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Rabat — Morocco’s High Commission for Planning (HCP) has again shared disturbing data on the continued domestic violence and other forms of harm that Moroccan women, including young girls, are subjected to.
HCP brought the data for its March report, compiling the statistics from key findings from a 2019 survey on violence against young girls in Morocco.
The data shows that approximately 825,000 girls aged between 15 and 19 were victims of violence in the 12 months preceding the survey. This amounts to 70.7% of the respondents.
The statistics said violence is extending to women aged 2 to 74, with a prevalence rate standing at 55.8%.
According to the report, women under 50 years old remain vulnerable to violence, with a national average prevalence of 57.1%.
The urban world witnesses a higher rate of violence, affecting 518,000 young girls, or 75.1% of the victims, compared to rural areas, where violence also shows in alarming figures.
In rural areas, at least 307,000 young girls were subject to violence, or 64.3%, and that only accounts for the ladies who opened up about the situation during the survey, let alone those who have not.
Sometimes factors like being scared of divorce, or fearing family, can prevent tens of thousands of women and girls from speaking up about the ill treatment they face in their daily lives.
According to the report, domestic violence is predominating on the list of forms of violence reported, with a prevalence of 59.4%, affecting 693,000 young girls aged between 15 and 19.
The rates are always higher in urban areas, with 60.8% and 57.4% in rural areas.
Violence in educational and training institutions is also prevalent, as 25.3% of female students said they experienced violence.
In rural areas, this trend is higher with 34.9%, against 22.8% in urban areas.
Violence in every form
The statistics further cited all other forms of violence, including psychological violence, which is the most common, with a 61.6% prevalence.
Sexual violence comes second with 23.3% affecting at least 272,000 victims from the reported incidents, highlighting severe risks to physical and mental well-being.
Coming third is physical violence, with a prevalence rate of 17.1% of girls, affecting at least 199,000 victims.
Economic violence and cyber violence were also part of the prevalent forms of violence that women and girls are subjected to.
Economic violence affected 16,000 victims, including financial control and economic exploitation.
As for cyberviolence, it affects at least 282,000 victims, with a prevalence rate of 29.4%.
HCP compared data from 2019 and 2009, noting a six-point decrease in the overall prevalence of violence from 73.5% in 2009 to 67.6% in 2019.
“However, this decline is nuanced when analyzing different forms of violence,” HCP acknowledged, noting that sexual violence increased significantly by nearly 12 points.
HCP also identified the main perpetrators of violence against women, naming the father and brother as the main psychological and physical violence.
The alarming data comes as Morocco continues to pledge a strict legal framework to address all forms of violence against women.
Naima Ben Yahya, Morocco’s Minister of Solidarity, said in January that Morocco has been reviewing the legislation aimed at tackling this issue.
She explained that the process would include the findings of research and studies from parliament, government institutions, the judiciary, as well as recommendations from civil society groups.
