VZCZCXRO1263
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHRB #1095 1831614
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 021614Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY RABAT
TO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 3323
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 4665
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6849
RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA 3181
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.
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Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
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RILEY