International Coalition Launched to Combat Violence Against Women and Girls

Global Initiative to Address Violence Against Women and Girls

In a groundbreaking meeting held in a hybrid format, Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Residents Abroad, Mr. Nasser Bourita, alongside the UK's Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Yvette Cooper, and ministers from six other nations—Spain, Brazil, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jamaica, and South Africa—officially launched an International Coalition aimed at combating violence against women and girls. This transregional initiative seeks to unite countries committed to reducing violence against women and girls at the national level by sharing knowledge, reinforcing political will, and addressing the new challenges posed by technology. The ambitious goal of this coalition is to halve the violence faced by women and girls within a decade.

During the launch meeting, Minister Bourita emphasized Morocco's strong commitment to eradicating violence against women and girls, stating, "The need for international and multilateral initiatives like the Coalition is essential to ensure that all women and girls can live with dignity, safety, and equality." He also highlighted Morocco's institutional and legislative reforms, including the establishment of a national operational framework to criminalize various forms of violence against women. Notably, he mentioned Law No. 103.13 on violence against women, which took effect in September 2018, and the National Policy for Combating Violence Against Women and Girls, adopted in 2021, which aims to eliminate this scourge by 2030.

At the conclusion of the ministerial meeting, Bourita signed a joint document outlining the High-Level Principles guiding the Coalition's work, emphasizing the importance of prevention, addressing inequalities and the root causes of violence, holding perpetrators accountable, and supporting victims. It is worth noting that an International Summit on violence against women and girls is scheduled to take place in 2027.

As reported by diplomatie.ma.