaches, the campaign’s theme is “Towards the 30th Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: All UNiS to End Violence Against Women and Girls!”

Global action to end gender-based violence

The initiative seeks to unite the international community around the Beijing+30 priorities, emphasizing the urgent need to hold perpetrators accountable, accelerate the implementation of national strategies with allocated budgets, and boost funding for women’s rights movements.

Gender-based violence remains one of the most widespread human rights violations globally. Despite many countries implementing specific laws to combat violence against women and girls, deeply rooted archaic discriminatory social norms continue to persist.

Throughout the 16 Days of Activism, a series of actions will take place both in-person and online, led by the UN Development System’s agencies, institutional partners, civil society, and the media.

The event will also feature the renewal of the prominent initiative “Orange the World,” with partners lighting up their workplaces and digital spaces in orange to signify their commitment to ending violence against women and girls. This collective action is aimed at increasing visibility and fostering solidarity in the global fight against gender-based violence.

Gender-based violence remains a severe and pervasive issue in Morocco, as it does globally, affecting millions of women and girls across all societies. Despite legal advancements and increased awareness, harmful social norms and unequal power dynamics continue to perpetuate violence.

In Morocco, addressing this challenge requires unwavering commitment, collective action, and sustained efforts from the government, civil society, and communities to create a society where women and girls can live free from fear, discrimination, and violence.