Latest news with #Bergé
Morocco World
2 days ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Sahara: French Equality Minister Bergé Affirms France's Support for Moroccan Sovereignty
Marrakech – French Minister for Gender Equality and Anti-Discrimination, Aurore Bergé, reaffirmed France's unwavering position on Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces in the Western Sahara during her visit to Rabat on Monday. 'I want to firmly recall the unchanging position expressed by President Emmanuel Macron: the present and future of the Sahara fall fully within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty,' Bergé stated to the press after a meeting with Morocco's Foreign Affairs Minister, Nasser Bourita. The French minister noted that her official visit to the North African country builds on the strengthened exceptional partnership desired by President Macron and King Mohammed VI following the state visit in October 2024. 'This partnership has opened a new chapter between our two countries that we are writing together for the long term,' she said. Bergé pointed out that her visit takes place 'in a spirit of responsibility and seriousness regarding issues of common interest.' She expressed her conviction that Paris and Rabat want to move forward together within a framework of equality and shared growth for decades to come. 'Our two countries have much to learn from each other' She also acknowledged Morocco's progress under King Mohammed VI's leadership, noting the country has engaged in 'decisive political, economic and social modernization, as evidenced by the major reform of the Family Code.' 'Our two countries have much to learn from each other. Facing the major challenges of our time—economic, social, demographic, climate, security—I am convinced that our destinies are linked,' she insisted. On women's rights promotion, Bergé called Morocco 'an essential partner' in 'feminist diplomacy,' adding that both countries are working together to strengthen cooperation in combating all forms of violence against women. On the first day of her three-day work visit, Bergé also met with Morocco's Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah. Their discussions centered on common challenges related to women's employment, as well as how to promote economic inclusion and gender-responsive budgeting. They stressed the importance of removing barriers to women's access to the labor market and the value of models such as the social economy and women's cooperatives. Fettah stated that women's employment is a strategic priority, particularly as unemployment remains at a concerning level and women's jobs prove especially vulnerable during crises. She also talked about the potential of women's cooperatives as an effective lever for promoting economic inclusion in different regions and within vulnerable social populations. Regarding gender-sensitive budgeting, Fettah noted that Morocco, a pioneer in the region, must now strengthen the evaluation of these policies' impact and demand concrete, measurable results. For her part, Bergé stressed the need to address barriers limiting women's access to employment by tackling inequalities in career choices, parental role distribution, and work organization. She added that gender equality must be conceived as a global dynamic concerning both businesses and public policies, following an inclusive approach that leaves no category excluded. Read also: Sahara: French Senate Affirms Support for Moroccan Sovereignty in Rabat Talks Tags: Morocco and FranceWestern sahara
Morocco World
2 days ago
- Business
- Morocco World
French Equality Minister Aurore Bergé Begins Three-Day Morocco Visit
Marrakech – French Minister for Equality Aurore Bergé arrives in Morocco today for a three-day official visit focused on bilateral cooperation in women's rights and gender equality. The visit, taking place from June 23-25, builds on the strategic partnership King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron launched in October 2024. In Rabat, Bergé will meet with Economy and Finance Minister Nadia Fettah Alaoui and her counterpart Naïma Ben Yahia, Minister of Solidarity, Social Integration, and Family. The ministers are expected to sign a joint declaration to strengthen Franco-Moroccan cooperation in preventing violence against women. Bergé's agenda includes discussions with key Moroccan officials, including Amina Bouayach, president of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), Mbarka Bouaida, president of the Association of Moroccan Regions, Ahmed Abbadi, secretary general of the Rabita of Ulema, and royal advisor André Azoulay. Women's economic empowerment stands as a central focus of the visit. Bergé will tour the Safran Nacelles industrial site in Nouaceur near Casablanca and visit the Aeronautics Trades Institute to discuss women's training and their role in Morocco's economy. In Marrakech, the minister will explore social structures, including the Lalla Amina center for children without families, and visit facilities dedicated to women's economic empowerment. She will also evaluate field projects supported by the French Development Agency (AFD), including the 'Ajyal Equality' program, which works to support women victims of violence. A key diplomatic development expected during the visit is Morocco's planned inclusion among the group of states promoting feminist diplomacy. This move precedes an international conference on feminist diplomacy scheduled for October in Paris. Throughout her trip, Bergé will meet with the French community in Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakech, which represents the largest foreign community in Morocco with over 50,000 citizens. The visit marks another layer in the Rabat-Paris bilateral relations, elevating gender equality from symbolic intentions to a foundation for strategic cooperation across economic, social, and diplomatic spheres. It follows France's recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara in July 2024, and subsequent visits by French officials to Morocco's southern provinces, including Culture Minister Rachida Dati, French Senate President Gérard Larcher, AFD Director General Remy Rioux, among many others. Read also: King Mohammed VI May Visit France in Late 2025 or Early 2026 Tags: Morocco France Relations
Morocco World
4 days ago
- Politics
- Morocco World
France's Gender Equality Minister Visits Morocco to Help Boost Women's Empowerment
Rabat – France's Minister for Gender Equality and the Fight Against Discrimination, Aurore Bergé, will visit Morocco from June 23-25. The trip aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation on feminist diplomacy, human rights, and social issues, building on the strategic dialogue launched after President Emmanuel Macron's state visit in October of 2024. Central to the visit is the goal of promoting economic empowerment for women. In Rabat, Bergé is scheduled to meet with Naïma Ben Yahia, Morocco's Minister of Solidarity, Social Inclusion, and Family, to discuss joint initiatives aimed at preventing violence against women. A joint declaration of intent is planned to outline the shared objective of integrating women's rights into public policy. In Nouaceur – a province near Casablanca known for its industrial zones and home to the Mohammed V International Airport – the minister will visit the Safran Nacelles industrial site along with the Institute of Aeronautics Trades to examine the role of women in the Moroccan industrial sector, focusing on vocational training and professional integration programs. Bergé will also meet with Nadia Fettah Alaoui, Minister of Economy and Finance, Amina Bouayach, President of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), and Ahmed Abbadi, Secretary General of the Rabita of the Ulemas – Muslim scholars – to discuss gender-related issues across governmental and institutional levels. The visit will include a review of field projects supported by the French Development Agency, such as the 'Ajyal Égalité' program, which provides support for women affected by violence. The trip may also facilitate Morocco's participation in the international conference on feminist diplomacy scheduled in Paris in October 2025. In Marrakech, Minister Bergé will visit social institutions including the Lalla Amina Center for children deprived of family care and facilities focused on women's economic empowerment. The visit aims to promote coordination among institutional, economic, and associative actors related to social inclusion and gender equality. The visit comes as Morocco ranks 137th out of 148 countries in the World Economic Forum's 2025 Global Gender Gap Report—second in the Maghreb and tenth in the Arab world. Despite slight gains in education and political representation, Morocco remains near the bottom globally in economic participation and health. By contrast, France ranks 35th and holds fourth place among G7 nations. The visit's focus on feminist diplomacy and women's empowerment reflects an official effort to advance gender equality on an international level. However, some of Bergé's previous statements expose deeper tensions within white Western feminism—where orientalist biases and selective political narratives can undermine solidarity and inclusivity. Following the murder of a Muslim man at the Khadija mosque in La Grand-Combe, southern France, Minister Aurore Bergé sparked controversy by dismissing the use of the term 'islamophobia' to describe the attack. 'I understand those who might spontaneously use it, because they see it as a way (…) to express support and empathy. But I believe it is not an appropriate term,' Bergé said. 'I also discussed this with the Prime Minister. Sometimes, we must allow for nuance. This nuance is crucial to me because I know those pushing to impose this term today do so with questionable intentions,' she added. Simultaneously, Bergé demanded a firm break from the left-wing party La France Insoumise (LFI) over allegations of antisemitism. Yet, these accusations are less about hostility toward Jewish people and more about LFI's outspoken condemnation of the Israeli state and its ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza—a pressing feminist issue and a litmus test of genuine political and social commitment to justice.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
France attacks Trump ‘diktak' on DEI
France has accused Donald Trump of 'interference' after the White House demanded that European companies working with the US government drop diversity schemes. Companies in France and other EU countries have received letters in recent days warning that Mr Trump's executive order on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) schemes applied to companies outside the United States. The order bans companies with federal contracts from operating 'illegal' DEI programmes. The letter from the US embassy in Paris says this 'applies to all suppliers and service providers of the US Government, regardless of their nationality and the country in which they operate'. Aurore Bergé, France's equality minister, called the letter a 'diktat', and said that French companies would not sign up to its demands. Ms Bergé told French broadcaster BFMTV: 'The letter is a form, obviously, of interference. That's to say it's an attempt to impose a diktat on our businesses.' She said that many companies do not intend to respond to what is 'a sort of ultimatum laid out by the US embassy in our country'. 'It's out of the question that we'll prevent our businesses from promoting social progress,' she added. 'Thankfully, a lot of French companies don't plan to change their rules.' Ms Bergé later tweeted: 'We have principles and laws and we intend that they be respected, despite what the US Embassy says.' The US letter, which emerged on Friday, demands that companies return a form in five days confirming that they are complying with the order. Companies must confirm they 'are in compliance in all respects with all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws', and that they 'do not operate any programmes promoting diversity, equity and inclusion that violate any applicable federal anti-discrimination laws'. UK companies are not believed to have received a similar letter. The US embassy in London did not respond to a request for comment on whether it planned to send similar letters to companies in the UK. BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, BP and GSK are all among the US Government's top 100 federal contractors, according to the General Services Administration. GSK said in February that it was dropping diversity activities in order to continue work for the US government. This weekend, it emerged that WPP, the London-based advertising giant, had dropped references to DEI from its latest annual report as Mr Trump campaigns against the policies. The omissions were first reported by the Sunday Times. UK branches of companies including McDonald's and Deloitte have kept DEI policies despite their US counterparts scrapping them. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
30-03-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
France attacks Trump ‘diktak' on DEI
France has accused Donald Trump of 'interference' after the White House demanded that European companies working with the US government drop diversity schemes. Companies in France and other EU countries have received letters in recent days warning that Mr Trump's executive order on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) schemes applied to companies outside the United States. The order bans companies with federal contracts from operating 'illegal' DEI programmes. The letter from the US embassy in Paris says this 'applies to all suppliers and service providers of the US Government, regardless of their nationality and the country in which they operate'. Aurore Bergé, France's equality minister, called the letter a 'diktat', and said that French companies would not sign up to its demands. Ms Bergé told French broadcaster BFMTV: 'The letter is a form, obviously, of interference. That's to say it's an attempt to impose a diktat on our businesses.' She said that many companies do not intend to respond to what is 'a sort of ultimatum laid out by the US embassy in our country'. 'It's out of the question that we'll prevent our businesses from promoting social progress,' she added. 'Thankfully, a lot of French companies don't plan to change their rules.' Ms Bergé later tweeted: 'We have principles and laws and we intend that they be respected, despite what the US Embassy says.' The US letter, which emerged on Friday, demands that companies return a form in five days confirming that they are complying with the order. Companies must confirm they 'are in compliance in all respects with all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws', and that they 'do not operate any programmes promoting diversity, equity and inclusion that violate any applicable federal anti-discrimination laws'. UK companies are not believed to have received a similar letter. The US embassy in London did not respond to a request for comment on whether it planned to send similar letters to companies in the UK. BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, BP and GSK are all among the US Government's top 100 federal contractors, according to the General Services Administration. GSK said in February that it was dropping diversity activities in order to continue work for the US government. This weekend, it emerged that WPP, the London-based advertising giant, had dropped references to DEI from its latest annual report as Mr Trump campaigns against the policies. The omissions were first reported by the Sunday Times. UK branches of companies including McDonald's and Deloitte have kept DEI policies despite their US counterparts scrapping them.
