The Marriage of Minors in Morocco: a Scourge that Persists
“Child marriage is a common violation of human rights in different parts of the world, Africa and even parts of Asia and Europe.”
Visualisation of marriages of minors (girls and boys)-2018
https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/jihane.ziyan/viz/ChildMarriage2018/Sheet1
This global problem is fuelled by gender inequality, poverty, which has devastating consequences around the world. Despite the laws that prohibit it, this practice remains common worldwide
Girls’ mental and physical health has changed dramatically as a result of the spread of COVID-19, nor can we deny the significant impact on their education (or lack thereof!). In fact, before the pandemic, more than 100 million girls had to marry before their eighteenth birthday in the next decade. The United Nations (UN) recently shared new research indicating that up to 10 million more girls are at risk of becoming child brides due to the pandemic. If pre-pandemic trends continue, there could be an opportunity for more than 150 million more girls to marry by 2030.
The situation in Morocco:
Child marriage in Morocco is still widespread in 2021, although efforts are being made to extend girls' rights and give women much more autonomy. However, despite all efforts, this practice remains a daily reality for several thousand married children before the age of 18 and limits the potential of the country’s economic and social development.
Morocco has long fought against this global social scourge. However, there is still hope for girls in the country, thanks in particular to the militant groups, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the government that are working to reform laws and fight against child marriage in Morocco. The Family Code has set the age of marriage for boys and girls at 18 years of age (Article 19), the exceptions included in Articles 20 and 21 still allow for the granting of authorizations for girls' marriage applications, both rural and urban.
Sixteen percent of adolescent girls who marry in Morocco do so before the legal age of 18, compared with no more than 3 per cent in Algeria and Tunisia, which have the same minimum age for women.
According to the latest statistics from the Public Prosecutor’s Office, Moroccan courts received 19,966 applications for permission for minor marriages in 2020 and 13,335 of them were accepted. Morocco’s efforts to win this fight against child marriage have been praised by the United Nations. However, this practice remains a daily living hell for thousands of children, married before the age of 18. This phenomenon greatly promotes the miseducation of these children and contributes to the weakening of the education system, and thus has a direct and steep negative impact on national development.
Number of marriages of minors approved (2013)
What makes this global problem even more frightening is the fact that some “advanced” countries are still legalising this human rights violation. In doing my research, I came across information that deeply shocked me. Many surveys and data collected present Third World countries (for example Bangladesh, Niger, the Philippines, etc.).
Early marriage brings about early parenthood, and of course, since it comes with the territory, endless pressure to provide for a family, thus reducing educational and employment opportunities. As we have already seen throughout this article, the risk of child marriage increases through various channels, such as economic insecurities, cultural pressure and much more. There is an urgent need for legislative action, particularly because of shame and inaction in certain situations. In this context, we need the same international laws that prohibit child marriage in a global context.
References :
Ziyan, J. (2018). Visualization of marriages of minors (girls and boys) [Tableau visualization]. Retrieved from https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/jihane.ziyan/viz/ChildMarriage2018/Sheet1
UNICEF. (2020). COVID-19: A threat to progress against child marriage. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/eap/press-releases/10-million-additional-girls-risk-child-marriage-due-covid-19-unicef
UNICEF Maroc. (2018). Mariage des enfants au Maroc [Child marriage in Morocco]. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/morocco/media/181/file/Mariage des enfants au Maroc.pdf
IEMed. (2017). Matrimonio infantil y derechos humanos: el caso marroquí [Child marriage and human rights: The Moroccan case]. Retrieved from https://www.iemed.org/events/matrimonio-infantil-y-derechos-humanos-el-caso-marroqui/?lang=fr
Moroccan government. (2004). The Family Code of Morocco (mudawla). Retrieved from http://www.legislation-morocco.com/loi/2ème-partie-civil/family-code-morocco
About the author :
Jihane Ziyan is a master’s graduate majoring in communications and journalism. She enjoys writing and creating content that tackles various topics.
