Moroccan government set to examine shortly draft laws on protection of women against violence

The Moroccan government is set to examine shortly draft laws for the legal and institutional protection of women against violence, said Friday minister in charge of women condition, protection of family and children and handicapped persons, Nezha Chekrouni.

The Moroccan official, who was interviewed by the first TV channel, said the law projects were drafted by a commission on violence against women, stemming from the standing permanent ministerial commission in charge of promoting women's conditions. She explained that most of the law projects take into account proposals by non-governmental organizations.

Chekrouni went on the law projects will include NGOs- proposed amendments to some juridical texts, mainly the criminal code, to guarantee the protection of women against all forms of violence, especially domestic violence and sexual harassment.

After she cited a positive performance of the government in social, economic and health matters, Chekrouni deplored the worsening of rural women living conditions. However, she went on, the government will remedy the situation through a strategy meant to generalize schooling in partnership with governmental and non-governmental partners.

As part of the upcoming five-year plan, the government will endeavor to include a maximum number of rural girls in the vocational training programs, while presently only 18.5% of girls in the countryside have access to informal vocational training programs, she said.