Morocco: Violence Against Women Costs Victims Over MAD 2.8 Billion

Rabat – Morocco’s High Commission for Planning (HCP) has estimated that the cost of violence against women across the country sits at around MAD 2.58 billion ($268 million) a year.

HCP shared the data in a joint report with the UN Women’s office in Morocco. Titled “Economic Cost of Violence Against Girls and Women: Household Expenditures and Loss of Income,” the report provided for the first time in Morocco the cost of violence against women.

Published on Saturday, the report indicated that the cost of violence against women averages at around MAD 957 per victim. The report was based on a national survey that HCP carried out between February and July 2019.

Direct costs include expenses needed to access services (healthcare or justice), accommodation, and the replacement of damaged goods. Meanwhile, indirect costs include loss of income due to absence from work.

Direct costs make up an 82% overwhelming majority of the economic cost of violence against women, while indirect costs constitute 18%. 

Read also: UN Report: Over 5 Women Killed Every Hour by Family or Partner in 2021

The report highlighted the “heavy burden” that the economic cost of violence against women poses on society.

Violence from a woman’s spouse costs households a giant MAD 1.98 billion (69.6%). 

Meanwhile, the cost of violence against women from family members is estimated at 366.6 million MAD (12.9%), while violence in the public sphere costs around 447.6 million MAD (15.7%).

Violence in the workplace makes up 1.7% while violence in the place of education makes up 0.1%.

The report added that 85.7% of costs are linked to physical violence and sexual violence made up 15.3% of costs.

The cost of violence against women in urban areas costs MAD 2.05 billion (72%), whereas it reaches MAD 792 million in rural areas (28%).