HANAN HARITE

Morocco- Saida Kouzzi, a lawyer and a founding partner at MRA Mobilising for Rights Associates, which provides safe spaces for women victims of violence, called for speeding up the activation of Law 103-13 on the Elimination of Violence Against Women in Morocco. Noting that women victims of violence apply to the association, Saida Kouzzi said, “They tell us that they encounter a myriad of barriers when they try to report violence.”

 ‘Women encounter barriers’

 “Women and girls, who have been subjected to many forms of violence in Morocco, encounter a myriad of barriers when they try to report violence to relevant institutions such as police, prosecutors, or courts,” Saida Kouzzi said, “Most of women are unaware of the law and the procedures when they are subjected to violence. When they try to report violence, they face barriers by police, prosecutors and courts. These barriers discourage women and girls from reporting violence.”

‘Women are asked to prove’

Noting that when women try to report violence, they are asked to prove that they were subjected to violence, Saida Kouzzi said, “However, most women are subjected to violence at their home so it is difficult for women victims of domestic violence to prove it. In such cases, police officers must carry out an effective investigation to find evidence. When women report them, the police officers must record the incident and investigate it.”

 Calling on the Moroccan government to speed up the activation of Law 103-13 on the Elimination of Violence Against Women in Morocco, Saida Kouzzi said, “Women and girls victims of violence need safe spaces to take shelter. The government must provide more women’s shelters to violence survivors.”