Organized by Morocco in collaboration with Saudi Arabia and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the side event is part of the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), which is being held at UN Headquarters from March 10 to 21.
The event aims to shed light on Morocco's pioneering experience in women's economic empowerment and to draw on the experiences of other countries such as Senegal, the guest of honor at this meeting, and Saudi Arabia. The gathering also highlights women' s contributions to socio-economic development and explores ways to address the challenges posed in this area.
Speaking at the meeting, Minister Ben Yahia emphasized that Morocco has undertaken, over the past two decades, to legislative, political, and social reforms aimed at strengthening gender equality and the empowerment of women, noting that since assuming the Throne, His Majesty King Mohammed VI has been advocating for the promotion of women's status.
This momentum was enhanced with the adoption of the 2011 Constitution, which enshrined the principle of equality and under which all citizens enjoy equal rights and freedoms be they civil, political, economic, cultural or environmental, the Minister continued.
She also noted that the State is working to mobilize all means likely to enable citizens, particularly the most vulnerable groups, to benefit equitably from social protection, adding that this initiative has contributed to the economic women’s empowerment.
In the same vein, the Minister mentioned the Empowerment and Leadership Program, which aims to facilitate women's access to the labor market and develop their entrepreneurial skills.
She further highlighted the "important" role of the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH) in strengthening women's economic empowerment, through substantial dynamics at the level of businesses and agricultural and industrial cooperatives, in addition to income-generating programs and those related to vocational training and literacy.
Ms. Ben Yahia finally expressed Morocco's commitment to continue cooperating with all stakeholders to contribute to strengthening women's empowerment and their contribution to socioeconomic development, while emphasizing the importance of partnerships and the exchange of expertise in this area.
For her part, UNFPA representative Mireille Sander, in a pre-recorded message, lauded Morocco's efforts to promote the socioeconomic inclusion of women and combat poverty. In this context, she expressed the United Nations' willingness to support this initiative, which also aims to promote gender equality and women's economic empowerment.
International Labour Organization (ILO) representative Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon highlighted, in turn, the "significant" progress made by Morocco in advancing the discourse on decent work and women's empowerment, emphasizing that her organization is willing to continue collaborating with the Kingdom in this area.
For her part, Latifa Cherif, who led the parliamentary delegation to this event, emphasized the Moroccan legislative body's commitment to collective efforts to implement the provisions of the Constitution and international conventions ratified by Morocco relating to the promotion of gender equality and women's empowerment.
In this regard, she cited the establishment of the Temporary Thematic Working Group on Equality and Parity in the House of Representatives and another temporary thematic working group to monitor the implementation of Law No. 113.13 on violence against women.
Parliament plays an active role in strengthening women's economic empowerment through legislation, oversight of government action, and the evaluation of public policies in this area, she added during this meeting moderated by the Vice President of the National Union of Moroccan Women, Amina Oufroukhi.
The side event was also attended by Senegalese Minister of Family and Solidarity, Maimouna Dieye, Ms. Al Jawhara Bint Fahd Al Saud, member of the Saudi Consultative Assembly, officials from the United Nations system and international organizations, as well as representatives from several member countries.
Representatives from the Economic, Social and Environmental Council and the High Commission for Planning also participated in the meeting.
Minister Ben Yahia leads the Moroccan delegation to the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, which this year focused on reviewing the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action on the Advancement of Women's Rights, adopted in 1995.
On the sidelines of her participation in this event, the Minister also attended in several meetings, including a ministerial roundtable on accelerating women's empowerment through social protection, as well as a side event on achievements and challenges in the Arab region regarding women's rights.
She also held a series of meetings with several UN officials, including the Chair of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Nahla Haydar. The Minister also met with the British Minister for Equality, Seema Malhotra, the State Secretary for Family Affairs at the Hungarian Ministry of Innovation and Culture, Zsófia Koné, and the Secretary-General of the Saudi Arabian Council for Family Affairs, Memona Khalil Al Khalil.
MAP: 13 March 2025
