Mediterranean NGOs debate violence against women in Casablanca

A seminar on violence against women in the Mediterranean countries, held last week in Casablanca with the participation of Mediterranean NGOs, underlined the need to implement international recommendations to combat violence against women and consider women's rights as an integral part of human rights.

Participants stated that although violence continues to be a concern for the international community, its eradication is still hampered by traditions and the patriarchal mentality.

They considered that violence is a discrimination and is the consequence of a quasi absence of laws ensuring the protection of women.

The meeting also highlighted the role of NGOs in the Arab-Muslim states in fighting violence through raising the awareness of the authorities in Arab-Muslim states as to the need to draw up a unified personal statute.

In this regard, participants from Palestine, Turkey, Algeria and Morocco spoke of the experience of the NGOs of their respective countries in the fight against violence.

The meeting was initiated by the center of assistance and legal and psychological counselling of women victims of violence in collaboration with Germany's Heinrich Bell Foundation.