The Moroccan Family Code (Moudawana), which puts women on a more equal footing with their husbands, is a "success story," the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) said.

During a ceremony at the UN headquarters, celebrating the 30th anniversary of CEDAW, a booklet published on the occasion places the Kingdom as one of the top four countries that have implemented conclusive reforms in favor of women.

"The Family Code entrenches the principle of shared family responsibilities between the spouses and was the culmination of extensive public discussion of challenges women faced under the previous code," the document says.

It adds that in a bid to help ensure effective implementation of the Code, legislative changes have been made, including the creation of dedicated family courts and the upgrading of the legal system.

“The introduction of the new Family Code has been part of a broader wave of important legal reforms in Morocco aimed at compliance with its obligations under CEDAW,” the document notes.

Achievements for Moroccan woman

For Nouzha Guessous, former member of the advisory commission in charge with revising the Moudawana, the new code “is very important because it confirms the commitment of Morocco to respect human rights, especially those of women.”

Guessous, who was speaking about the Moroccan experience, said that this “new code introduces the principle of equality between men and women who now share responsibility within the family.”

This new code has proclaimed equality between genders and abolished a series of discriminatory reservations against women, according Nouzha Guessous, who highlighted the new provisions introduced, particularly regarding marriage, divorce and children rights.

This code has paved the way for further reforms, particularly the nationality and labor codes.