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Any approach to equality and parity issues requires a societal culture supporting women's participation, said Ms. Bouayach

Speaking at the Seminar on “Women’s rights in Morocco, Historic Perspective and Future Horizons”, Ms. Amina Bouayach, President of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), emphasized that any approach to equality and parity requires a societal culture supporting women’s participation. It also requires capacity-building to ensure objective and accurate monitoring of access to rights. Besides, this approach requires efforts to change social and cultural data. Also, further work is needed to ensure effective and efficient institutionalization of equality and parity.

This Seminar was organized by the Moroccan pavilion in cooperation with the CNDH at the Dubai Expo 2020 on Thursday 18 November 2021.

Ms. Bouayach also stressed that the CNDH is playing a key role related to the protection and raising awareness on human rights while maintain its independence and commitment.  The CNDH serves as a link between the State and society. The CNDH is also working to monitor the State’s international engagement regarding women’s rights including sustainable development goals (SDGs). It has been working on encouraging the State to bring national legislation into compliance with international standards.

This Seminar was moderated by Ms. Maimouna Essayed, President of the CNDH Regional Commission in Dakhla-Oued Eddahab Region. Ms. Meriem Othmani, President of the National Institute for Solidarity with Women in a Distress (INSAF), and Ms. Oumaima Achour, President of the Jussour Forum for Moroccan Women, took part in this seminar as panellists.

This Seminar aimed at discussing the assessment of progress made regarding women’s rights, identifying emerging challenges and ways to encourage the effective full implementation of the principle of equality and parity. It also intended to strengthen the political representation of women. This event was an opportunity to address the approaches aiming to support the cross-cutting integration of the gender-based approach in public policies, particularly in a constantly developing national, regional and international context.

CNDH Chairperson stressed that the most important guarantee of equality between women and men is the constitutional provisions, which stipulate the equal enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social, cultural and environmental rights and freedoms.

She also said that the Constitution provisions become the reference for legislation and public debate on issues related to women’s rights, she added.

For her part, Ms. Essayed indicated that Morocco witnessed a positive human rights process marked by significant milestones at the qualitative and quantitative levels. The State is strengthening institutional foundations and developing ambitious policies and strategies to enhance its legal arsenal and its human rights achievements following a sustainable and proactive approach. Morocco is also conducting actions strengthening its adherence to the international human rights system, she added.

Stakeholders unanimously agreed that Morocco took significant steps in the process of strengthening democratic construction through its adherence to the international human rights system, particularly with regard to enhancing the legal arsenal by ratifying international instruments related to women’s rights. They also shed light on the importance of the equal enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social, cultural and environmental rights and freedoms. However, several challenges are still facing full enjoyment of women’s rights including persisting inequalities. Therefore, women’s rights need to be reinforced in such a manner to response to the constitutional provision and Morocco’s international engagements. The promotion of women’s rights is urgent and should be renewed to face emerging challenges defined by the national, international and universal context.