Table of Contents. 2 Gender Profile MOROCCO 1

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2 Table of Contents Morocco: Quick Facts 2 1. Background 2 2. Gender Policies, Institutional and Legal Framework 2 3. Gender and Politics 4 4. Gender and Economy 5 5. Gender and Education 5 6. Gender and Health 6 7. Gender and Human Rights 7 8. SOGIE- Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression 7 9. Gender-Based Violence Gender and Infrastructure Gender and Agriculture Gender and Media 9 Sources

3 MOROCCO: QUICK FACTS 1 Population size: 33,322,699 (2015) Overall population sex ratio (male/female): 0.97 male/female (2015) GDP (US $ billions): $110.0 (2014) Currency: Moroccan Dirham Religion: Islam Languages: Arabic, Tamazight, French Life expectancy at birth: m/ f (2015) Fertility rate: 2.13 children born/women (2015) Percentage of population under 15 years: 27% (2014) Mortality rate, under 5 (per 1,000 live births): 28/ 1000 (2015) Maternal mortality rate (per 100,000 live births): 121/100,000 live births (2015) Gender gap index 2015: 139 (out of 145 countries) 1. BACKGROUND The Kingdom of Morocco is a lower-middle income country located in the north-west corner of Africa. It is divided into 16 regions and 82 provinces. The majority of the Moroccan population is Sunni Muslim, with a small Christian and Jewish community. It is considered one of the more liberal countries in the Middle East with a diverse population of Arabs, Amazigh (Berbers), and Africans. Morocco is a constitutional monarchy that gained independence from France in His Royal Highness Mohammad VI has been in power since The King alone has the power to revise the Constitution, and to appoint the head of government and other cabinet members. The Arab Uprising of 2011, also known as the February 20th movement in Morocco, spread across a number of major cities in Morocco. The result was constitutional reform by the King. The 2011 democratic elections brought to power an Islamist party (Justice and Development Party-PJD), thus obliging the King to choose a Prime Minister from the winning party. The Arab Uprising and the elections of 2011 not only gave more visibility to women s rights but also opened the doors for Islamist groups. It is important to note that most of the political parties in the Parliament are not religious. Morocco severely lags behind many countries when it comes to women s rights and gender inequality, even though the King has been an advocate for women s rights since he came to power. Compared to men, women in Morocco are less represented in decisionmaking processes and in area such as education, health, and employment. Women in Morocco have fought for their rights since before the 1990s, which has resulted in significant policy changes to enhance their political participation and empower them both socially and economically. 2. GENDER POLICIES, INSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK National Policies and Programs Many gender equality reforms have been set in motion since King Mohammad VI ascended the throne in 1999 after the death of his father. Morocco has taken strong initiatives to enshrine gender equality in its public and private spheres. The Constitution clearly expresses the need to harmonize national laws with international conventions. Morocco is a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1993) and its Optional Protocol (2011), with the reservation that CEDAW initiatives and implementation 2 3

4 do not contradict the Maliki School of Islamic law 2. The country has made considerable efforts in implementing its commitment to the Beijing Declaration since 1995 by proactively working to promote the empowerment of women and gender equality. Several national policies and programs on gender exist in Morocco but they are marked by inequalities and lack effectiveness. The National Initiative for Human Development was launched in 2005; gender equality and women s empowerment are at the heart of this initiative. Moreover, national plans aimed at combating gender-based violence have been in place since The most recent plan called Tamkine was launched in It is a multi-sectoral plan for combating GBV, through the empowerment of women and girls. Constitutional and Legal Framework The Constitution defines Morocco as a Muslim state, but also guarantees freedom to practice other religions. The Moroccan Constitution was passed in 1962, and in 2011, following the Arab Uprising, a number of significant amendments were made to the Constitution. The adoption of the new Constitution was seen as a big achievement as it included almost all universally-recognized human rights, guaranteed equality between men and women in all areas, and granted equal access to decision-making bodies. In addition, positive changes were made to the family and nationality codes, and to domestic laws. However, they have not been fully implemented yet. Article 19 of the Constitution clearly states that women and men enjoy equal civil, political, cultural, economic, and environmental rights as long as they do not contradict with Islamic law. Since the early 1990s a series of reforms in Morocco have gradually helped to advance women s legal rights. One of the major reforms that the women s movement in Morocco worked for was changes to the personal status code (Moudawana). Established in 1957, this set of legal codes was highly discriminatory against women. 3 In 2004, the Moudawana was renamed the Family Code. The Code stipulates that married men are legally responsible for providing financial support to their families. It also restricted polygamy, gave women the right to marry without the consent of a male guardian, and gave women more freedom in matters related to divorce. There is no doubt that women have experienced greater gender parity since the 2004 amendments to the Family Code. The Labor Code was revised in 2004 to counter sexual harassment in the workplace and also increased the minimum age of employment to 15 years. It allows for 14 weeks of paid maternity leave and a 3 day paternity leave at full pay. Additionally a pregnant woman is entitled to an additional year of unpaid leave. The Nationality Law was reformed in 2007, giving Moroccan mothers the right to pass their nationality to their children. Men have the right to pass their nationality to their foreign spouses, a right which women still do not have. The legal minimum age for marriage was also changed from 15 to 18. However, marriage under this age is still considered legal with the permission of the judge and the minor s guardians. Single mothers now have the right to register their children born out of wedlock. The 2003 Penal Code criminalizes sexual abuse, trafficking in persons and child pornography. The revision of the criminal laws has partially strengthened the protection of women against violence. However, this does not include marital rape. Women do not have the right to abortion, unless it affects the health of the mother or child. In 2014, the Parliament repealed the article that allowed rapists to avoid prosecution by marrying their underage victims. Gender Policy Framework Morocco is a leading example when it comes to gender responsive budgeting. The principles of equality and equity have been an important tool for gender mainstreaming in the Moroccan budgetary reform framework. Annually, Morocco also produces a gender report, with disaggregated data by sex for all sectors. A gender-sensitive budget framework was adopted in A new finance law was adopted in 2014, which integrated gender priorities throughout the budgeting process. In 2006 the government adopted the National Strategy for Gender Equality that offers a comprehensive vision for the reduction of disparities between men and women in various sectors. It aims to improve the general situation of women and counter the various inequalities they experience. Following this initial strategy a new plan, the National Strategy for Equity and Equality, was approved for It includes eight strategic axes; equal access to education, equal access to health services, combatting all forms of discrimination and violence against women, equal access to decision- 4 3

5 making positions, institutionalizing gender equality, improving the living conditions of women and girls, equal opportunities in the job market, and social and economic empowerment of women 4. Several government agencies have initiated and implemented programs on equality. The Government Agenda for Equality ( ) has nine priority areas 5. The Ministry of Solidarity, Women, Family and Social Development and the National Human Rights Council work towards protecting women s rights and ensuring that gender policies are implemented. Key Actors Committee for Interdepartmental Dialogue on Gender Equality in Public Affairs (CCI) CCI is made up of 15 government departments. The objective of the committee is to institutionalize gender equality in the civil service and to enhance the synergy between government departments in mainstreaming gender equality and promoting a culture of equity in the civil service. CCI works on raising awareness of gender equality in public and in decision-making positions. The Ministry of Solidarity, Women, Family and Social Development The Ministry of Solidarity, Women, Family and Social Development is the main governmental body responsible for promoting and protecting women s rights. It is headed by Bassima el-hakkawi of the PJD. The Ministry works in collaboration with other departments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and other relevant organizations to promote gender equality. The Directorate for Women s Affairs, Equity and Justice within the Ministry is responsible for ensuring the promotion of women s rights, supporting and strengthening their participation in the public sectors and protecting them from all forms of violence and discrimination. The National Observatory on Violence Against Women was established by the Ministry but many criticize the absence of mechanisms for receiving and supporting the survivors of violence. 6 Gender units are present in some ministries to support gender mainstreaming across all sectors. National Human Rights Council (CNDH) The National Human Rights Council was established in 2011 to replace the former Advisory Council on Human Rights. The Council has the power to investigate all human right violations, and acts to ensure no violation goes unpunished. It has three mandates: to protect and defend human rights and freedom, to promote human rights and to stimulate and encourage thoughts and debates on democracy and human rights. Civil Society The February 20th movement resulted in the emergence of many new organizations. Adding to the already existing network of civil societies, nearly 40,000 organizations 7 are working on the ground now, but the majority are not productive. Diverse in nature, they include feminist, Amazigh, human rights activists, youth and Islamist groups. Cooperation between national women s machineries and civil society is strong in Morocco. Many women s organizations provided proposals to the commission in charge of making changes to the Moroccan Constitution in Following the 2011 amendments to the Constitution more freedom has been given to civil society and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Many organizations are lobbying for women s rights and advocating for improving literacy and eliminating discrimination in all sectors. Their work is encouraged by the government. Most funding to programs in Morocco is either provided by the European Union or World Bank through ministries, governmental organizations and NGOs, or through private donors who fund programs run by local NGOs. 3. GENDER AND POLITICS Morocco is a constitutional monarchy. Women won the right to vote and participate in politics in 1956, but their participation since then has been influenced by the patriarchal culture and religious political trends. Very few women run as candidates for office. It was not until 1993 that the first two women were elected to Parliament. Sixty-nine women from 16 parties competed for seats in 1997, however only 2 were elected. Women remained largely excluded from political institutions until the 2000s. The beginning of the 2000s marked a turning point: since then, the number of women in political decision-making positions has increased across all sectors. The presence of women in the judiciary increased as well. Since 2006, women have accounted for 19% of all judges. 8 In the 2007 Parliamentary elections, 34 women were elected to Parliament and 7 were appointed as heads of ministries. 4 5

6 Moroccan women used their constitutional rights as a basis to lobby for a 30% parliamentary quota. A support fund was also launched by the government to increase the number of female representation by providing financial incentives to the political parties. Since the 2011 elections, women have occupied roughly 17% of parliamentary seats. 9 The number of women elected in the municipal councils increased significantly in 2009 (0.5% to 12.3%). 10 The Moroccan Parliament amended the local election law to raise female representation from 12% to 27% in municipal councils. 11 In 2015, the first municipal elections were held under the new Constitution. Two women were elected as presidents of provincial municipal councils. However, of the 12 elected presidents of the regional councils, none are women. 4. GENDER AND ECONOMY Moroccan legislation clearly states that both men and women have the right to equal pay for equal work. However, women s access to equal, paid employment is a challenge in Morocco. Men s activity in the national economy is almost three times that of women s. Generally, women earn 23% less than men. Morocco ranks in the bottom 20% of countries when it comes to female labor force participation. 12 Level of education and demographics play an important part in the type of work women are involved in. Cultural norms also place women at home rather than in the workplace. Employment Women s employment rates have decreased considerably in the last few years from 28.1% in 2000 to 25.1% in Legal restrictions bar them from entering into dangerous work, such as construction and mechanical jobs, which are usually reserved for men. The majority of the female workers are excluded from social security schemes. A combination of patriarchal norms, illiteracy and discrimination in the workplace prevent women from fully participating in the economic sector. Trade unions do not give priority to gender-related issues, which is one of the reasons for discrimination in the workplace. Social norms and lack of child-care facilities also influence the involvement of women in the economic sector. Informal Sector The informal sector is one of the main sources of employment for both men and women in Morocco. Informal employment in the rural areas is higher among women than men. Many women who work in the informal sector in Morocco are uneducated and lack awareness of their fundamental rights. The agricultural sector has the highest number of individuals employed informally. Men and women hired in the informal sector suffer from exploitative and unregulated employment. Moroccans working in the informal sector are not covered by the labor laws, meaning they do not receive any social benefits. Women-Owned Businesses Women in Morocco have the right to own their own businesses. However, women s entrepreneurship in Morocco is very low, with only 10% of firms owned by women. 14 Although few in number, the businesses are well-established and 65% of female owners are also the managers of their firms. 15 Female-owned businesses are more likely to export and receive foreign investments than male-owned businesses. 16 Women in the rural areas often face difficulty in accessing loans because they do not have bank accounts or assets in their names. Furthermore, social norms and the patriarchal culture limit the interaction between male and female entrepreneurs. Microfinance Morocco s microfinance sector that emerged in 2011 was much stronger than it had been in However, prominent gender gaps remain when it comes to access to credit and formal loans. Approximately 46% of microfinance beneficiaries are women 17. Women in Morocco have mixed or negative views when it comes to microfinance. They use it as a last resort, because many believe that they would be punished or imprisoned if they are unable to repay it GENDER AND EDUCATION In 1963, Morocco made education compulsory for children between the ages of In the first 10 years of his reign, King Mohammad VI made a number of educational reforms that resulted in a considerable increase in the literacy rate. However, the gap in the literacy rates between the urban and rural population is still quite significant. According to the High Commissioner for Planning (HCP), the illiteracy rate in 2012 was 36.5% (females 47.6% and males 25.3%). 19 Women are more affected by illiteracy than men, especially in the rural areas. 6 5

7 Lack of equitable access, high tuition fees, and lack of basic infrastructure are the key obstacles that restrict the provision of universal education to all Moroccans. Impressive progress can be seen in girls enrolment in formal education since the 1990s. School curricula can help produce or reduce gender stereotypes. Therefore Morocco has developed plans for gender-sensitive education systems. However, social norms direct the girls towards certain fields like medicine, teaching, etc. Many educated women are members of parentteacher associations, school boards, or neighborhood associations. Early Childhood Education Most preschools operate privately in the urban areas; in rural areas they are almost non-existent. Public schools are rare and so the enrolment rate for the private institutions is around 91%. 20 A National Cooperation Program was launched to provide a platform for children (4-5) from poor families to enroll in kindergartens. By 2014, the program had established around 779 kindergartens, mostly in the rural areas, with more than 50% female pupils. The Ministry of Youth and Sports also increased their number of nurseries and day care centers- around 47% enrolled children are girls. 21 Primary Education The Constitution of 1962 granted all citizens equal rights to primary education. Considerable efforts have been made to promote primary education for children aged 6-11 years. This has been done through opening of schools and improving teaching methods, especially in the rural areas. The net enrolment rate for girls in primary education jumped from 54% in 1995 to 98% in Morocco s gender parity index is around 0.95 at the level of primary education. 23 Secondary Education Significant efforts have been made to provide equitable access to young people at the secondary level. However, many obstacles limit the enrolment of girls at this level, like availability of schools, quality of education in rural areas, and cultural constraints, etc. Tertiary Education Female enrolment at this level exceeds 50% in many majors like dentistry, business and management. However, they are underrepresented in mathematics, technology, engineering, and sciences. The number of female students decreases substantially at the postgraduate level (35.9%). 24 Non-Formal Education A variety of programs and policies are working to eradicate the number of out-of-school and drop-out children. The main goal of the non-formal education plan is to give the children excluded from formal education a second chance. Approximately 50% of girls have benefited from non-formal education programs so far, mostly from the rural areas. 25 The number of young women who can read and write has increased considerably in Morocco in the last twenty years due to non-formal education. 6. GENDER AND HEALTH Access to Health Care Services The Moroccan health system is divided into public, private, and non-profit health sector. In principle, men and women have equal access to health services and women generally have the right to make decisions about their health needs. Surveys show that the majority of women, regardless of their location, find that medical services are not easily available. However, this also depends on their social status. In recent years, health coverage has expanded with the assistance of the Moroccan Medical Assistance Plan. 26 Despite improvements made in terms of health care access, there is a lack of qualified or skilled health staff combined with high rates of absenteeism. In Morocco, 27% of health staff is absent most of the time which contributes to inadequate provision of health services. 27 Maternal and Child Health Maternal and under-five mortality rates in rural areas are much higher than in urban areas. Morocco adopted a National Action Plan to accelerate the reduction of maternal and infant mortality. The plan was launched by the Ministry of Health in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO). The maternal mortality ratio fell by 67% between 1990 and 2010 and the under-five mortality rate by 60% between 1990 and The Action Plan also aims 6 7

8 to reduce child mortality to 20 per 1000 live births by the end of Communicable Diseases Despite the progress achieved in the control of preventable childhood diseases, Morocco is still facing a growing burden of infectious diseases. In particular, sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and environmental-related diseases such as Tuberculosis, Typhoid, Viral hepatitis, Trachoma, and Conjunctivitis have been persistent. 29 HIV prevalence has increased in recent years. 30 However, the incidence of HIV in pregnant women in 2007 was low at 0.08% only. 31 HIV and other STDs in Morocco, including human papillomavirus, herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, are high among female sex workers. Exposure to HIV is mostly through their infected husbands or partners. Early marriages appear to be a factor increasing the risk of STDs among women in Morocco. 32 Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health The introduction of the Family Law has helped transform the social and legal framework surrounding sexual and reproductive health in the last few years. Policymakers and certain political parties are reluctant to raise issues related to adolescent reproductive health for fear of incurring opposition from Islamic leaders and parties. Sex before marriage is taboo in Morocco, which limits the access of adolescents to reproductive health information. Many NGOs are working on programs that target the youth, but these approaches are not institutionalized. 7. GENDER AND HUMAN RIGHTS Human rights are enshrined in the Moroccan Constitution. Morocco has ratified 11 of the 25 international and regional conventions and treaties concerning human rights. As a nation, Morocco is signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, Convention against Torture, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women. The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) has drawn up a report on the state of gender equality and parity in Morocco. According to the report CNDH has been working on encouraging the government to enact a law against violence against women and to amend the family law, to grant women equal rights in marriage, divorce, inheritance and relations with their children and full citizenship. A draft law, which was submitted in 2013 to combat all forms of violence against women, was adopted in March Women or girls found guilty of extramarital relations, or rape survivors who cannot sustain their allegations, face prosecution. Marital rape is still not punished under the law. Despite the adoption of the new family code, polygamy continues to be practiced in Morocco. In 2003, the labor code was revised to recognize genderbased violence and sexual harassment in the work place as a major concern. Morocco s labor law does not include domestic workers or those working in the informal sector. In 2006, a draft law was presented to the authorities to regulate domestic work and prohibit children under the ages of 15 from working as domestic workers. However, the law has not been adopted yet. 8. SOGIE- SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY AND EXPRESSION Individuals with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions (SOGIE) continue to experience discrimination and violence all over the world. According to Article 489 of the Moroccan penal code, any person who commits lewd or unnatural acts with an individual of the same sex shall be punished with a term of imprisonment of between six months and three years and a fine of 120 to 1,000 dirhams [about US$15 $122], unless the facts of the case constitute aggravating circumstances. 33 A transgender woman was publically beaten by at least six men in Fez, Morocco in June The victim and a couple of the attackers were arrested by the police. The Ministry of Justice announced an investigation. 34 In February 2016, two Moroccan homosexual youths were sentenced for one and a half years in prison and fined 2,000 dirhams (about US$250). 35 Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals in Morocco are forced to hide their sexual orientation and engage in heterosexual marriages due to social pressure. Those who advocate for the rights of the LGBT community work unofficially to serve their needs. 36 Although homosexuality is illegal in Morocco, the law is sporadically enforced especially in touristic cities where the degree of tolerance is higher. 8 7

9 Gradual progress has been made in advocating for the rights of the Moroccan LGBT community. Mithly, the first gay magazine which is published by the organization KifKif, was launched in April 2010 despite large opposition. 37 KifKif is based in Spain, since it is not legally recognized and hence cannot campaign publicly in Morocco. According to KifKif, almost 5,000 homosexual men have been arrested in Morocco since the country s independence in Most of the publishers of Mithly live in Morocco, but they work anonymously to avoid the risk of violence and harassment. The purpose of the magazine is to reduce the stigma of being a homosexual in Morocco, thus leading to a new generation with a wider tolerance for freedom of expression. 39 Aswat Magazine, a monthly electronic magazine, was founded in March 2012 as a media outlet that sheds light on the hidden LGBT population in Morocco and the Arab world. 40 Its objectives are raising awareness and advocating for the rights of the LGBT community in Morocco through publishing different types of articles, stories, reports, and videos. According to the activist and founder of Aswat Magazine LGBT, Kaynin -the groundbreaking video series on the lives of LGBT individuals- aims to publish their perspective on YouTube and open a platform for each installment to discuss the different acts of discrimination, oppression and violations those individuals face due to their sexual orientation GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE Gender-based violence (GBV) is of major concern in Morocco. Many laws do not take into account the different forms of gender-based violence. Approximately 60% of Moroccan women have experienced some form of violence in their life time. 42 Marital rape, sexual harassment, and psychological violence are not yet included in the penal code as offence. Child marriages have increased considerably in the last few years. Data released by the Ministry of Justice in 2012 indicated that from 2007 to 2010 a 23% increase was seen in child marriages. 43 Many civil society organizations have set up shelters and counseling services for women but they lack resources. The situation is worse in the rural areas. Morocco is a source, destination, and transit country for sex trafficking. Moroccan girls, sometimes as young as six or seven years old, are hired to work as maids and are often physically, sexually, and psychologically abused. Honor killings are less common in Morocco. The government is making efforts to combat GBV through the development of a national strategy and annual anti-violence campaigns. Specialized police units are also in place to deal with such cases. Morocco has initiated a program where data can be collected on the quality of services provided by authorities in charge of receiving complaints. 10. GENDER AND INFRASTRUCTURE Housing The percentage of female-headed households increased from 11.2% in 1960 to 17.8% in According to a study conducted in 2001, a total of 71.7% female heads of households were either widows or divorcees. No recent information exists on the number of femaleheaded households in Morocco. However, poverty is high among female-headed households. Although women have the right to housing and the same legal opportunity to obtain housing as men, very few own their own residence. Morocco has made efforts to provide assistance through funds and subsidies to divorced women and widows heading a household. Water and Sanitation Women are mostly responsible for water collection tasks, and they often have to go long distances to do so. As a result, girls often have to miss school. In 2015 the Ministry for Energy, Mining, Water and Environment in collaboration with UN Women agreed to institutionalize gender mainstreaming in the water sector in the management of water resources. Women working at the Water and Sanitation Directorate, at the Ministry of Interior are mainly responsible for supervision and training-related activities both in the office and in the field. Transport Through investments in rural roads, other infrastructure, and social programs, the government is attempting to improve the life of the rural population as a whole. These efforts are still insufficient and remain a luxury for most of the countryside of Morocco. Risks of sexual harassment and other forms of gender-based violence and crime affect female mobility, education, and economic opportunities. 11. GENDER AND AGRICULTURE Agricultural sector in Morocco is among the four lower 8 9

10 productivity sectors. However, according to Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) 40% of the workforce in the country is employed in the unregulated agriculture sector. 45 Women in this sector usually work on a daily or seasonal basis for low wages. While many men have left the agricultural sector, women remain a big part of the lower productivity sectors (agriculture, textile, etc.). Approximately 92% women employed in the agriculture sector are from rural areas. 46 The majority of them work as less-skilled agricultural workers, and 20.5% are owners. 47 Female representation in the Department of Agriculture is about 27%. 48 It is worth noting that the first gender focal point was established in this ministry. Many agricultural extension programs have been launched in recent years. However, their work has been limited due to a lack of female facilitators in these programs. Many young women are now taking interest in agricultural studies, representing 50% of those graduating from agricultural institutes. 49 Gendered Division of Labor As in other Arab countries, Moroccan women are involved in both domestic and productive work, sometimes working longer hours than men. They are responsible for weeding, harvesting, transportation, processing, and storage. Women mostly take decisions related to farming or other agricultural activities in the absence of men. 12. GENDER AND MEDIA In 2005, Morocco adopted a charter to improve the treatment of women in the media. Social media has reshaped how women are seen in Moroccan society. Female academics, journalists, filmmakers and civil society activists have made various attempts to raise awareness of women s roles in the public sphere. Moroccan media propagates a passive and negative image of women by associating them with the home and upbringing of children while downplaying their achievements in the public sphere. Women are actively involved in producing videos and films to highlight sexual harassment and other forms of violence women face in their daily lives. Mainstream media does not reveal the real progress made by women, and rarely uses gender-sensitive language. Rural and semi-urban women are marginalized in the media generally due to poverty and illiteracy. 50 In an attempt to address the gross misrepresentation of women in the media, the Moroccan Ministry of Communication, in collaboration with the UN Women, launched a yearly prize for media programming that seeks to encourage gender equality in the media and to promote the image of women in the industry. Despite this well-intentioned effort, the initiative has yet to yield any formative changes in the media. Recently, Morocco has indicated that there would be a revision of their legislative framework to address the problem of discrimination of women in the media. 10 9

11 AUTHOR Dr. Nida Latif Dr. Latif is a dentist by training and has a postgraduate degree in Public Health. She has extensive experience working with various UN agencies, local NGOs and with refugees and displaced populations in a variety of settings. Her work focuses on gender, gender-based violence, and public health. She was also a part of peer reviewers of the national curriculum on GBV Case Management, Lebanon. COUNTRY EXPERT REVIEWER Katja Žvan Elliott Katja Žvan Elliott holds a DPhil in Oriental Studies from Oxford University. She is an Assistant Professor in North African and Middle Eastern Studies at Al Akhawayn Universtiy in Morocco. Her first book Modernizing Patriarchy: The Politics of Women s Rights in Morocco came out in A special thanks to Gender & Sexuality Resource Center (GSRC) for their input on SOGIE- Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression. * The content of this profile does not reflect the official opinion of the Lebanese American University or IWSAW, nor does it reflect the official opinion of any person acting on their behalf. Responsibility for the information expressed in the profiles lies entirely with the sources consulted and from which the information was gathered

12 SOURCES Maliki school of Islamic law is one of the four schools of religious law within Sunni Islam. In addition to following the Quran and hadith, it also relies on the practice of the people of Medina as a source The National Strategy for equity and equality includes: institutionalize and disseminate the principles of equity and equality, combat all forms of discrimination and violence against women, equality in education, promote fair and equal access to health services, improve living conditions for women and girls, social and economic empowerment of women, equal and equitable access to administrative, political and economic decision making positions, equal opportunities for men and women in the job market. GPE_Ang.pdf Sustainable Development and Human Security in Africa- Governance as the Missing Link Edited by Louis A.Picard, Terry F.Buss, Taylor B.Seybolt, Macrina C.Lelei 8. Freedom House, Women s Rights in the Middle East and North Africa Morocco, 3 March 2010, available at: docid/4b990120c.html 9. Sustainable representation of women through gender quotas: A decade s experience in Morocco Hanane Darhour, Drude Dahlerup Moroccan Women, Activists, and Gender Politics: An Institutional Analysis; By Eve Sandberg, Kenza Aqertit Rendered/PDF/926520BRI0Box30UAL0COLL00Knowlnotes.pdf 13. HCP, Activity, Employment and Unemployment, Year Gender0inequal00the0case0of0Morocco.pdf Gender0inequal00the0case0of0Morocco.pdf Paper-8-Decemberr-2015.pdf UNESCO Institute for Statistics Data Centre, statistics for on Percentage of enrolment in pre-primary education in private institutions (%), UNESCO Institute for Statistics Data Centre, Statistic for Net enrolment ratio, primary, female. For comparison purposes, the male primary school net enrolment rate in Morocco rose from 71 per cent in 1995 to 99 per cent in A Political Economy of Arab Education: Policies and Comparative Perspectives, By Mohamed Alaa Abdel-Moneim The Report: Morocco pg 174; Morocco000mind0d0prosperous0society.pdf Gender0inequal00the0case0of0Morocco.pdf 48. Gender Budget Report, finance bill for fiscal year 2012;

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