In his opening address, Hicham Balaoui, Attorney General of the King at the Court of Cassation and President of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, emphasized that this forum, organized by the National Union of Moroccan Women, marks an important step toward strengthening African cooperation and sharing experiences in promoting women’s rights and empowerment. He noted that this initiative aligns with the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who has made the advancement of women’s rights a central pillar of sustainable and inclusive development.
Mr. Balaoui recalled that the 2020 Marrakech Declaration, launched by Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Meryem, serves as a reference framework for unifying institutional efforts to protect women, particularly those who are victims of violence or early marriage. He explained that the Public Prosecutor’s Office, in coordination with government partners, ensures the implementation of the territorial protocol for assisting women victims of violence, and evaluates the effectiveness of services through annual reports measuring quality and satisfaction levels.
The President of the Public Prosecutor’s Office also highlighted concrete progress achieved under the Marrakech Declaration, including over 13,700 legal motions filed by prosecutors in 2024 to reject early marriage requests. Furthermore, institutional cooperation enabled the reintegration of more than 71,600 students, both girls and boys, into the education system during the same year.
In this same spirit, Mr. Balaoui praised the strong collaboration between the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the National Union of Moroccan Women through the “Koulna Maak” (We Are All With You) platform, which allows women victims of violence to submit complaints 24/7 via the number 8350 or a dedicated mobile application. This system, he said, ensures faster response times and better coordination with victim support units across Moroccan courts.
He also referred to the Public Prosecutor’s support for the Lalla Meryem Prize for Innovation and Excellence, as well as the “Miftah Al Karama” (Key of Dignity) initiative, which provides decent housing for women in vulnerable situations. These programs, he noted, are a concrete reflection of national penal policy values centered on solidarity and empowerment.
In conclusion, Hicham Balaoui paid tribute to Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Meryem for her unwavering dedication to promoting the status of Moroccan and African women. He reaffirmed the Public Prosecutor’s Office’s commitment to actively participating in all initiatives aimed at empowering women and protecting their rights, in line with the High Royal Directives.
Editorial team/le7tv