Moroccan rights groups monitor women's political rights ahead of elections

Ahead of Morocco's legislative elections on September 23, human rights organizations have released reports analyzing women's political rights and participation.

The Federation of Women's Rights Leagues and the Media and Monitoring Center for Moroccan Women presented a comparative study of nine political parties. This barometer evaluates party commitments to gender equality, economic and social rights, and legal reforms. Key issues under scrutiny include the Family Code, specifically regarding child marriage, polygamy, inheritance, and parental authority. While parties like the National Rally of Independents and the Authenticity and Modernity Party have proposed reforms to prevent child marriage and align the Family Code with international conventions, the study highlights varying levels of commitment across the political spectrum.

Separately, the Zahra Forum for Moroccan Women reported challenges facing female candidates. Although women represent 36.47% of total nominations (2,658 out of 7,288), the forum noted a limited presence of women on local lists and a reliance on family ties for certain nominations. The forum also raised concerns regarding the digital campaign environment, noting that some female candidates have been subjected to symbolic violence, defamation, and attacks on their private lives. The organization called for a safer political environment that prioritizes policy competition over personal attacks.