International Women’s Day 2022: Every year on March 8, Women’s Day is celebrated. Today is one of the most significant events in the month of March, and it is known throughout the world.

Since 1908, the day has evolved from the labor movement to become an annual celebration recognized by the United Nations. “Break the Bias” is the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day; stand up for gender equality today for a brighter tomorrow.

The purpose of the celebration is to highlight the accomplishments and efforts of women all over the world. Women from all throughout the globe participate in marches, seminars, and various programs on this day. International Women’s Day is a worldwide celebration of women’s social, economical, cultural, and political contributions. The day also focuses on societal challenges of equality between women and men.

We have seen over centuries what women are capable of doing and what they have achieved, there has been a great progress concerning women leadership.

“There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.” —Michelle Obama, Former First Lady.

Consider a society in which men and women are equally treated. Prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination are all outlawed in this world. A world that is diverse, fair, and supportive. A world where differences are valued and embraced. Things must change because women deserve the same rights and possibilities as men; therefore, change is critical. We can achieve women’s equality by working together.

Today, the rights that have been battled for so centuries must be preserved with greater determination. There will still be a long path to go and no accomplishment should be brushed aside. Misogyny violence, social inequality, emotional stress, the obstacles of occupying leadership positions, and the ongoing fight against gender stereotypes that serve to limit women’s professional and personal success are all issues that the feminist agenda faces, regardless of ideological differences.

Ending up with my favorite saying: “Here’s to strong women, may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them”.

The post International Women’s Day 2022: Break the bias appeared first on Morocco Telegraph.

At the headquarters of the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Morocco in Brussels, an exhibition entitled “Moroccan women in Belgium are in solidarity with the Tindouf camp detainees” is currently taking place on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

The activities of this exhibition, which will be held from 8th to 12th March, were inaugurated by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Belgium and Luxembourg, Mohamed Ameur, along with the Consul General of Morocco in Brussels, Abderrahmane Fyad.

Visitors to this event, which is part of the cultural activities organized by the consulate for the benefit of the Moroccan community residing in Brussels, in coordination with civil society activities, will be able to grasp the rich cultural heritage of our southern provinces through a “desert tent” pitched at the consulate’s headquarters.

The exhibition organized in partnership with “My Mother” and “World of Humanity” (Monde de L’Humanité) associations, which are mainly invested in cultural and social fields, is an occasion to shed light on Sahrawi women detained in Tindouf camps, and who are suffering from the violation of their various basic rights.

On this occasion, two testimonies were presented by two female human rights activists, namely Al-Saadani Maa Al-Ainain, member of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs, and Aicha Douihi, head of the Sahara Observatory for Peace, Democracy and Human Rights, where they shed light on some manifestations of the bitter suffering endured by Moroccan Sahrawi women detained in these camps.

This exhibition is an opportunity for Moroccan citizens residing in Belgium to express not only their solidarity and steadfast support for the liberation of women and children detained in the camps of Tindouf, but also to reveal the squalid conditions of life in these camps and denounce the horrific situation prevailing in them.

The post Moroccan General Consulate in Brussels Uncovers the Suffering of Tindouf Female Detainees appeared first on Morocco Telegraph.

The Federal League for Women’s Rights (FLDDF) considered the measures to conclude employment contracts for the benefit of those affected by the closure of the Ceuta crossing border, “an important step towards solving the problem of female unemployment in the region and strengthening their financial independence.”

The FLDDF also confirmed in a statement that this step would protect the national economy from smuggling, and “change the region’s reputation from an area for livelihood smuggling to an area of activities and fruitful economic attraction.”

The statement comes in the context of the measures taken by authorities for employment in the region of Mdiq-Fnideq and the National Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Competencies (ANAPEC) in order to start concluding work contracts for a group of affected women, whether due the economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, or due to the closure of the Ceuta crossing border, “which used to employ a large number of women and men from the city in smuggling activities, leading them to losing their source of income.”

In this context, the FLDDF called for an acceleration of the proces of employing women involved in smuggling, “knowing that a large number of them are responsible of households and are greatly affected by the economic and social repercussions of the pandemic (…) in addition to workers in the informal sectors and even in the formal sector who have lost their income and have been therefore subjected to unemployment and poverty.”

The FLDDF also urged the parties concerned to work on “adopting transparency and integrity in the registration process to benefit from employment contracts,” with priority given to women in a situation of great need and family breadwinners, all while taking into account their status (elderly, people with disabilities …), and to ensure that these alternatives ensure ” dignity, decent living and good working conditions for these women.”

The statement concluded that there is a “need to strengthen dialogue, and improve interaction between stakeholders, persons concerned, and partner associations that are closely following the situation.”

And while the regional authorities of Mdiq-Fnideq region and the ANAPEC continue to conclude work contracts for these women, the agency reported, last Thursday, that this process, which falls within the framework of implementing the integrated program for economic and social development in the region, has enabled the conclusion of about 650 employment contracts for a group of women to work in industrial units specialized in textile recycling.

The post FLDDF: Employment of Women Affected by Closure of Ceuta Crossing is an Important Step in Solving Female Unemployment Problems appeared first on Morocco Telegraph.

The High Commission for Planning conducted a study on the economic, social and psychological impact of the Corona pandemic on Moroccan households, the study shows that 21 per cent of women expressed their suffering from crowded households during the lockdown, Compared to 16,4% of men.

In its econometric study on “gender-based analysis of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economic, social and psychological situation of families,” the HCP added that data of the second phase of the research revealed that 18.7 per cent of the population suffered from overcrowding during the lockdown.

Economic analysis of the results of the study confirmed that when a woman is the head of the household, the possibility of psychological consequences increases. The anxiety is greater when women are the sole breadwinners of their families.

The same report highlighted that living in an urban area increases not only the possibility of suffering from psychological consequences, but also the possibility of facing quarrels among family members due to overcrowded houses which applies to the case of families in which there are 3 or more people living in one room.

The commission noted that these results are justified by the average population density, which is higher in the urban areas compared to the rural areas.

The report records that facing severe difficulties in fulfilling financial obligations is parallel to suffering from psychological impacts, which increases the level of anxiety and domestic conflicts.

On the other hand, the report added that the presence of conflicts within the family increases the suffering from the psychological repercussions, considering that these interconnected causes, confirm that women have suffered more than men from the Covid-19 pandemic effects.

In a related context, the results of the second phase of the report showed that women expressed their anxiety about the emergence of a new Covid-19 wave (36.8%), more than what was recorded among men (31.4%).

This report was based on the results of research carried out by the High Commission for Planning on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economic, social and psychological situation of households, within the framework of a partnership program with the United Nations Women, aims to encourage and support institutions to produce and publish statistics related to gender, as well as to facilitate access to these statistic studies for all interested people in Morocco.

The report is based on information gathered from two studies conducted by the High Commission for Planning during and after the lockdown, to provide an analysis of the consequences of both the Covid-19 health crisis, and the various governmental measures taken to mitigate its effects. The report shows the severity of this crisis from a gender perspective, as well as praises the public policies that executed several positive measures.

The post HCP report: 21% of Moroccan Women Lived in Overcrowded Homes During Lockdown appeared first on Morocco Telegraph.