Rabat – Morocco’s draft law on child protection has sparked debate in Parliament, as lawmakers question whether some centers truly serve the children placed in their care.
Draft Law No. 29.24, which proposes the creation of a National Agency for Child Protection and its affiliated centers, passed through the Justice and Legislation Committee last week. Yet discussions revealed unease over the actual conditions inside some facilities.
Several MPs warned that, without proper oversight, certain centers risk becoming environments that expose children to harm rather than offering education and reintegration.
Lawmakers called for the agency to be under the supervision of the Ministry of Justice, with stricter administrative and financial monitoring. They also urged the involvement of credible civil society organizations to implement consistent educational programs.
MPs also stressed the need to improve access to education, healthcare, and psychosocial support, while fighting school dropout and child labor, and ensuring adequate funding for all centers.
Children in focus
The draft law defines the children eligible for placement. They include minors in trouble with the law, victims of crimes or misdemeanors, children in neglectful or difficult situations, and, for the first time, children who lose their families due to natural disasters.
Upon admission, children must be informed of their rights and obligations under Moroccan law and international conventions. Each center must maintain a confidential register with personal data and departure dates, accessible only to judicial or administrative authorities.
Children showing signs of abuse must be reported to the public prosecutor, and all residents receive a medical examination within 48 hours of arrival.
Families or legal guardians are notified upon admission. Foreign children require coordination with the agency’s director general and relevant authorities. Transfers between centers follow the same procedure, with residents classified according to internal criteria.
Rights, education, and dignity
In order to promote order in the centers, the draft law details that children may not keep money or valuables on them; these items are held by the administration and partially accessible under supervision, with the remainder returned upon departure. The law further guarantees education, remedial programs, and vocational training based on each child’s abilities and interests. Directors hold authority similar to parental guardians in securing administrative documents and ensuring study or training continuity.
If placement ends before the academic year, children may continue their studies in mainstream institutions.
Certificates and diplomas do not reference the centers, preventing stigma. The law also protects children from abuse and guarantees respectful living conditions while requiring adherence to internal rules.
Placement duration and aftercare
Placement ends when the legal period expires or the child reaches adulthood. Well-behaved children may transfer to open centers, with exceptional leave of up to 15 days for holidays or national occasions.
Children without legal guardians or a known residence may remain in open centers for up to two additional years to secure their welfare.
The draft law introduces post-care programs extending up to age 20. Each child receives a tailored plan addressing educational, psychological, social, and professional needs.
Centers must prepare a comprehensive file three months before departure to ensure smooth transitions. Authorities monitor post-care programs through indicators of social and economic integration, adjusting them when necessary.
As Morocco debates this law, the challenge remains: can reforms alone transform child protection centers into genuine spaces of safety, growth, and opportunity for the country’s most vulnerable youth?
