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Walaw

Society

Tackling the Menace of Child Marriage: Morocco's Imperative for Government Action

Monday 05 February 2024 - 10:44

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Despite concerted efforts to combat it, the scourge of child marriage continues to afflict Morocco, with a staggering 12,940 instances recorded in 2022 alone, according to recent data.

In response to this persistent challenge, the Economic, Social, and Environmental Council (CESE) of Morocco has issued a compelling call to action, urging the government to take decisive steps to address the issue. The CESE, an independent advisory body, issued its latest report on child marriage at the behest of the President of the House of Representatives, particularly in anticipation of forthcoming reforms to the Family Code.

Highlighting the detrimental consequences of child marriage, the report underscores how this harmful practice robs young girls of educational opportunities and future prospects, exacerbates the risks of early pregnancies, and perpetuates cycles of poverty. Beyond its immediate impact on individual lives, child marriage also poses a significant obstacle to Morocco's overall economic and social development.

The report emphasizes the need for urgent and coordinated efforts across various governmental departments and administrative levels to align laws, challenge harmful social norms, and monitor progress against established benchmarks for children's rights. Building on previous recommendations from 2019, the CESE advocates for the closure of legal loopholes, the implementation of comprehensive child protection policies nationwide, and the establishment of robust monitoring mechanisms in line with international commitments.

In line with longstanding criticisms from activists, the council particularly targets the legal provisions that allow Moroccan judges to authorize marriages involving minors as young as 16. Government data reveals that in 2022 alone, judges granted nearly 13,000 such exceptions to the legal marriage age of 18.

With UNICEF reporting a child marriage rate of 14% in Morocco between 2015 and 2021, the CESE underscores the urgent need to translate ambitious policy pledges into tangible actions on the ground. The time to safeguard the futures of young girls through concrete measures is now.