FAO in Morocco commits to a campaign combatting violence against women and girls.

The FAO Representative in Morocco and her team have released a video statement raising awareness of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence towards women and girls on November 25, 2020.

The office has posted online a spot with strong messages calling for a firm stand on violence against women and girls. Each of the fifteen (15) staff members, wearing an orange scarf, spoke out to mark their commitment to the prevention of violence.

This action, which was carried out with heart and conviction by the whole team, reflects the strong commitment of the office to prevent and combat all forms of violence against women and girls. It takes place within the context of the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women campaign (UNiTE campaign), managed by UN Women, under the 2020 global theme: "Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!".

Since 2015, the United Nations Development System (UNDS) in Morocco, under the UN Women leadership, commemorates this campaign and encourages the government, the civil society, the media, the private sector and the international cooperation to organize activities with the aim of raising awareness and providing information to the general public on this issue throughout the 16 days of activism.

This year, and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 edition of the campaign is fully digital. A large number of informative awareness-raising communication tools have been developed by all segments of Moroccan society and are disseminated through social media during the 16 days. Monuments and numerous public buildings light up in orange across the country to raise public awareness of the phenomenon of violence suffered by women. The 350 buses and tram in Rabat have also gone orange.

According to the latest findings of a national study conducted between February and July 2019 by the High Commission for Planning (HCP), with the support of UN-Women Morocco, among 13.4 million women aged between 15 to 74 years, more than 7.6 million had suffered at least one act of violence, in all contexts and in all forms, during the twelve months preceding the survey.

The study found that one in four women (25%) victims of physical domestic violence and one in 10 victims of sexual violence have suffered injuries and/or psychological problems following the most serious physical or sexual abuse experienced in the past 12 months

Among these victims, psychological disorders are reported by 60.2% following physical violence and 79% following sexual violence, said the HCP. The study emphasized that the most common psychological consequences of physical and sexual abuse are feelings of nervousness, frustration and anxiety (24% in cases of physical violence and 18% in cases of sexual violence), sleep disorders (16% and 17%), and a feeling of permanent fatigue (15% and 16%), said the same source.

The prevalence of violence against women in Morocco is certainly alarming and requires collaborative efforts from the government, private operators, civil society, and families. We must all participate in raising awareness about the issue to build a better world for our mothers, sisters, partners, and friends. Feeling safe and secure is a right, not a privilege.

Stay tuned, read the results of the 2019 survey carefully and share them with others to raise awareness of this sadly widespread problem. Rural women and girls are not spared, violence affects 55% of them.

As in previous years, FAO Representation in Morocco is committed to put the spotlight on the voices of survivors and activists.

Watch the video here