Latest news with #SocialIntegration
Morocco World
9 hours ago
- Business
- Morocco World
French Equality Minister Aurore Bergé Begins Three-Day Morocco Visit
Marrakech – French Minister for Equality Aurore Bergé arrives in Morocco today for a three-day official visit focused on bilateral cooperation in women's rights and gender equality. The visit, taking place from June 23-25, builds on the strategic partnership King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron launched in October 2024. In Rabat, Bergé will meet with Economy and Finance Minister Nadia Fettah Alaoui and her counterpart Naïma Ben Yahia, Minister of Solidarity, Social Integration, and Family. The ministers are expected to sign a joint declaration to strengthen Franco-Moroccan cooperation in preventing violence against women. Bergé's agenda includes discussions with key Moroccan officials, including Amina Bouayach, president of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), Mbarka Bouaida, president of the Association of Moroccan Regions, Ahmed Abbadi, secretary general of the Rabita of Ulema, and royal advisor André Azoulay. Women's economic empowerment stands as a central focus of the visit. Bergé will tour the Safran Nacelles industrial site in Nouaceur near Casablanca and visit the Aeronautics Trades Institute to discuss women's training and their role in Morocco's economy. In Marrakech, the minister will explore social structures, including the Lalla Amina center for children without families, and visit facilities dedicated to women's economic empowerment. She will also evaluate field projects supported by the French Development Agency (AFD), including the 'Ajyal Equality' program, which works to support women victims of violence. A key diplomatic development expected during the visit is Morocco's planned inclusion among the group of states promoting feminist diplomacy. This move precedes an international conference on feminist diplomacy scheduled for October in Paris. Throughout her trip, Bergé will meet with the French community in Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakech, which represents the largest foreign community in Morocco with over 50,000 citizens. The visit marks another layer in the Rabat-Paris bilateral relations, elevating gender equality from symbolic intentions to a foundation for strategic cooperation across economic, social, and diplomatic spheres. It follows France's recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara in July 2024, and subsequent visits by French officials to Morocco's southern provinces, including Culture Minister Rachida Dati, French Senate President Gérard Larcher, AFD Director General Remy Rioux, among many others. Read also: King Mohammed VI May Visit France in Late 2025 or Early 2026 Tags: Morocco France Relations
Ya Biladi
a day ago
- Business
- Ya Biladi
French Minister Aurore Bergé visits Morocco to advance equality efforts
French Minister for Gender Equality and the Fight Against Discrimination, Aurore Bergé, is on an official visit to Morocco from June 23 to 25, 2025. The visit forms part of the strengthened and exceptional partnership initiated by the heads of state of both countries. During her stay, she will hold talks with senior Moroccan officials, including Nadia Fettah Alaoui, Minister of Economy and Finance, and Naïma Ben Yahia, Minister of Solidarity, Social Integration, and Family. According to a briefing note issued ahead of the visit, Aurore Bergé will also focus on the role of women in the economy. Her agenda includes a visit to the Safran Nacelles Morocco industrial site, as well as discussions on women's training and their vital contribution to the Moroccan economy at the Institute of Aeronautics Professions. She is also scheduled to meet with civil society organizations working to promote gender equality. In addition, the minister will hold meetings with Amina Bouayach, President of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH); Mbarka Bouaida, President of the Association of Regions of Morocco and President of the Guelmim Oued Noun Regional Council; and Ahmed Abbadi, Secretary-General of the Rabita of Ulemas. She will also be received by André Azoulay, Advisor to King Mohammed VI. The visit is seen as a «key step toward bringing Morocco into the circle of countries that have adopted a feminist foreign policy», in the lead-up to an international conference on feminist diplomacy scheduled for Paris in October 2025, according to the same source. Aurore Bergé and Naïma Ben Yahia are also expected to announce a joint commitment to «strengthening Franco-Moroccan cooperation in training and prevention programs to combat all forms of violence against women».
Morocco World
21-03-2025
- Morocco World
Moroccans Demand Justice for Victims in Kiko School Rape Scandal
Rabat – Authorities in the Kiko commune near Fez have launched an extensive investigation following reports of sexual abuse involving several schoolgirls. The case has shocked the community and Moroccans across the country are demanding justice for the victims. The case reportedly began when one of the victims attempted suicide after being threatened with the release of a video recorded by a friend. According to converging reports, the abuse occurred in two different schools in the Kiko area. The investigation revealed that a network of perpetrators, including individuals identified as a bouncer, a farmer, and a hairdresser, were responsible for exploiting the underage girls. The incident came to light after the victim's family filed a complaint following the suicide attempt and threats of publishing a compromising video. Authorities have since arrested several suspects and are interrogating them, with more arrests expected as investigations continue. Human rights groups have called for immediate legal action and psychological support for the victims. In addition, several Moroccans took to social media to express their shock over the incident, as well as call for urgent measures to protect and support the victims and their families. Others have called for stricter penalties for the perpetrators to prevent the recurrence of such crimes. Many have pointed to the lenient sentences handed down in similar cases, such as the Tiflet rape case , in which an 11-year-old girl was gang-raped by three men, one of whom impregnated her. Despite the gravity of the crime, the perpetrators were sentenced to only two years each. In addition, Member of Parliament Mohamed Chouki from the National Rally of Independents submitted a written question to Minister of Solidarity, Social Integration, and Family, Naima Ben Yahia, regarding the case. Chouki warned that the abuse has left a deep psychological impact on the community and urged the ministry to ensure that the affected schoolgirls receive prompt legal and psychological assistance.
