Interactive Consultation and Launch of Network to Strengthen Female Leadership in Morocco

Participants at the consultation and Network Launch

On the 21st of November, Gender Concerns International facilitated an interactive consultation and launch of the female local councillors' Network in Rabat, Morocco. The event follows up on previous high level consultations with female local councillors to strengthen the ongoing process of women's democratic inclusion and female leadership in Morocco.

Mr. Nadir El Moumni from the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) attended as Guest of Honor. A delegation from the Dutch Embassy led by Mr. Frank Huisingh together with Ms. Nadia Alaoui Abdellaoui also attended.

Furthermore, the event was well-attended by female local councillors who presented the Network and the highlights of its program, as well as discussed the strategy of it moving forward. The organisation is confident that this Network of female leaders will do great work to reinforce gender-inclusive reform in Morocco.

The first high level consultation was held in Rabat earlier this year in May 2016. Female councillors from various regions came together to review the recommendations presented by the organization's Gender Election Observation Mission's (GEOM) Final Report of the 2015 local elections. Consultation agreed to further develop a roadmap for the increased political participation of women. The roadmap was built upon prior consultation in February with Women's and Civil Society Organisations. In June 2016, the roadmap was further reviewed during a similar consultation in Tangier, adopting a constructive set of outcomes and formalizing the agenda for the Network.

Gender Concerns International has conducted several GEOMs in Morocco, including this year's parliamentary elections on the 7th of October, 2015 local elections and 2011 parliamentary elections.