MOROCCAN EFFORTS TO FIGHT ABUSES AGAINST WOMEN AND

UNCLAS RABAT 001095 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/MAG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KWMN PHUM PREL MO SUBJECT: MOROCCAN EFFORTS TO FIGHT ABUSES AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN ¶1. Summary: Two recent events highlighted ongoing Moroccan government and civil society efforts to curb violence and abuse against women and children. On June 21, 2007 Princess Lalla Meryam, the King's sister and Chair of the National Observatory for Children's Rights (ONDE),secretary of State for Social Solidarity Yasmina Baddou, and representatives of UNICEF and UNPF unveiled a new set of guidelines for the care of women and children victims of violence. It called for enhanced government efforts and new laws protecting women. Also on June 21, Anaruz, the national network of violence against women centers, presented its 2006 report on gender-based violence. The report noted that three-quarters of violent acts against women occur within the family, and advocated legislation to enhance the protection of women during divorce proceedings as well as enforce the law regarding payment of alimony. End summary. ¶2. The 250 page guidelines document, prefaced by Princess Lalla Meryam,. promotes better medical, psychological and social care for women and children victims of violence. It also advocates legislation, strategies and action programs at the national level, in addition to Morocco's international commitments to human rights, and women and children's rights. The guidelines document defines violence and ill-treatment, highlights their harmful impact, and determines the modalities and process of care for women and children, the process of care, the organizational measures and the coordination with other sectors. ¶3. During the event, Anaruz presented it's 2006 report regarding gender-based violence. Created in 2004, Anaruz is a network of 39 fighting violence against women centers in Morocco. The centers provide legal services to victims, gather data, raise awareness of gender-based violence and advocate for policy and legal reforms to protect women and reduce violence against them. ¶4. According to the report, marital violence represents 74 percent of domestic violence in Morocco. Additional forms of violence vary form institutional 8.8 percent, societal 4.4 percent, and family-related 4.2 percent. Alimony deprivation was reported at 58.4 percent, and physical abuse 30.4 percent, indicating that these are the primary violations perpetrated against women. ¶5. The report calls for legislation guaranteeing the payment of alimony and the safety of women undergoing divorce, and recommended an increase in shelters and hotlines for women victims of violence. ¶6. Women's shelters, through their activities and data gathering, are one of the driving forces in the fight to combat violence against women in Morocco. For example, the successful coordination between women's NGO's, various government institutions, and security forces, has resulted in yearly reports such as those described herein. ****************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ****************************************** RILEY