Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RABAT246
2009-03-27 17:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:
MOROCCO: ENHANCING WOMEN,S RIGHTS AND MOBILIZING
how-toVZCZCXRO2562 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHRB #0246 0861749 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 271749Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY RABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9857 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA 4541
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000246
SIPDIS
STATE NEA/PI, G/TIP, DRL/NESCA AND NEA/MAG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2019
TAGS: PHUM ELAB EAID PGOV KWMN MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCO: ENHANCING WOMEN,S RIGHTS AND MOBILIZING
AGAINST TRAFFICKING AND CHILD LABOR
Classified By: CDA Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000246
SIPDIS
STATE NEA/PI, G/TIP, DRL/NESCA AND NEA/MAG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2019
TAGS: PHUM ELAB EAID PGOV KWMN MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCO: ENHANCING WOMEN,S RIGHTS AND MOBILIZING
AGAINST TRAFFICKING AND CHILD LABOR
Classified By: CDA Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Following up on the March 21 launch of the Middle
East Partnership Initiative- (MEPI-) financed training for
women candidates in the June municipal elections, Minister of
Social Development, the Family and Solidarity Nouzha Skalli
reminded Charge and PolOff that although 12 percent of seats
have been reserved for women (compared to the current .5
percent),women could still win fewer than that number. She
noted that her Ministry has been active in providing training
materials for women candidates in order to promote the best
possible showing, and thanked the Charge for U.S. support of
the joint project between the National Democratic Institute
and International Republican Institute to encourage and train
women candidates in the run-up to the polls. Asked about
plans to ensure that women also win a larger percentage of
local council presidencies and seats in the Chamber of
Counselors (the upper house of the Moroccan Pariament),
Skalli said that women need to focus on the local elections
and then think about both next steps in politics and in
becoming effective municipal leaders.
2. (C) During the one-hour March 26 courtesy call, Skalli
declared that combating human trafficking, child labor, and
violence against women are major priorities for Morocco. She
said her Ministry and the High Commission for Planning had
already begun a study on violence against women in order to
gain a better understanding of the scope of the problem, and
this data would be used to reform the penal code. She agreed
that prostitution is usually forced and that greater
protections for victims are needed.
3. (C) Skalli also told the Charge about a new campaign
aimed at addressing the problem of "petite bonnes" or young
girls working as domestic servants. Emphasizing that the
Government "is strongly mobilized to eradicate this problem,"
she said that Morocco is moving toward a "zero tolerance"
policy on child labor. Despite the commitment of the State,
Skalli predicted that eliminating the practice would take
time as the use of child servants has become culturally
accepted. "Still, we want to elevate the human rights
standard of the country," she said.
*****************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Moro cco
*****************************************
Jackson
SIPDIS
STATE NEA/PI, G/TIP, DRL/NESCA AND NEA/MAG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2019
TAGS: PHUM ELAB EAID PGOV KWMN MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCO: ENHANCING WOMEN,S RIGHTS AND MOBILIZING
AGAINST TRAFFICKING AND CHILD LABOR
Classified By: CDA Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Following up on the March 21 launch of the Middle
East Partnership Initiative- (MEPI-) financed training for
women candidates in the June municipal elections, Minister of
Social Development, the Family and Solidarity Nouzha Skalli
reminded Charge and PolOff that although 12 percent of seats
have been reserved for women (compared to the current .5
percent),women could still win fewer than that number. She
noted that her Ministry has been active in providing training
materials for women candidates in order to promote the best
possible showing, and thanked the Charge for U.S. support of
the joint project between the National Democratic Institute
and International Republican Institute to encourage and train
women candidates in the run-up to the polls. Asked about
plans to ensure that women also win a larger percentage of
local council presidencies and seats in the Chamber of
Counselors (the upper house of the Moroccan Pariament),
Skalli said that women need to focus on the local elections
and then think about both next steps in politics and in
becoming effective municipal leaders.
2. (C) During the one-hour March 26 courtesy call, Skalli
declared that combating human trafficking, child labor, and
violence against women are major priorities for Morocco. She
said her Ministry and the High Commission for Planning had
already begun a study on violence against women in order to
gain a better understanding of the scope of the problem, and
this data would be used to reform the penal code. She agreed
that prostitution is usually forced and that greater
protections for victims are needed.
3. (C) Skalli also told the Charge about a new campaign
aimed at addressing the problem of "petite bonnes" or young
girls working as domestic servants. Emphasizing that the
Government "is strongly mobilized to eradicate this problem,"
she said that Morocco is moving toward a "zero tolerance"
policy on child labor. Despite the commitment of the State,
Skalli predicted that eliminating the practice would take
time as the use of child servants has become culturally
accepted. "Still, we want to elevate the human rights
standard of the country," she said.
*****************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Moro cco
*****************************************
Jackson