Women’s rights in Morocco, a look at progress and setbacks

In his speech delivered on August 20, 1999, His Majesty the King posed a thought-provoking question: How can we envision the advancement and prosperity of society when the interests of women, who make up nearly half of that society, are disregarded? This is particularly concerning given that women have reached a level where they can compete equally with men in both education and workforce.

This sentence serves as an excellent entry point for my discussion on the contribution of women to public life. This statement highlights two crucial issues: first of all, the existence of a high-level commitment to improving women’s status and rights, and secondly, the acknowledgment of the injustices they face due to the neglect of their interests and rights. So, where does the problem lie? Is it a constitutional issue, a matter of legal frameworks, the mechanisms for implementing laws, cultural heritage, or a deeply entrenched patriarchal mindset? Before delving into the causes, it is worthwhile reflecting on the current situation of women, a quarter-century after the Royal speech. What is their economic, political, and social situation today, and to what extent are they actively contributing in these areas?

 In 2022, Morocco ranked 136th out of 146 countries in the Global Gender Gap Ranking. This disappointing low ranking can be attributed to various factors, including some political parties’ lack of interest in women’s issues, the multiple forms of inequality between men and women, particularly in terms of poverty, illiteracy, and unemployment, the limited economic empowerment of women, and the prevalence of violence against them

On the political level, a study conducted by the Moroccan organization “Moroccan Organization for Family Justice” in 2023, with support from the fund to promote women’s political representation and in partnership with the Ministry of Interior, revealed that 86.32% of women had never run for election. The same study indicated that the percentage of women affiliated with political parties is a mere 8.49%.

In the last elections held in Morocco in 2021, women constituted 24% of parliamentary deputies, 38.5% of regional council members, and 26.64% of municipal council members. Notably, women represented 54% of the total votes cast in these elections, which suggests that women’s votes are not primarily supporting female candidates but rather going to male candidates, thereby contributing to the marginalization of women in the political sphere.

Awareness of the importance of empowering women politically has grown within Moroccan society, as seen in several positive steps taken, such as the constitutional provisions that explicitly guarantee equality in all fields, in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the two International Covenants to which Morocco is a signatory. Morocco has also ratified various international agreements promoting gender equality, such as the CEDAW Convention. Additionally, discriminatory laws and measures in favor of women, like gender quotas, have been adopted. Nevertheless, and despite these advancements, the representation of women in politics remains far from the global averages, as women’s political status reveals a significant gap between theoretical commitments and the actual situation on the ground

There are numerous reasons highlighted by various studies, among which the following stand out:

These are just some of the many reasons, including prevailing patriarchal mindsets and the failure to effectively implement related laws through best practices. A glaring example of this is the recent election of the President and the executive bureau of the House of Councilors, where women were entirely absent, in a contradiction with the internal regulations of this House and the Moroccan Constitution, which stipulates equality in political rights. Unfortunately, the House of Councilors should have set an example in promoting women’s political empowerment in its capacity as a high-level constitutional institution.

Thus, there are multiple reasons that present significant challenges requiring collective efforts from all the components of the society to enhance women’s rights and empower them in political life. This begins with instilling a culture of democracy and equality within the community, as democracy and equality are, above all, cultural values before they become practices. Young women should receive political and human rights education and gradually engage in political work to accumulate the necessary experience and be adequately equipped to tackle electoral battles and assert themselves in local, regional, and national governance. Women’s participation in political and public affairs is the key to empowering them to influence public policy issues and contribute to the country’s development.

Regarding the economic sector, which primarily revolves around employment, it can be said that at the executive level, linked to the political realm since ministers are appointed from the parties in government, women had to wait until the 1997 government to see the first four female ministers appointed. This number has fluctuated over the years, and currently, there are seven female ministers holding significant and non-traditional portfolios, marking a shift from merely being state secretaries operating under the mandate of male ministers to being recognized as full ministers in their own right.

Regarding appointments to senior positions, women represent 19.86% in ministerial sectors, 6.34% in universities and training institutions, and 15.33% in public institutions. Overall, the percentage of women in public service stands at 41.22%, while the rate of women in leadership roles reached 28.17% in 2022.Generally, the female employment rate stands at 19.5%, with wages 20% lower than those of men in the same roles. The unemployment rate among women is notably higher, exceeding that of men by four percentage points. Among these women, 53% do not work due to domestic responsibilities, 18% do not wish to work, 12% face family opposition, 3% cite a lack of job opportunities, and 15% give various other reasons.

In summary, we cannot deny that there has been progress in advancing women’s rights in Morocco, driven by the efforts and the battles led by women’s movements and progressive forces, as well as a high level commitment to respond and support these claims. However, significant challenges remain, as reflected by the various reasons mentioned earlier that must be addressed to advance women’s rights and secure them the place they deserve, especially in the political sphere and decision-making roles. This aspiration goes beyond mere rights and political considerations, as it also pertains to women’s participation in all the society’s life aspects, which has significant implications for development and economic growth, as increased female participation can significantly boost a country’s gross domestic product. Additionally, women exhibit higher standards of ethical behavior, according to a study by the World Bank titled “Corruption and Women in Government,” indicating that women are more invested in the public good and their management practices are associated with lower level corruption.