[women-rights] CEDAW 29th Session: OMCT expresses concern about violence against women in Morocco

PRESS RELEASE
Geneva, 15 July 2003

The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) expresses its concern 
regarding violence against women in Morocco at the Twenty-Ninth Session of 
the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women


The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women will 
today begin its examination of Morocco's implementation of the Convention 
on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. In its 
alternative country report entitled "Violence against Women in Morocco", 
which has been submitted to the Committee, the World Organisation Against 
Torture (OMCT) expresses its grave concern at reports of widespread 
violence against women in the private and community spheres.

Discrimination against women persists in Morocco in both de jure and de 
facto forms. The government of Morocco has registered numerous reservations 
to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against 
Women, thus seriously hampering the potential effectiveness of the treaty. 
Further, Moroccan legislation discriminates against women with regard to 
the minimum marriageable age, ability to contract a marriage, polygamy, and 
divorce, among other areas. Women in Morocco also display lower literacy 
levels than men and low levels of participation in higher segments of the 
labour market.

OMCT's report expresses concern that although domestic violence is little 
documented and seldom reported, it appears to be a serious problem. There 
are several barriers that prevent women and girls from lodging complaints 
in relation to domestic violence. These include: traditional social beliefs 
concerning the inferiority of women; the social unacceptability of 
denouncing your husband; the lack of specific legislation on violence 
against women in the family; and the lack of sensitivity on the part of law 
enforcement officials. Furthermore, there is a lack of adequate structures 
to shelter and help battered women and women face difficulties in obtaining 
a judicial divorce on the grounds of harm and proving physical assault in 
the domestic sphere as this requires a medical certificate as well as the 
testimony of a witness. The report explains that these obstacles perpetuate 
the message that domestic violence is to a certain degree acceptable and 
allow the perpetrators of domestic violence to enjoy impunity. OMCT insists 
that the government develop a comprehensive policy and legislative response 
to the problem of domestic violence, which at the same time should dissolve 
the mentioned obstacles.

Rape also appears to be heavily underreported due to the social stigma 
attached to the loss of virginity and the difficulties women face in 
proving that they have been raped due to the lack of a witness to the 
crime. Another fact that may discourage women from filing a complaint is 
the risk of being charged with having had unlawful sex in cases when she is 
pregnant and cannot prove that she was raped. OMCT recommends that the 
Government of Morocco repeal the evidentiary rules regarding rape, which 
place a large part of the burden of proof on the rape victim.

Another topic of concern in the report is the increase in trafficking in 
women and girls for prostitution and the exploitive situation of child 
maids. OMCT notes that prostitutes may be doubly victimised; first forced 
into prostitution and then detained since prostitution is illegal. As there 
is currently no specific legislation to combat trafficking in persons, OMCT 
recommends the adoption of new legislation to criminalise trafficking in 
persons and to ensure that women and girls who are the victims of sexual 
exploitation are not held criminally culpable.

Overall, OMCT's report concludes that while Morocco has a duty under 
international law to act with due diligence to prevent, investigate, 
prosecute and punish all forms of violence against women, irrespective of 
whether this violence is committed by public or private individuals, this 
obligation has not been adequately implemented at the national level.


For further information on or copies of the alternative report on violence 
against women in Morocco or for further information on OMCT's programme on 
Violence against Women in general please contact Carin Benninger-Budel at + 
41 22 809 4939 or cbb@omct.org.




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