Morocco, Tunisia sign accord on women and family affairs

Morocco and Tunisia signed in Rabat on Wednesday an accord on cooperation in matters of women and family affairs.

The accord provides for the adoption of legislative and institutional mechanisms for the integration of women in the development process and the exchange of experience with the aim to set up data banks and communication networks between various institutions.

The accord also provides for exchanges between Moroccan and Tunisian women entrepreneurs and between ngos operating in the field of women, childhood and family. The twinning of research, documentation and information centers on women is also stipulated.

The accord was initialed by the visiting Tunisian secretary of state for women and family affairs, Naziha Zarouk, and Moroccan Minister of Social Protection, Family and Childhood, Said Saadi.

The Tunisian official who started her visit to Morocco on Monday held talks with Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi and with several Cabinet members on means of upgrading cooperation and joining efforts to promote women's role in society.

Talks stressed the need to adopt a bold approach to enable Maghreb women hold the place they deserve as active citizens at the political, economic and social levels, as the promotion of the status of women and their integration in the development process will serve national interests.

The Tunisian official also conferred with representatives of several women and childhood associations on ways to promote partnership and exchange of experience with similar Tunisian associations.