We’ve Won A Battle But Not The War
Our organization, Association Démocratique des Femmes du Maroc (ADFM), has issued this press release in response to the reformed Nationality Code passed by Moroccan Cabinet members on January 18th. We are excited about this victory but we will keep pressuring the Government for FULL reform of Morocco’s Nationality Code.
— Begin Press Release —
“On January 18, the Moroccan government adopted a draft bill granting Moroccan women the right to pass on their nationality to their children. This achievement is the outcome of years of shared struggle and lobbying carried out by Association Democratique des Femmes du Maroc (ADFM) and a great number of women’s rights and human rights organizations.
For more than four years, a series of campaigning activities was organised demanding the revision and amendment of the Nationality Code. The activities included studies, testimonies, petitions, meetings with the ministers concerned with the nationality issue and with MPs, demonstrations, press conferences, raising awareness campaigns and a sit-in.
Today, we are noting with great satisfaction that children born to Moroccan mothers from foreign fathers, as well as those born before the bill was adopted, can have Moroccan nationality.
However, we still insist on the following:
- It is necessary to extend the advantages granted to foreign wives married to Moroccan men (Article 10: Obtaining nationality through marriage) to foreign men married to Moroccan women;
- A considerable number of children born to Moroccan women are still awaiting the urgent adoption of the law in order for them to legally become Moroccans;
- Over 300 foreign men married to Moroccan women have been waiting for years to obtain Moroccan nationality although their request files fulfill all needed conditions.
We hope that, without delay, the Moroccan Parliament will ratify the new Nationality Code which restores the equal right of both genders to pass on nationality to children, in accordance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), which represents another step forward towards putting an end to all forms of discrimination against women in Morocco.”
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For further information:
Click here to learn more about the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
Click here to see which countries have signed on to the Convention and which have ratified the Convention.
Entry Filed under: Countries, Activities, In the News, Morocco