Coalition parties call for women quota system in political decision-making
Morocco, Culture, 3/8/2001

The "Democratic Koutla," a coalition of four former opposition parties, called political parties to adopt the quota system in the parties' structures and in candidacies to increase women participation in political decision-making.

The Koutla comprises four parties, namely the socialist Union of Popular forces --USFP/whose leader is Morocco's prime minister-- nationalist Istiqlal party, former communist Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS) and extreme leftist OADP (organization for democratic and popular action). Except for OADP, the three other parties are represented in the coalition government.

In a communiqu? released on the international women day, the coalition says the quota system in all parties structures, in candidacies to local, legislative and professional elections is a transitional and provisional measure to overcome the present difficulties that hinder women accession to decision-making. The document, published by the Istiqlal party's daily this Thursday, also expresses the Koutla faith in the inter-dependence between the promotion of women status and democracy consecration.

The parties' communiqu? lists a series of claims, mainly the creation of a high council of women's rights as the sole interlocutor in issues of segregation against women, cancellation of all sexist provisions in Moroccan laws and adoption of measures to protect women against all forms of violence.

The four parties also support the adoption of a fair code of personal statute, instituting family relations based on equality and respectful of Islamic teachings and universal human rights principles, guaranteeing gender equality in civil, economic, social, political and cultural rights.

The Koutla, which calls Morocco to withdraw reservations to the convention against all forms of segregation against women, hails positive developments in Morocco, mainly the prime minister's renewal that the government is attached to the women integration in economic and social development plan, despite the wave of protests from conservative circles it sparked.

The international women day is marked in Morocco in the wake of a breakthrough, embodied in the King's announcement of plans to incept a commission that will look into amendment drafts to the Moudawana and that will submit the drafts to his appreciation. The body will include specialized figures in the field, including ulema (Islamic theologians), magistrates and all sides involved in consultations with the civil society.

The king made the announcement during a meeting with a group of women associations, representing political parties, NGOs and professional associations.

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