Women’s Empowerment: Prize awarded to Rabha El Haymar Shows Dynamic of Reforms Led under Royal Leadership – Ambassador –

The 2024 International Women of Courage Award handed Monday in Washington to Morocco’s Rabha El Haymar reflects the virtuous dynamic of reforms initiated by His Majesty King Mohammed VI in the area of women’s rights, underlined the Moroccan ambassador to the United States, Youssef Amrani, noting that this important process places women at the heart of the Kingdom’s development policies. The diplomat stressed in this regard that the Moudouwana adopted in 2004 marks a decisive turning point in terms of women’s empowerment and the protection of their rights and turned the Kingdom into a model in the region. “This modernist reform has contributed into strengthening the democratic process of the society with a view to ensuring equality and equity between men and women and preserving the ethical values of the family, in accordance with the unifying constants of Morocco,” the ambassador told MAP following the annual International Women of Courage (IWOC) Awards ceremony held at the White House. He underlined that the irrevocable choice made by Morocco under the leadership of His Majesty the King in favor of fundamental rights and freedoms was also confirmed by the 2011 Constitution, which enshrines equality between men and women in all areas. These reforms have not only made it possible to fight against all forms of discrimination against women but also to consolidate their autonomy, strengthen and promote their role as well as their active participation in the political, economic and social life of the country, said the ambassador. His Majesty the King opened the debate for a new reform of the Family Code in order to consolidate the achievements made in favor of women and the family by calling, during the 2022 Throne Speech, for the operationalization and updating of national legislation dedicated to the promotion of these rights, Mr. Amrani added. This new reform is conducted on the basis of a consultative approach which includes all the components of Moroccan society, while respecting the values of justice and equity of our identity framework, he said. Noting that Morocco has also made the issue of women’s rights an essential component of its action on the international scene by approving several international conventions and cooperation programs aimed at the protection and promotion of their legitimate rights, the diplomat stressed that this award is a further recognition of Morocco’s pioneering approach in favor of women’s rights. The 2024 International Women of Courage Award was handed to Ms. El Haymar by the U.S. First Lady, Jill Biden, and Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, during a ceremony held in the presence of Mr. Amrani, representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited to Washington and other high-profile personalities.