Morocco draws ethical charter on women's image in the media

Morocco has drafted a charter on the image of women in the media, designed as an ethical platform to improve the image of women in the print, audio-visual media and advertisement.

The charter involves the Moroccan media in the development of awareness-promotion mechanisms on the new Family Code enacted in Morocco last year and on all other laws related to the rights of women.

It also means to guarantee women's rights to expression, and to be portrayed by the media in an objective and professional way, as well as entrench the principles of human rights, the respect of women's dignity and the fight against all forms of discrimination and exclusion.

The charter was developed at a seminar held in Rabat on Monday by several departments including the State Secretariat in charge of the Family, Childhood, and Handicapped, the Communication, Culture ministries, the High Audio-Visual Authority and the Moroccan news agency (MAP).

Among the most important measures provided for in the charter is the incorporation of the social gender approach in the Moroccan communication policy, said Secretary of State for Family, Childhood and Handicapped, Yasmina Baddou.

The official also criticized the Moroccan media for their debasing and stereotyped depiction of women, such as traditional women and victim women without highlighting their active role in society.