Alarming rise in sexual violence in Morocco amid persistent abuse

Morocco’s High Commission for Planning (HCP) has released troubling data highlighting the ongoing issue of domestic violence and various forms of abuse faced by women and young girls in the country. This report draws on key findings from a 2019 survey focused on violence against young girls in Morocco.

According to the HCP's March report, approximately 825,000 girls aged between 15 and 19 experienced violence in the year leading up to the survey, representing 70.7% of the respondents. The report indicates that violence affects women aged 2 to 74, with an overall prevalence rate of 55.8%. Women under 50 remain particularly vulnerable, with a national average prevalence of 57.1%.

The data reveals that urban areas witness a higher incidence of violence, with 518,000 young girls, or 75.1% of the victims, affected, compared to 307,000 young girls, or 64.3%, in rural regions. Many women and girls refrain from reporting abuse due to fear of repercussions, such as divorce or familial backlash.

Domestic violence is notably prevalent, impacting 693,000 young girls aged 15 to 19, with a prevalence rate of 59.4%. Urban areas report rates of 60.8%, while rural areas show 57.4%. Furthermore, violence within educational and training institutions is significant, with 25.3% of female students reporting experiences of violence—34.9% in rural areas compared to 22.8% in urban settings.

The report categorizes various forms of violence, revealing that psychological violence is the most common, affecting 61.6% of victims. Sexual violence follows closely, impacting at least 272,000 individuals, while physical violence affects 17.1% of girls, totaling around 199,000 victims. Economic and cyber violence also pose serious threats, with 16,000 victims affected by economic violence and 282,000 by cyber violence, the latter having a prevalence rate of 29.4%.

HCP's comparative analysis of data from 2009 and 2019 shows a slight overall decrease in the prevalence of violence, from 73.5% to 67.6%. However, this masks a significant increase in sexual violence, which rose nearly 12 points during the same period.

The report identifies primary perpetrators of violence, with fathers and brothers frequently cited as the main sources of psychological and physical abuse. This alarming data emerges as Morocco continues to work towards establishing a robust legal framework aimed at combating violence against women. Naima Ben Yahya, Morocco’s Minister of Solidarity, has indicated that the country is reviewing legislation that will incorporate findings from various research studies and recommendations from civil society organizations.