Morocco : Decline in violence against women over past 10 years

Violence against women has experienced a downward trend over the past ten years, according to the High Planning Commission (HCP).

The number of victims who experienced at least one act of violence fell from 63% to 57% between 2009 and 2019, considering the 2009 target population of women aged 18 to 64 years and without taking into consideration electronic violence, the HCP underlines in its latest report on violence against women and girls relating to the 2019 national survey on violence against women and men.

This development is contrasted by form of violence, the HCP says, noting that although psychological and physical violence have decreased compared to 2009 by 9 and 2 points respectively (from 58% to 49% and from 15% to 13% respectively), the sexual and economic forms have, on the other hand, recorded significant increases of of 5 and 7 points, from 9% to 14%, and from 8% to 15%, respectively.

The same trends are noted in urban and rural areas, except for physical violence which has increased by 4 points in rural areas, from 9% in 2009 to 13% in 2019, underlines the same source.

The conduct of the 2019 national survey on violence against women and men contributes to Morocco's efforts in monitoring the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, and more particularly SDG 5, dedicated to gender equality.

This survey was carried out with the support of UN-Women, between February and July 2019, on 12,000 girls and women and 3,000 boys and men, aged between 15 and 74, representing various social backgrounds and the different regions of the country.