WLP’s partner in Morocco, the Association Démocratique des Femmes du Maroc (ADFM), has been leading an intergenerational movement to reform Morocco’s Family Code, the Moudawana, since 1985. We sat down with ADFM board member Asmae Aboulfaraj, a young feminist activist dedicated to advocating for reforms in the parts of the Moudawana that fall short of the country's constitutional commitments to gender equality. In this interview, Asmae shares her vision for collaboration between activists and civil-society organizations in Morocco and what she thinks the next generation of leaders can do to advocate for a better future for both women and men. Asmae believes wholeheartedly that fighting inequality and injustice will not only create a society where every individual's potential can flourish, but it will also set the stage for a brighter future for all. Read more from our interview with Asmae below.
Why did you become involved in advocating for equality and ending discrimination?
It began during my teenage years. As a young woman, I encountered countless instances of inequality that had a profound impact on me. From constant street harassment to expectations to play a subservient role to men in domestic settings, I witnessed gender disparities firsthand at home, in the street, and at school. Witnessing gender-based violence and the troubling idea of blaming women for it made me sick. It made me realize that if I don’t stand up for myself, nobody will, and if I don’t do anything about it, I shouldn’t expect a hero who would make change. Change starts with me. Then came a turning point. One day, I said no and pushed back. One day I refused to be silenced and talked back. One day, I challenged the norms and returned the gaze. And today, I am willing to fight, with my heart and soul for equal rights and obligations. I firmly believe that every human being deserves life, dignity, justice, freedom, and equality as inherent rights.
Joining ADFM amplified this cause, as the organization's culture seamlessly merged with my activist spirit. In my journey with ADFM, I realized that many disparities exist in the system. People face multiple discriminatory practices on a daily basis, based on their race, gender, sexual orientation, or freedom of thought. One factor that increases these disparities is our laws and the fact that they are based on outdated gender norms and stereotypes stemming from conservative worldviews which often prioritize male dominance and reinforce discriminatory practices. This is why I truly believe that our generation is the catalyst that will break the cycle of injustice and act as an agent of change that will challenge the norms and speak out for the voiceless. The time has come for us all to reconstruct our Moroccan society; a society where equality will no longer be a goal but a lived reality.
What gender equality and/or human rights issues are you most passionate about?
I am deeply committed to advocating for women's rights, with several concerns holding a special place in my heart. First and foremost, among these is the issue of child marriage, and it's disheartening to still be discussing it in 2024. Child marriage, a grave human rights violation, deprives children, particularly girls, of their most fundamental human rights: childhood, education, and well-being. It is terrible that the conservative political and religious discourses reinforce these outrageous ideologies, or worse, they promote them. This the reality we live in, our children are raped and this is the ideal family that these political figures promote. And the shocking thing is they appeal to people’s emotions using the most basic logical fallacies. The family we are striving towards is not one that promotes non-consensual relationships and views sexual relations within marriage as a right of men and obligation of women. Unfortunately, this notion is rooted in patriarchy and urgently requires our attention. Moreover, can you imagine that in 2024, mothers still bear the burden of childbirth, childcare responsibilities, and yet lack adequate legal guardianship rights over their own children? That’s the system we live in. We want a new family system that values mutual respect, consent, and equality for all its members, regardless of gender.
Another thing that infuriates me is how harassment is normalized. In Morocco, if you were to ask any woman about her experiences with sexual harassment, you would likely hear that it's a pervasive problem, with almost all women having encountered it at least once in their lives. This issue extends beyond gender, yet regrettably, women often bear the brunt due to the persisting societal taboos that silence their voices. Women have been conditioned to suppress their experiences by being told to “keep it inside” and “forget about it” because “it is not like you have been raped.” Although we participate in ongoing conversations about harassment, it remains a deeply entrenched issue that demands our collective attention and concerted efforts to eradicate.
Finally, I want to dedicate my time to fighting against violence in all its forms, especially online violence. Violence manifests itself in various forms, each deserving of serious concern. In Morocco, an alarming issue that remains largely unaddressed is online violence, specifically the distressing phenomenon of "revenge porn." This issue has been overshadowed, primarily because consensual sexual activities outside of marriage are prohibited by law. Therefore, since women are often the primary victims in this context, it becomes clear that this critical concern demands our immediate attention.
You study both language and communication at university, how have these studies prepared you for leading dialogues about social change?
Studying “Language, Communication and Social Studies” has specifically nurtured one fundamental skill: critical thinking. We often take critical thinking for granted but learning how to think analytically needs practice, and this is what my academic journey led me to. The study of discourse and all its intricacies showed me that the simple act of uttering words exists in the context of complex power dynamics, which, in turn, mold how the world functions, reinforce ideologies, and reproduce inequalities in certain contexts. Knowing the theoretical side of communication helps a lot in understanding these dynamics within social constraints, and this fueled my motivation to start “doing something” about it. Accordingly, I was able to foster a productive dialogue with young leaders who believe in the same cause and engage in mobilizing people from different backgrounds.
You recently attended WLP’s Global Training of Trainers Institute. How would you describe your experience and what were some of your most important takeaways?
WLP's transformative GTOT (Global Training of Trainers) strengthened my will to cultivate a democratic culture and embrace it within my own space. Despite the sometimes pejorative connotations associated with the term democracy, my participation in the institute has shifted my perspective on it, highlighting for me that nurturing democratic values across various contexts extends far beyond political processes. It is a fundamental cornerstone for safeguarding not only equality but also the basic rights of individuals. Most importantly, this culture of democracy should permeate every aspect of our lives, from our homes and schools to various institutions. This concept is not what we might think it is; existing only within political systems, but rather it is omnipresent. We must embrace it in our daily lives so as to foster shared responsibility and advocate for a global community where everyone enjoys their rights. And this idea specifically has further solidified my dedication to activism, as I now recognize that promoting democracy is indispensable to bettering our country, society, and most importantly, our world as a whole.
What advice would you give to others who want to make change in their communities, or work for equality and human rights?
If I were to offer one piece of advice, it would be to “do something about it”. If you want change then you should start doing something about it. Our world still grapples with persistent discrimination, particularly within a patriarchal framework. Critical thinking is a skill that is contagious. We all have brains and if the right questions are asked we will be able to help others develop this essential skill. It's vital to underscore that both men and women can suffer from the rise of divisive ideologies which often stem from a lack of empathy and validation for one another's experiences, leading to growing resentment. True change begins with you and me; it starts with being self-aware and educating yourself, with facing our own weaknesses, and with fostering a culture of democracy, empathy, and understanding.