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Title: Implementing CEDAW Third and Fourth Periodic Reports


1
Implementing CEDAWThird and Fourth Periodic
Reports
KINGDOM OF MOROCCO
  • Presented by
  • Mrs. Nouzha SKALLI
  • Minister for Social Development,
  • the Family and Solidarity

Geneva, Thursday 24 January 2008
2
I am pleased to present Moroccos report to the
CEDAW Expert Committee
  • Eleven years after having presented a
    parallel report to Moroccos initial report on
    behalf of NGOs

3
Back then, the promotion of women's rights seemed
to us to be quite an arduous task
4
Women's rights were simply ignored
  • The personal status law maintained women under
    guardianship
  • Womens representation was almost non-existent
  • 0.34 percent in communes
  • 0.66 percent in Parliament, and
  • no woman ever held a ministerial position, was
    Secretary of State, or even Secretary-General, or
    president of a commune!

5
What about the situation today?
  • In accordance with the provisions of article 18
    of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms
    of Discrimination against Women, Morocco presents
    the 3rd and 4th periodic reports in a single
    document, in keeping with the recommendations
    made by the Committee during examination of the
    second periodic report (CEDAW/CMOR/2) at its
    627th and 628th sessions on 15 July 2003
    (CEDAW/C/SR 627 and 628).
  • The Moroccan Government noted with satisfaction
    the positive elements underlined by the Committee
    on the elimination of discrimination against
    women. It has taken into consideration the
    suggestions and recommendations made by the
    Committee (CEDAW/C/SR 627 and 628).
  • This report will shed light on what has been done
    in connection with the recommendations and
    concerns expressed by the Committee and will
    recall the measures taken with a view to
    implementing the Convention since the
    presentation of the second report.

6
Report Methodology
  • Participatory approach involving Government
    officials who are here with us today, NGOs,
    international cooperation and United Nations
    Specialized Agencies.
  • Information and sensitization
  • Information and awareness raising sessions
  • First public presentation in May 2006 before
    postponement of the examination date
  • Presentation to the members of the Houses of
    Parliament on 8 January 2008
  • Presentation, on 9 January 2008 in Rabat, to the
    NGOs which had prepared the parallel report
  • Presentation to the media and to public opinion
    on 18 January 2008 in Casablanca

7
Action Plan
  • Political context
  • Institutional reforms and political commitment
  • Governemental mechanism in charge of womens
    conditions
  • CEDAW implementation status
  • Addressing the question of reservations
  • Legislative and political reforms
  • Institutionalization of gender-based approach
  • Challenges and perspectives

8
Political context
  • Institutional reforms and political commitment
  • Governmental mechanism in charge of womens
    conditions

9
Consolidation of Reforms Human Rights and
Womens Rights
  • Restructuring the Advisory Council on Human
    Rights (C.C.D.H) in accordance with the Treaty of
    Paris on national institutions
  • Justice and Reconciliation Commission (IER), with
    a gender-sensitive approach
  • Commitment to implement MDGs (2005 gender
    sensitive national Report)?
  • Initiating the process of lifting reservations
    and signing the optional protocols to conventions
    (International Covenant on Civil and Political
    Rights, Convention on the Rights of the Child,
    CEDAW)

10
Launching the National Initiative for Human
Development (INDH)?
  • King Mohammed VI launched the National
    Initiative for Human Development on 18 may 2005
  • The initiative is designed to put an end to
    regional and gender disparities in terms of
    economic, social and cultural rights (ESCR)?
  • Participatory approach and social mobilization at
    local level

11
Clear political commitment
  • Appointment of 7 women ministers in the current
    cabinet - including 5 full ministers - for the
    first time in Morocco
  • Reaffirming, through the Government statement of
    policy on taking office, Moroccos pledge to
    adopt an integrated, multisectoral plan for
    mainstreaming a gender perspective
  • Commitment by the government to fight all forms
    of discrimination and types of violence against
    women
  • Pledge to improve womens representation in
    elected institutions in a bid to achieve parity

12
Governmental Mechanism in charge of Womens
Conditions
  • The Ministry for Social Development, the Family
    and Solidarity is the institution in charge of
    promoting womens conditions, supporting and
    enhancing their legal status, ensuring their full
    participation in development, and protecting them
    against various forms of violence and
    discrimination  
  • The Ministry acts like a social hub involving the
    National Solidarity Agency, the Social
    Development Agency (ADS) and the National
    Institute for Social Action (INAS)?

13
III. Implementation Status of CEDAW Provisions
and of Recommendations
  • 1. Addressing reservations to CEDAW
  • 2. Legislative and political reforms
  • Legislative reforms
  • Participation in political and public life
  • Fighting stereotypes
  • Institutionalizing a gender-sensitive approach
  • 3. Economic and social rights
  • 4. Fighting gender-based violence

14
1- Addressing Reservations to CEDAW
  • In March 2006, the Moroccan government
    expressed its intention to review the
    reservations it had entered during the
    Conventions ratification, and to join the
    Optional Protocol to CEDAW.
  • The Inter-ministerial Commission on civil
    liberties and human rights was set up under the
    chairmanship of the Prime Minister it tasked an
    inter-departmental technical committee with
    follow-up.
  • Some reservations and declarations have been
    withdrawn. Other reservations have been replaced
    with interpretative declarations.
  • Adherence to OP-CEDAW and question of reservation
    was examined in the last cabinet meeting, and
    steady progress has been made in terms of
    implementing procedures to join the protocol.
  • The following table indicates the progress
    made with respect to lifting the reservations

15
Initial Reservations and Declarations Entered by
Morocco in 1993
  • Reservations
  • Article 9 paragraph 2
  • Article 16
  • Article 29
  • Declarations.
  • Article 2
  • Article 15 - paragraph 4

16
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17
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18
Legislative Reforms and Policies since the
Examination of the last report in July 2003
  • Many reforms were carried out and
    consolidated, new vast projects were started in
    the area of protection and promotion of human
    rights in general, and basic human rights for
    women and young girls, in particular.
  • Thanks to the dynamism and pugnacity of the
    movement for women's rights
  • Thanks to the modernist vision and strong
    political will of His Majesty the King and
  • Thanks also to the support of international
    partners, especially those of the United Nations
    system

19
2- Legislative and Political Reforms
  • Legislative reforms
  • Starting the integration of the gender
    perspective in public policies gender-sensitive
    budgeting
  • Womens access to decision-making positions
  • Struggle against gender-based violence
  • Education and gender equality

20
Legislative reforms
  • New Family Law
  • Based on equality and shared responsibility
  • Abrogation of the guardianship obligation
  • Gender equality in terms of legal age for
    marriage, uniformly set at 18 years
  • Judicial divorce under legal supervision
  • Women now automatically gain access to divorce on
    grounds of  discord 

21
Protection for the wife and children in case of
dispute
  • Article 121 Provisional measures in case of
    litigation between
  • spouses

22
This major reform has been seen as a peaceful
revolution
  • benefiting women, children and gender equality in
    general

23
Following the Enforcement of the Family Law
  • Mentalities and social practices do not change
    overnight
  • The law contributes to a change of attitudes
  • Conclusion the era of arbitrary action against
    women is over! The path to negotiation is open.

24
Measures to accompany this important reform
  • A participatory assessment is carried out each
    year by the Ministry of Justice
  • Training and a guide-book are at the disposal of
    judges
  • Family courts set up within tribunals
  • Women accede to the position of family court
    judges

25
Other Legislative Reforms
  • Penal Code Suppression of discriminatory
    measures against women
  • Code of Criminal Procedure Better safeguards
    for the protection of human rights
  • Labor Law Gender equality in terms of job
    opportunities penalization of sexual harassment

26
2007 Reform of the Nationality Act
  • Article 6 Women may now pass on
  • their nationality of origin
  • to their children born to a
  • foreign father

27
Pursuing Efforts to Consolidate Human Rights and
Gender Equality
  • The efforts made by Morocco to honour its
    international obligations are continuing in a bid
    to harmonize national legislation with the
    stipulations of international human rights
    instruments ratified by Morocco.
  • Various policies and sepcific measures are
    undertaken to combat discrimination against
    women.
  • However, one has to admit that although gender
    equality is clearly established in legal texts, a
    culture of discrimination against women still
    persists

28
Persisting Constraints and Challenges
  • Mentalities and soci-cultural resistance
    attitudes still hinder the implementation of
    principles of equality and justice
  • Weak information among women, especially in rural
    settings
  • Inadequate infrastructure (family courts)?
  • Deficiencies in terms of support networks for
    women who are victims of violence
  • Inadequate information about, and sensitization
    to the culture of gender equality
  • Insufficient role of the media in combating
    stereotypes

29
Womens Participation in Political and Public
Life
  • 2002 Women accede to the House of
    Representatives through the national list 10.8
    of MPs
  • Appointment of women in various decision-making
    positions
  • Appointment in 2007 of 7 women in the current
    cabinet, a first in the country
  • However, no affirmative action measure has been
    institutionalized

30
Fighting Stereotypes and Promoting Education on
Equality
  • Guidelines of the National Education and Training
    Charter in 2002 Measures undertaken by the
    Government
  • Integration of gender equality and equal
    opportunity in the strategic framework of the
    education system
  • Education policy introduced the notion of
    equality in specifications for the preparation of
    textbooks
  • Setting up textbook review commissions in light
    of human rights principles.
  • Preparation of the Charter for improving the
    image of women through the media, and signature
    of the said Charter by all actors concerned in
    presence of the Prime Minister

31
Institutionalizing the Gender Perspective in
Public Policies
  • Gender-responsive budgeting
  • National strategy for equality and justice

32
Gender-responsive budgeting
  • The planning, programming and gender-responsive
    budgeting (GRB) process started in December 2002
  • Enhancing budgetary performance Generalizing the
    new, result-oriented budgetary approach
  • Public policy formulation, implementation and
    assessment take into account the differentiated
    interests of women, men, girls and boys
  • A guidebook on budgetary reform has ben prepared
    by the Finance Ministry in collaboration with
    UNIFEM, and has been placed at the disposal of
    MPs
  • For the third consecutive year, a gender report
    has been published by the Finance Ministry it
    assesses the efficiency of public policies and
    the promotion of justice through budgetary
    allocations

33
National strategy for equality and justice
  • Preparation of the national strategy for gender
    equality and justice through mainstreaming of the
    gender perspective in development programs and
    policies adoption of the Strategy by the
    Moroccan Government on 19 may 2006.

Broad-based consultations Collaboration and
participation of various ministries, NGOs,
political parties, Parliament, private sector...
34
Gender Institutionalization
  • Production of gender-related statistics
  • Consolidation of gender focal points
  • Undertaking a gender analyse/audit at the level
    of three institutional departments and
    preparation of action plans for the
    implementation of the gender strategy
  • Ministry for Social Development, the Family and
    Solidarity.
  • Ministry of Communication.
  • Ministry for the Modernization of Public Sectors

35
PERSPECTIVES Institutionalization of Gender
  • Strengthen the Ministrys role of coordination,
    stimulation and orientation
  • Develop an operational plan for the strategy
  • Set up a Higher Council for Women Weve already
    started thinking about this subject
  • Give impetus to the Gender Cooperation Committee
    set up in June 2007 with international partners
    with a view to harmonize equality-oriented
    actions, by referring to the gender strategy  

36
Elimination of Violence Against Women
  • National Strategy for the Elimination of Violence
    Against Women in 2002
  • ? Operation Plan for the National Strategy on the
    Elimination of Violence Against Women in 2004

37
Fighting Violence Against Women
  • Nationwide Helpline (Numéro vert national)
    (080008888) to service women victims of violence
  • Set up a standardized information system with
    different institutional stakeholders
  • A bill on the elimination of violence against
    women is on track
  • A tripartite steering committee
    Ministries/NGOs/Experts currently working on the
    establishment of an National Observatory on
    violence against women
  • Expanding listening, legal and psychological
    counselling centres for women victims of violence
    by the Government and NGOs
  • Since 2005, reception units are being set up
    within courts of first instance for women victims
    of violence
  • Two reception units for women victims of violence
    at the university medical centres in Rabat and
    Casablanca
  • Designation of a gender focal point within the
    Judicial Police Directorate, under the authority
    of the General Directorate of National Security

38
First Nation wide Campaign in 1998.
2004
2006
2005
39
5th Nation wide Campaign of Fighting Violence
Against Women in 2007
40
Perspectives for the Elimination of Violence
against Women
  • A National Survey to improve knowledge on the
    prevalence of gender-based violence
  • Legislation A bill on the elimination of
    violence against women on track
  • Amendment of discriminatory provisions contained
    in the penal code
  • Institutionalization of the National Observatory
    on violence against women
  • Home care centres to host women victims of
    violence
  • Care centres for abuse perpetrators
  • Territorialization of listening and reception
    facilities for women in partnership with
    different stakeholders
  • Dissemination of the culture of equality and
    raising awareness to thwart tolerance of violence
    against women

41
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
  • Equality in education
  • The right to employment and work
  • Fighting child labour
  • Access to health care services

42
Education
  • Net progress of schoolgirls enrolment between
    1999 and 2005 
  • At the preschooling level
  • Primary schooling nationally, the rate of
    enrolled children has moved from 74,2 in
    1999-2000 to 90,08 in 2005
  • 95,69 of girls enrolled in urban areas and
    84,25 in rural areas.
  • Junior and senior secondary enrolment a
    forward-looking policy is carried out through
    building of Dar attaliba (boarding houses for
    girls) everywhere in the country to fight school
    wastage among girls
  • However, shortages persist, namely
  • School wastage rates
  • Urban/Rural and Girls/Boys disparities
  • Illiteracy

43
The Right to Employment and Work
  • Important legislative improvements
  • Significant progress has been recorded in the
    protection of womens labour rights
  • Statement of policy on non-discrimination, namely
    gender-based discrimination, within the amended
    labour legislation
  • Some constraints are limiting the impact of such
    improvements
  • Gaps in current legislation (e.g. domestic
    labour)?
  • Difficulties and obstacles in enforcement

44
Fighting Child Labour
  • Child labour has globally decreased thanks to
    raising awareness action carried out by a large
    number of stakeholders,
  • However, child labour is persisting, particularly
    among girls who are hired as domestic workers
  • These young girls are victims of economic
    exploitation and sometimes of sexual abuse and
    violence

A thorough and integrated policy has been put in
as part of the PANE 2006-2015 A Morocco Fit for
its Children Pour mettre fin à ce fléau et
permettre aux enfants des deux sexes de vivre une
vie saine
45
Employment Innovative Initiatives that Need to
be engendered!
  • Encouraging youths to create their own
    businesses,
  • Supporting training and integration of young
    university graduates in their active life,
  • Introducing new instruments for rationalizing the
    functioning of the job market and modernizing
    labour legislation
  • Such innovative initiatives need to be engendered
    so as to benefit girls and boys on an equal
    footing

46
Access to Health Care Services
  • In the area of reproductive health, several
    national programmes have been adopted
  • However, the rate of maternal mortality is still
    an alarming plague that needs to be urgently
    addressed!

47
So far, we have climbed quite a number of steps.
But there are still many other steps to climb,
to achieve equality between men and women
48
Womens conditions in Morocco a half-empty or
a half-full glass
  • But this glass
  • is being filled

49
Challenges Perspectives
  • An action plan, based on an integrated equitable
    and egalitarian gender vision, is on the agenda
    and will be implemented through
  • Institutionalizing equality and implementing
    forward-looking public policies in favour of
    equality
  • Pursuing mainstreaming of the gender perspective
    into policies and budgets
  • Continuing to lift reservations to the CEDAW
    Convention and acceding to its Optional Protocol
  • Pursuing legislative reforms so as to eliminate
    all forms of gender-based discrimination
  • Adopting specific provisional measures designed
    to achieve gender equity and reduce gaps between
    men and women in all areas and more particularly
    in political participation and decision making
  • Implementing actions aimed at promoting the
    culture of equality and combating stereotypes.
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