Latest news with #BenYahia
Maroc
27-05-2025
- Business
- Maroc
Nearly 36% of Women Beneficiaries of Economic Empowerment Come from Rural Areas — Minister
Women from rural areas make up nearly 36% of the beneficiaries of the economic empowerment and entrepreneurship program, Minister of Solidarity, Social Inclusion, and Family Naïma Ben Yahia stated on Monday. During question time at the House of Representatives, Ben Yahia stated that the governmental program aims to strengthen women's capacities across the country's regions, with tailored support for vulnerable groups. The program, she noted, has supported 13,000 women and financed over 320 projects. The total number of beneficiaries has reached 36,000 women, distributed across the country at a rate of 3,000 per region, with a total budget of approximately MAD 386 million, including 159 million financed by her department, Ben Yahia pointed out. The government official highlighted that this program focuses on training in various areas, including the management of cooperatives and businesses, to foster personal development. The ministry, she recalled, had launched in-person training and support programs in six regions: Fes-Meknes, Souss-Massa, the Oriental, Beni Mellal-Khenifra, Dakhla-Oued Eddahab, and Draa-Tafilalet. Ben Yahia also stressed that this dynamic includes women with disabilities, thanks to the mobilization of a nationwide network of over 1,350 education and training centers under the National Mutual Aid institution. MAP: 27 mai 2025
Morocco World
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Morocco Recalls Efforts to Improve Women's Economic Empowerment at UN Forum
Rabat – Morocco's Minister of Solidarity, Naima Ben Yahia, led a discussion at the United Nations in New York on women's economic empowerment and their role in development. Organized with Saudi Arabia and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the event took place during the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69). Ben Yahia outlined Morocco's efforts over the past two decades to advance gender equality through legislative and social reforms. She also recalled the role of the 2011 constitution in ensuring equal rights and underlined state programs that work on expanding social protection and promoting women's access to employment and entrepreneurship. The minister also touted the National Initiative for Human´s (INDH) role in supporting income-generating projects and vocational training. UNFPA representative Mireille Sander commended Morocco's work in advancing women's inclusion, while Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon of the International Labour Organization (ILO) acknowledged progress in promoting decent work for women. Moroccan lawmaker Latifa Cherif noted Parliament's role in gender parity efforts, referencing legislative initiatives on equality and protections against violence. The event gathered high-level participants, including Senegalese Minister Maimouna Dieye, Saudi Shura Council member Al Jawhara Bint Fahd Al Saud, and representatives from UN agencies and international organizations. Ben Yahia also participated in ministerial meetings on social protection and gender equality in the Arab world, holding talks with UN officials and government representatives, including CEDAW Chair Nahla Haydar and British Minister for Equality Seema Malhotra. Morocco has been working to improve women's rights, mostly via legal reforms and social initiatives. The Family Code (Moudawana), amended in 2004, granted women better rights in marriage, divorce, and child custody, but gaps persist in areas like inheritance, guardianship, and legal enforcement. The government has launched a new effort to revise the Moudawana to further strengthen women's rights and address lingering inequalities. While progress is evident in education, political representation, and economic inclusion, challenges remain, including disparities in labor force participation, persistent social norms, and difficulties in accessing justice for women facing discrimination or violence.
Morocco World
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Morocco Shares Efforts to Advance Gender Equality at UN Forum
Rabat – Minister of Solidarity Naima Ben Yahia shared Morocco's approach to promoting gender equality and bolstering women's rights during a ministerial roundtable in New York. The discussion took place as part of the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), which focuses this year on progress since the 1995 Beijing Declaration. Ben Yahia noted Morocco's creation of the Authority for Parity and the Fight Against All Forms of Discrimination (APALD), an independent institution that advises the government and parliament on gender equality policies. The mission of this organization, she says, is to ensure that equality remains a core value in education, training, media, and culture. The authority also tracks discrimination against women and supports institutions in the public and private sectors to adopt fairer policies. Ben Yahia pointed to her ministry's central role in coordinating legislation and public policies related to gender equality, always developing government action plans to address gender gaps and challenge stereotypes that limit opportunities for women and girls. To consolidate oversight, Morocco has set up a national committee for gender equality and women's empowerment. Chaired by the head of government, the committee brings together representatives from civil society, the private sector, and national institutions. The UN Commission's discussions this year revolve around the commitments outlined in the Beijing Declaration, which set priorities in twelve key areas such as poverty, education, health, violence, economic inclusion, and political representation. Countries also assess the challenges that continue to stand in the way of full gender equality and explore ways to accelerate progress toward the UN's 2030 agenda for sustainable development. Morocco has taken gradual steps to address women's rights, with legal reforms and institutional mechanisms designed to create lasting change. Efforts to promote gender equality have gained traction, but gaps remain. The reality for many Moroccan women still falls short of the vision outlined in policies and strategies. Legal protections do not always translate into real improvements in daily life, and cultural and economic barriers continue to slow progress. While there is clear political will to advance women's rights, the path forward remains uneven. This challenge is not unique to Morocco. The global conversation on gender equality has been ongoing for decades, yet solutions often remain theoretical. Governments and international organizations announce policies and frameworks, but real, transformative change remains elusive. Women around the world continue to face systemic barriers, and progress, when it happens, moves at a pace far slower than expected. The gap between commitments and concrete action tells the limitations of current approaches, leaving many to question whether the world is truly ready to address gender inequality in a way that brings about lasting change.
