Delegation of the Thematic Working Group on Equality and Parity of the House of Representatives Holds Intensive Talks with Officials of the Czech Chamber of Deputies

The delegation of the House of Representatives, currently on a working visit to the Czech Chamber of Deputies, continued its meetings with officials of the legislative institution in the Czech Republic by holding working meetings centered on women's questions and their presence within the executive and elected institutions.

Within this scope, the Speaker of the Czech Chamber of Deputies, Hon. Markéta Pekarová Adamová received the delegation of the Thematic Working Group on Equality and Parity, led by Rep. Najwa Koukouss and composed of Rep. Hayat Oumenjouj, Rep. Madiha Khayir, Rep. Latifa Chrif, Rep. Khadija Oualbacha, Rep. Aziza Boujrida, and Rep. Touria Afif. The delegation also held working meetings with the Chairperson of the Standing Commission on Family Issues, Equal Opportunities,  and Minorities and the Head of the Czech Representation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

During her encounter with the delegation of the House of Representatives, attended by His Majesty's Ambassador to Prague, H.E. Hanane Saadi, the Speaker of the Czech Chamber of Deputies welcomed the Moroccan women's parliamentary delegation and praised the dynamism of relations between the two countries' legislative institutions. She also commended the contribution of Moroccan women and their presence within the legislative institution.

During her meeting with the members of the Moroccan parliamentary delegation, the Chairperson of the Standing Commission on Family Issues, Equal Opportunities, and Minorities shed light on the functions of the Commission, its areas of intervention, its relations with other institutions, and the initiatives it proposes at the legislative and regulatory levels for equality and reducing violence against women and children based on the evaluation of the public policies directed at women and their employment in maintaining family policy and equality.

For her part, Rep. Najwa Koukouss presented information on the Thematic Group on Equality and Parity. In this respect, she noted that its creation in the House of Representatives since 2013 and the keenness to renew and structure it is part of the reforms the Kingdom of Morocco is accumulating under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, to economically and politically empower women, and to increase their presence in representative and executive decision-making positions and in all public life aspects.

After citing figures on the presence of women in the House of Representatives, she highlighted the Royal solicitude for women's participation in political and institutional life. In this context, she mentioned the advanced provisions of the Kingdom's Constitution that intend to enshrine and safeguard the rights of women, children, and the family. She also made mention of the public institutions and policies put in place for this purpose.

Besides, the Chairperson of the Thematic Working Group on Equality and Parity underscored the reform dynamics that Morocco is witnessing to anchor women's rights and facilitate equality, referring in this regard to the revision of the Family Code at the initiative of His Majesty, the Commander of the Faithful. She also referred to the social aid and social protection projects that prioritize women. Rep. Najwa Koukouss also noted the commitment of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, to bring this noble and structured projects to a success.

Additionally, the Moroccan Representative gave an overview of the working mechanisms of the Working Group and its collaboration with other authorities, constitutional institutions, and governance bodies according to a logic of cooperation and partnership.

She also stressed the importance of establishing a parliamentary forum for women that gathers women parliamentarians from legislative institutions that are parties to the Institutional Twinning Project funded by the European Union. The Forum would be a space for dialogue on women's issues and their participation in the management of public affairs and decision-making positions.

As concerns women's participation in parliamentary action, she highlighted the importance of the mechanisms of the national list, previously used, and the regional lists for women in the elections to the House of Representatives in enabling 90 women to access the House, in addition to the women Representatives elected in local constituencies. In the same vein, she noted the presence of women in the structures of the House and its thematic groups, as well as their productive and influential presence in parliamentary action.

During a meeting with MP Viktor Vojtko, Head of the Czech National Representation to the IPU, and MP Petr Fifka, a member of the Representation, the former praised the Moroccan practice of enabling women to access the House of Representatives through the positive discrimination mechanism. He also commended the fact that Moroccan women have always had the right to vote and run for parliamentary representative functions, noting that his country seeks to increase the number of women in Parliament.

For his part, MP Petr Fifka, who had previously visited Morocco, expressed his appreciation for His Majesty King Mohammed VI and the policy through which he leads Morocco on the path of democracy and reform. He also expressed his admiration for the reforms implemented by the Kingdom.

For her part, Rep. Najwa Koukouss mentioned the contribution of the Moroccan Parliament and its presence in multilateral parliamentary organizations, notably the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), of which it had served as President and hosted several of its meetings.

She also shed light on the manifestations of the presence and contribution of Moroccan women in institutions and various jobs, shedding light on the national legislation aimed at empowering women and guaranteeing their rights.

Moreover, she gave an overview of the agenda of the Thematic Group on Equality and Parity as a mechanism established by the Rules of Procedure of the House of Representatives, out of keenness to evaluate and control various the public policies related to women, equality, and parity.

It should be noted that the Moroccan women's parliamentary delegation is on a working visit to the Czech Chamber of Deputies within the framework of the Institutional Twinning Project between the House of Representatives and a number of European legislative institutions and funded by the European Union.