Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06RABAT1458
2006-07-31 16:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:  

THE KINGDOM FIGHTS SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Tags:  PGOV PINR PREL MO 
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PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
DE RUEHRB #1458 2121657
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 311657Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY RABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4374
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 3041
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4324
RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT 3258
UNCLAS RABAT 001458 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG, DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL MO

SUBJECT: THE KINGDOM FIGHTS SEXUAL HARASSMENT


UNCLAS RABAT 001458

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG, DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL MO

SUBJECT: THE KINGDOM FIGHTS SEXUAL HARASSMENT



1. (U) Sexual harassment could not be openly discussed in Morocco
until a group of women textile workers decided to go on strike at
the Manufacture du Morocco, a textile plant in the suburbs of Rabat,
because of the extreme sexual harassment company officials committed
against their union leader Khadia Khaireddine on November 10, 1995.
Khaireddine was fired and then attacked in front of the plant gates
by the company supervisor. Workers at the plant, who had been
constantly insulted and sexually harassed, walked out and began a
sit-in in front of the plant gates which lasted more than 10 days.
They demanded that Khaireddine and seventeen of their colleagues be
reinstated. This was the first strike against sexual harassment in
Morocco and in the Arab world. The support given to these women by
civil society invigorated other women's groups to advocate for the
protection of female workers. As a result, the 2004 Labor Code
condemns sexual harassment in the workplace and makes it a criminal
offense in Morocco.

2. (U) Sexual harassment in the workplace is a criminal offense
under article 503-1 of the revised 2003 Penal Code and article 40 of
the 2004 Labor Code which stipulates that "Any person who abuses the
authority conferred upon him by his position, to harass another
using orders, threats, coercion or any other means in order to
obtain sexual favors is guilty of sexual harassment and is
punishable by one to two years imprisonment and a fine."

3. (U) Jargon free and easy to read books and guides have been
written by groups such as the Moroccan Association of Democratic
Women (ADFM) and the Centre Fama. These are used in schools,
universities, and in workplaces. On March 3, ADFM presented a guide
against sexual harassment for young girls on the occasion of the
International Day for Women. This guide was funded by the United
Nations Population Fund to sensitize young girls on sexual
harassment problems and ways to fight against them. This guide was
written by young ADFM members after an extensive 2002 study on how
women are viewed in the streets.

4. (U) In June, two hotel workers, Najla and Souad, were sexually
harassed at the Hotel Sofitel Diwan in Rabat. A network of Moroccan
nongovernmental organizations (NGO) was created following these
incidents. On July 21, the network condemned sexual harassment in
the workplace. The "Network to Fight Sexual Harassment in Morocco"
(RCHS) includes human rights and women's rights organizations, and
unions, e.g., the Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH),
Moroccan Association of Democratic Women (ADFM),Democratic League
for Women's Right (LDDF),Moroccan Center for Human Rights (CMDH),
Moroccan Forum for Truth and Justice (FMVJ),Moroccan Workers Union
(UMT),and Moroccan Workers Confederation (CDT) Abdellah Lefnatsa,
the leader of the Moroccan Workers Union (UMT) created a Blogspot
blog at http://rchsrabat.blogspot.com to further promote their cause
and to help collect signatures for their anti-sexual harassment
petition.