Morocco-27th Session May 2017-Violence against women / gender-based violence

Para 33) The following steps were taken to support the judiciary’s institutional machinery: … • Action to build a stronger structure in the Prosecutor-General’s Office in 2021 with the creation of a special section to deal with human rights and units that: specialize in women’s issues; oversee the work done by local and regional coordination committees to support women victims of violence; Para 36) In a government statement issued at the end of 2021 particular emphasis was placed on new aspects of criminal law policy, namely, in the initial stage, the following: • Prioritization by the legislature of a revision of the Code of Criminal Procedure to include measures to strengthen fair trial guarantees: definition of the role of the prosecuting authority and the rights of the other parties; pretrial detention; police custody; protection of the rights of accused persons; protection of women and child victims … Para 43) The Government has pursued efforts to mainstream equality with the implementation of the second iteration of the Government Plan for Equality (Ikram) 2017–2021, which is designed to support the advancement of women, ensure that they are protected from all forms of violence and discrimination, boost their participation in decision-making and provide them with more opportunities for economic empowerment. Other programmes and policies on the advancement of women have been adopted, including the Integrated National Programme for Women’s and Girls’ Economic Empowerment, 2030 (Empowering Morocco), the Strategy on Gender Equality in the Public Sector, and the National Strategy on the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, 2030. Steps have been taken to improve mechanisms and structural arrangements designed to support women in difficult circumstances and women victims of violence. A national support committee for women victims of violence has been set up along with the Refuge and Support Programme, which was developed to boost institutions that support women. The National Committee for Gender Equality and the Advancement of Women was established in 2022. Para 110) The Kingdom of Morocco enhanced the legal and institutional framework for action to combat violence against women by promulgating Act No. 103.13 on Combating Violence against Women, which aims to provide legal protection for women victims of violence. It comprises four basic dimensions: prevention, protection, suppression and provision of care. Shelters and structures for receiving and providing care for women victims of violence have been expanded at the regional level in order to facilitate their access to justice. A platform for complaints of violence against women has been established as well as the pluralistic National Observatory of Violence against Women and the National Committee on Support for Women Victims of Violence. The issue of providing care for women victims of violence during a quarantine period has also attracted the attention of all parties involved. Preventive measures and special procedures have been adopted to enhance women’s access to justice, and to ensure that cases of violence are reported and that victims are provided with care. The Office of the President of the Public Prosecution Service has established an electronic portal to facilitate the reporting of cases of violence against women. Para 111) Notwithstanding these measures, the phenomenon of violence against women continues to present a challenge when action is taken to improve the system for women’s protection. According to statistical data, the courts registered about 17,103 cases involving major and minor offences of violence against women in 2018. They registered an increase to 19,019 cases in 2019 and a subsequent decrease to 18,275 cases in 2020. Para 113) … The Kingdom of Morocco has also continued to support units that provide care for child and women victims of violence by extending them to all the Kingdom’s courts and to relevant sectors and institutions, by adapting them to meet new legal requirements and by developing their means of action. Para 135) Continuous action is taken to promote the human rights training and education of national security officers. During the period from 2017 to 2021, a total of 49,667 police officers benefited from the aforementioned human rights training programmes. A training programme was organized for heads of units that provide support for women victims of violence, and awareness-raising days were held on “The role and functions of units supporting women victims of violence”, …