Country Profile of Morocco - International Bureau of Children's Rights

in drafting the report in order
to ensure its credibility
and reliability.
The country profiles were
initiated by partners in Lebanon,
Yemen and Morocco
in July 2009. A second
phase was implemented
starting in July 2010 in
the occupied Palestinian
territory, Jordan and Iraq.
During that second phase,
11
“Child protection
remains a
sensitive issue
in MENA countries,
some of which have
yet to comply fully with
international standards.”
partners from Lebanon, Morocco and Yemen also conducted
an in-depth analysis of violence against children in
schools. Based on a similar methodology to the country
reports, this survey depicts the extent of the problem in
the three countries, while also analysing initiatives implemented
to prevent monitor and protect children from
violence in schools. The sharing of information and
experiences between countries with similar socioeconomic
situations and cultures was a particularly valuable process.
Methodology Used
In order to paint a clear picture of the situation of children’s
rights in its respective country, each partner conducted
an exhaustive literature review to identify existing
reports and documents on all issues affecting the rights of
children, followed by field research involving a series of
interviews with identified stakeholders. Key respondents
in relevant government ministries and institutions, local
and INGOs, academics, unions and professional associations,
media, religious authorities and United Nations
agencies were contacted and interviewed. These interviews
contributed to filling the gaps identified through the
desk research. By meeting with relevant stakeholders, part-
ners were able to gather information about the practices
implemented by governmental and non-governmental
actors following the recommendations of the Committee
on the Rights of the Child in its latest Concluding Observations,
as well as the challenges they faced.
The availability of respondents contacted in the course of
the research for this project, and their willingness to share
their experiences, allowed partners to identify praiseworthy
initiatives implemented by a variety of stakeholders,
at the same time as noting the gaps and overlaps that may
prevent children from the full enjoyment and exercise
of their rights. Therefore, the results of the research are
based on responses given by a wide range of interlocutors
in corroborating and completing data collected from
secondary sources, so as to depict as accurately as possible
the situation of children’s rights in the country.
For the Morocco country profile, 28 interviews were
conducted among governmental and non-governmental
stakeholders involved in the promotion and protection of
children’s rights.
The project’s main researcher was Yasmine Smires. But
her work would not have been possible without the
contribution of Saida Saghir, who collected the data at
the field level, as well as that of intern Lydie Khoudja,
who contributed to the data collection. Amina Lmalih and
Yamna Taltit also were valuable contributors, mainly on
juridical aspects that were not always easy to address. Finally,
Bayti Association board members must be thanked
for their contributions in accessing data, as well as their
regular support and comments during the writing of this
report. Information was pooled among the team members
through regular meetings, and the country profile
was explained and shared with other members of the
organisation. The final draft was shared by email and then