On Wednesday in Rabat, Aawatif Hayar, the Minister of Solidarity, Social Integration, and Family, emphasized her department’s efforts to implement and enforce Law No. 103.13, which aims to combat violence against women.
Speaking at a meeting of the Committee on Justice, Legislation, and Human Rights in the House of Representatives, focused on the report by the thematic group responsible for assessing the application of this law, Ms. Hayar highlighted Morocco’s commitment to promoting women’s rights and empowerment in line with the High Orientations of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
Morocco was among the first Arab countries to establish a legal framework to combat violence against women, based on several considerations, including implementing constitutional provisions on non-discrimination and ensuring individual security, adhering to international commitments and conventions ratified by Morocco, and legally protecting Moroccan women to remove obstacles to their full contribution to development efforts, the minister recalled.
Ms. Hayar also highlighted the actions of the Ministry of Solidarity, Social Integration, and Family, responsible for coordinating national efforts against violence towards women. The ministry has mobilized all resources, in line with its legal commitments, to operationalize and enforce this law to protect women from violence.
She reviewed the achievements, particularly in the legal field, noting the ministry’s actions since the publication of Law 103.13 to implement Decree 2.18.856, which has strengthened mechanisms for supporting women victims of violence.
These mechanisms include operationalizing the National Commission for the Support of Women Victims of Violence and institutionalizing centralized and decentralized cells to support women victims of violence in courts and departments responsible for justice, health, youth, and women, as well as the General Directorate of National Security and the High Command of the Royal Gendarmerie.
Regarding shelters for women victims of violence, the minister reported an increase from 44 facilities in 2021 to 105 multifunctional establishments by the end of 2023, thanks to partnerships with relevant stakeholders and contracts with various associations for joint management of these facilities.
She also reviewed a series of awareness and communication measures initiated by the ministry in 2023, including the launch of the 21st awareness campaign against violence towards women and girls in collaboration with social sector components, and promoting Morocco’s progress in this area through UN and international channels.
Regarding financial support for preservation, care, guidance, and listening, Ms. Hayar mentioned several interventions by her department, including training women victims of violence in economic empowerment through the digital learning platform « Coursera, » with an allocation of 1,313,337 dirhams, and signing partnership agreements with national mutual aid for the creation of 105 multidisciplinary spaces for women, with a budget of 62 million dirhams.
