Social Sectors Committee at House of Representatives Evaluates Measures Taken by Ministry of Solidarity, Social Development, Equality, and Family During Sanitary Lockdown
The Social Sectors Committee under the House of Representatives held a meeting on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2020, chaired by the Committee's Chairperson, Saida Aït Bouali, with Minister of Solidarity, Social Development, Equality, and Family Jamila El Moussali. The meeting was devoted to studying the topics raised by the groups about the Ministry's measures during the sanitary lockdown, the extent of their efficiency, and their impact on the different vulnerable and affected social groups.
The Minister initiated her talk by reviewing the different measures of social nature, which address mainly women in a difficult condition, vulnerable, disabled, and homeless children, as well as the measures taken to accompany the health emergency plan.
Ms. El Moussali presented, in her talk, her Department's measures upon declaration of the state of public health emergency nationwide on March 20th, to guarantee the continuance of public and social services provided by the social sector.
The Ministry also kept a close eye on the citizens at risk of contracting COVID-19. In this respect, the Minister noted that her Department launched, in coordination with the National Mutual Aid, several initiatives that aim at protecting a wide range of vulnerable people. The actions were implemented in cooperation with local authorities, territorial authorities, associations, and other actors.
Besides, the Minister focused on the aid plan that enabled 5,300,000 peoples to benefit from financial assistance. According to the Minister, "this action shows the spirit of solidarity and the national unityd of the Moroccan people."
As for women, Ms. El Moussali highlighted that "the Ministry prepared, during the sanitary lockdown, the National Integrative Program of the Economic Empowerment of Women and updated the ground for the National Strategy to Fight Violence Against Women. The Ministry also prepared the second national research report on violence against women, a report on the situation of Moroccan women using figures, and a report on the outcomes of the 2019 program ‘Ikram 2.’ The Ministry also drafted a plan to train the assistants in the multifunctional centers for Women."
As regards fighting violence against women during the sanitary lockdown, the Minister noted that "63 centers to host female victims of violence were set. The centers are equipped with all necessary conditions to receive and accommodate the victims, in addition to coordination with the local actors in protecting women, reporting oppression cases, and assisting their victims."
In the same respect, the Minister mentioned the profit of women in a difficult situation from remote hearing services and from services of integrating homeless, disabled, and older women within families during the sanitary lockdown in coordination with local authorities.
Concerning assisting vulnerable children, Ms. El Moussali stated that "her Ministry has set an action plan that aims to provide many emergency services within social welfare institutions and shelters for homeless children. The plan also aims to develop proximity services through supporting the projects of associations directed at mitigating the social repercussions of the sanitary lockdown. Also, the plan sets mechanisms of vigilance and follow-up to protect children from violence, support homeless children, and provide them with the necessary assistance, reunite them with their families, or accommodate them."
In the same context, the Minister also mentioned the launch of an action plan to protect vulnerable children from COVID-19. The plan includes several emergency services within social welfare institutions and shelters for homeless children.
Also, the Minister presented the measures that were taken to assist disabled people, especially the ones related to creating a website exclusive for COVID-19 and directed at this category. The measures also include facilitating administrative procedures, developing inclusive remote services, and digitizing the delivery of the disability certificate.
Regarding legislation, the Minister added that her department started drafting the new version of Government bill 45.18 regulating the profession of social workers.
As part of the openness to the suggestions of the members of the Committee, representing the nation in this meeting, the deputies presented several comments. In this respect, they affirmed the importance of the authorities' actions to limit the propagation of COVID-19, under the wise leadership of HM King Mohammed VI.
Amidst this peculiar context, the deputies called for giving particular importance to social welfare institutions. They urged the Ministry to protect the Moroccan children who are stuck in the occupied lands from COVID-19 and to provide the necessary means and infrastructure to receive and integrate them. Besides, the deputies requested directing the programs of economic empowerment of women towards the large group of women who work in vulnerable sectors.
Additionally, the deputies called to speed up the pace of drafting the reports on domestic violence, and violence against women during the state of public health emergency. They also called for improving the system of targeting vulnerable groups through the Consolidated Social Register.