Morocco to set up center on women's status

Morocco will set up an information and documentation center on the status of women, announced Mohamed Said Saadi, Moroccan secretary of state in charge of social protection, family and children.

The official who took part this September 3-6 in an international conference on old people in Montreal, Canada, told MAP bureau in Canada that the project, supported by the European Union, will be the topic of a seminar on foreign experiences in the creation of research centers.

He added that he asked the non-governmental organization "Oxfam-Canada," which is active in Morocco in water supply in rural areas, to support this initiative.

In another meeting with the vice-chairman of the Canadian Agency of International Development, the official asked the agency to review its activities in Morocco and grant more interest to social sectors.

Saadi also obtained promises that Quebec's authorities will help in the consolidation of his department's structures, mainly to create "focal points" in charge of promoting the status of women within all ministerial departments, therefore, creating an inter-ministerial network that will be endeavoring to integrate the gender dimension and equality in all budgets, programs and activities.

The two countries' non-governmental organizations will also cooperate by establishing close links to exchange information and experiences, mainly regarding violence against women.