According to a report published Tuesday by Amnesty International, the criminalization of abortion and a lack of access to sexual and reproductive health services in Morocco is violating women’s and girls’ human rights. The report stresses that Morocco’s current legislation has a terrible impact on women and girls, often compelling them to resort to risky means to end undesired pregnancies.
A damning crique provided in the report reads, “The Moroccan authorities are violating a wide range of human rights of women and girls by criminalizing abortion and sexual relations outside of marriage; denying them sexual and reproductive health services and information, and reproductive autonomy; and perpetuating harmful stereotypes and gender-based violence and discrimination against women.”
The report points out that Morocco is failing its obligations under its national constitution, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention against Torture and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women to which it is party. Specifically, the state is failing to “ensure that women and girls have the right to comprehensive reproductive health information, goods and services, including abortion, that are available, accessible, acceptable and of good quality.”
Currently, Morocco’s Penal Code criminalizes all abortions, unless carried out by a qualified physician to protect the life or health of the pregnant individual, and authorized by the husband or a Chief Medical Doctor. The penalties associated with these abortive procedures range between six months to two years in prison and a fine, while individuals aiding or initiating an abortion can face one to five years in jail. The code also punishes sexual relationships between unmarried individuals with one month to one year in prison.
Amnesty International urges the Moroccan authorities to decriminalize both abortion and sexual relations outside of marriage and align with international human rights standards. It also recommends that the Ministry of Health instate a framework for abortion services that is in line with the 2022 WHO Abortion care guideline.
Amnesty International’s report is based on 77 interviews, including those with 33 women who sought an abortion, along with various NGOs and legal and medical professionals. The human rights advocacy group has also recently released a report on worldwide human rights concerns, highlighting Morocco’s violation of women’s rights amongst other issues.
Morocco has been under scrutiny from multiple organizations and human rights groups who have been urging the nation to improve its protections for women and girls.