Moroccan women's rights and socio-economic status

On National Moroccan Women's Day, discussions highlighted significant political progress, notably the appointment of Fatima-Zahra Mansouri as the first female Head of Government. However, data from the Haut-Commissariat au Plan (HCP) revealed persistent socio-economic disparities, including a female labor activity rate of only 18.1% compared to 66.5% for men, and gaps in educational enrollment between urban and rural areas.

In response, the Federation of Women's Rights Associations presented demands to the Mansouri government, calling for an economic plan to increase female labor participation to at least 30 percent by 2030-2031 through the 2027 finance law. Their proposals include improving access to financing for female entrepreneurs, expanding childcare, and completing Family Code reforms to protect women from physical, digital, and political violence. The federation also advocated for increased powers for the Ministry of Family, Social Development, and Equality to monitor government policies.

Following these demands, the Democratic Association of Moroccan Women criticized the government’s new program for the 2026-2031 term, citing a lack of clarity. The association warned that while the program contains pledges regarding economic empowerment and combating violence, these commitments remain “general” compared to the detailed objectives and resource allocations provided for other sectors. The group has called on the Head of Government to provide Parliament with specific information regarding budgets, implementation mechanisms, and concrete measures to ensure substantive policy changes in family, criminal, and labor laws.