Morocco- On Wednesday (May 11), the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies released a report including recommendations for amendment of the Moroccan Family Code to prohibit polygamy, and child marriage, criminalize marital rape and eliminate violence and harassment against women in Morocco.

The report underlines that the family code allows polygamy under certain conditions, including taking the consent of the first wife, but the figures reveal that many men marry more than one woman by oppressing their first wives in order to obtain their consent.

Abortion

The report also draws attention to the issue of abortion in the country. Stating that Moroccan abortion law allows abortion in the cases of rape, incest and foetal impairment or if the mother's physical health is threatened, the report says, “However, the psychological health of women is ignored in the law.”

Violence against women

The report highlights that gender-based violence is on the rise in Morocco. “According to the 2019 statistics of the High Commission for Planning, 57% of women and girls were subjected to at least one form of violence,” the report says.

Recommendations

The report also includes recommendations for the government to protect women and girls. In the report, the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies calls on the government to amend the Moroccan Family Code in order to prohibit polygamy, and child marriage, criminalize marital rape and eliminate violence and harassment against women in Morocco.