Moroccan official in women's international socialist meeting in Lisbon

Moroccan minister and member of the women secretariat of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces, Nouzah Chekrouni, is taking part in Lisbon in the meeting of the women section of the International Socialist's executive committee and bureau.

In her capacity as vice-president of the International Socialist for western Mediterranean, Chekrouni, who is minister of women conditions, family protection and childhood, made a presentation on problems affecting the region, mainly democratic issues, violence upsurge, terrorism and the socialists electoral performances, in addition to the Sahara issue, in light of the latest report of the UN secretary general who proposes a political solution to the issue.

She also noted the region is still prey to persisting social problems that affect women in particular. She deplored the gap existing between discourses on rapprochement between the two Mediterranean banks and the widening gap in reality. Support should more considerable to support ongoing democratization processes in the region, she said.

For the Moroccan delegate, globalization poses important challenges, requiring to associate women in bringing answers to these challenges.

During encounters devoted to women and health, Chekrouni underscored that Morocco has set up a royal commission in charge of reforming the personal status code while the socialist-led coalition government has drafted a social development strategy to increase population access to health care. She went on that priority is given in the rural world to women access to reproductive health and to girls schooling.

Regarding her party, she told 80 delegates representing 32 countries the USFP has enforced a 20% quota for women at all the party's decision-making bodies.