The Moroccan government on Tuesday proposed significant reforms to the country’s family law, aiming to address long-standing concerns about women’s rights.
The proposed amendments, which still require parliamentary and royal approval, seek to modernize legal frameworks related to marriage, custody, and inheritance.
Key proposed reforms include raising the minimum age for marriage, expanding women’s custody rights, and providing alternative inheritance options for women.
While these reforms represent a step forward, women’s rights advocates have called for more comprehensive changes, including a complete ban on child marriage and full equality in inheritance rights.
The proposed reforms follow two years of extensive consultations with civil society, legal experts, and religious leaders.
The current family law, known as the “Mudawana,” was enacted in 2004 and, while considered progressive at the time, has faced criticism for not fully addressing the needs and rights of women in modern Moroccan society.
This legislative reform process underscores the ongoing efforts to advance women’s rights and promote gender equality in Morocco.