The Democratic Association of Moroccan Women (ADFM) has raised concerns about the fate of the Authority for Parity and the Fight Against All Forms of Discrimination (Apald), in light of the constitutional principle of equality and the fight against all forms of discrimination. In a statement released on Tuesday, the NGO recalls that Article 19 of the Constitution provides for the creation of this body as a «national mechanism for the protection of women's rights and the promotion of effective equality». In response, the ADFM has called on the government to expedite the establishment of the Authority and to «initiate a serious public debate on its responsibilities, composition, and functioning, in order to ensure its effectiveness and independence, and to make it a true tool of justice and equality among citizens». The creation and implementation of this body's missions are also outlined among the human rights protection and promotion mechanisms in Article 164. «Despite more than ten years of constitutional commitment, this commission has still not been established», the ADFM laments. For the NGO, this absence constitutes «not only a violation of the State's constitutional obligations but also has tangible negative repercussions on the democratic process by weakening the protection of women's rights». In this context, the ADFM questions «the real reasons behind the unjustified delay in establishing the Authority for Parity and the Fight Against All Forms of Discrimination». Similarly, it challenges the government on «its adherence to the constitutional provisions related to equality and human rights». According to the organization, this neglect raises «serious questions about the political will to combat discrimination and signals a worrying regression in relation to constitutional commitments and to international conventions ratified by Morocco». The ADFM specifically cites the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
