UN executive for women's development holds talks in Rabat

Cooperation between Morocco and the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) topped talks held here last week by Moroccan officials and UNIFEM executive manager Noeleen Heyzer, who visited Morocco this January 14-18.

The UNIFEM chief met separately with secretary of state for social protection, family and children, Said Saadi, and secretary of state for cooperation, Aicha Belarbi Alaoui. Talks focused on the Moroccan government's action to foster women's participation in development and the government and non-governmental organizations' cooperation in promoting the status of women.

The Moroccan officials briefed the UN executive on the Moroccan action plan for the integration of women in development and the recent media campaign to fight violence against women.

The UNIFEM executive manager announced that the Fund has decided to create a position of advisor in gender matters for Maghreb countries to be based in Rabat.

UNIFEM is a New York-based UN fund working for women's empowerment and gender equality.