Morocco 
Moroccan girls increasingly victims of abuse

afrol News, 3 March - New research shows that the number of Moroccan girls and young women at risk for sexual abuse, slavery, forced labour and trafficking has grown dramatically during the last years. As government attempts to curb traditional discrimination, new types of abuse are introduced from abroad.

Issues of poverty, rural exodus and the corresponding growth of urban areas, migration to Europe and the Arab Gulf States, a large domestic service sector employing young girls, a heavy dependence on foreign tourism and investment, rapidly evolving moral standards and challenges to traditional sexual behaviour are currently confronting Morocco as it stands at the crossroads of its political, social and economic development.

During the 31 days of March 2003, the International Human Rights Law Group in Morocco (IHRLG Rabat) and 13 local partners are to conduct a variety of events in more than 20 sites across Morocco to raise awareness of the growing number of Moroccan girls and young women at risk of sexual abuse, forced labour, human trafficking and slavery-like practices in prostitution and domestic service.

- This first-of-its-kind national advocacy initiative targets the public, government officials, civic authorities, junior high and high school students, non-governmental organisations, and girls and young women at risk, the human rights group states today. The campaign is called the "Month of Awareness".

Also, a comprehensive training project is designed to prime Moroccan social workers and paralegals for administering permanent programs serving the community of girls and young women at risk and launching of 'Centres d'ecoute' in strategic locations across the country. 

Events planned for the "Month of Awareness" include prevention, information, awareness raising, direct assistance, and advocacy activities that incorporate impact theatre pieces, videos, debates, discussions, round tables, open houses, support group meetings, awareness-raising civic caravans to rural areas, prison visits and women's human rights education sessions, the group informs.

The campaigns are concentrated to the country's main tourist destinations Agadir and Marrakech, the economic capital Casablanca, the capital Rabat and the towns of Essaouira, El Hajeb and Tétouan.

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