Background
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Morocco is a country in transition, with a population stabilizing (29.86 million), with an increasing proportion of youth. Several years of slow but steady economic growth helped reduce poverty rates, but some problems remain regarding the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, particularly with regard to maternal mortality and reproductive health.
National projects such as the National Human Development Initiative, launched by the King in 2005 to reduce extreme poverty and vulnerability, have contributed to the improvement of the situation but must sharpen their focus, improve coordination, increase the involvement of local level and increase participation of women and youth.
Issues facing children in Morocco
- Social Protection of vulnerable population remains a high priority and a concern in Morocco. Only 30 per cent of the population has access to medical insurance, with the subsidies system remaining unequal as it benefits all the total population – including the rich – and hence fails to target the poorest.
- Morocco had diagnosed its first case of H1N1 by 10 June 2009. Since then the disease has spread out across the country, with 35 per cent of the cases identified as schoolchildren.
- School dropout rates remain high in Morocco (about 38 per cent for both elementary and secondary levels), making quality of education a concern to be overcome.
- While the literacy rate has improved in the past few years, it remains very low for women, at 38 per cent.
- Neonatal mortality remains a grave concern in Morocco.
- Reduction of the maternal mortality ratio is slow, with only a 32 per cent reduction. Morocco will need three times the current effort in order to achieve the MDG of reducing maternal mortality by 75 per cent by 2015.
Activities and results for children
- UNICEF developed and tested essential educational tools, which were used in a reform programme instituted by the Ministry of Education. Some of the goals of the programme were to increase participation of children and parents in school governance; develop a preschool curriculum; and promote national initiatives on primary and secondary education.
- The concept of the ‘child-friendly city’ was adopted and has put Morocco in a leading position in North Africa and the Middle East. Concrete initiatives at the local level, such as Dar Al Omoumi (holding rooms for pregnant women), have gained wide acceptance among villagers.
- Child protection is still a new field in Morocco, but several major questions involving street children, domestic workers, child abuse and exploitation are being raised and recognized by the government and local authorities.
- Social Policy is a growing priority in Morocco. In 2009, with the support of UNICEF, Morocco held – with the presence of the Prime Minister – its first forum on social policy and child rights, during which a national debate on child poverty and child-based social budgeting began.
- The Moroccan Government has pledged to increase women's participation in political affairs. In May 2009, during the communal elections, the government made a significant step forward by increasing the number of seats held by women to 12 per cent. A national awareness campaign – entitled ‘Women in communes: A driving-force for local governance’ – was launched and is fully funded on the national budget. This move is considered to be a major step forward for efforts to consolidate a modern and democratic society.
