Morocco/Western Sahara: Comprehensive reforms to end violence against women long overdue

Index Number: MDE 29/001/2013
Date Published: 1 March 2013
Categories: Morocco

The suicide of Amina Filali led to a public outcry in Morocco and has prompted the authorities to change the law allowing a rapist to escape prosecution if he marries the victim. In this document Amnesty International urges the Morocco authorities to address the serious shortcomings in the Penal Code, and to adopt new provisions which criminalize sexual violence in all its forms. In a society where women do not enjoy an equal status with men, it is not only the law but also deeply ingrained societal attitudes which lead to discrimination against women.