The NGOs Kif Mama Kif Baba, Médias et Cultures (AMC), and the Democratic Association of Moroccan Women (ADFM) have launched a national advocacy campaign calling for urgent action against gender-based violence facilitated by technology (GBVFT). Their initiative urges a reform of legal and institutional frameworks within a «comprehensive approach» aimed at «breaking the cycle of impunity». In a joint statement, the organizations explained that the campaign comes in response to a surge in GBVFT, worsened by the «rise of digital technologies» during the Covid-19 pandemic and the massive use of social networks. These developments, they stress, have «transformed social interactions while paving the way for new forms of gender-based violence». They cite a 2019 study by the High Commission for Planning (HCP), which found that nearly 1.5 million women in Morocco had experienced such violence, «a prevalence rate of 14%». GBVFT, they note, has «very real and often tragic consequences», including «cyber harassment, blackmail with intimate images, hate speech, and content manipulation (deepfakes, doxing)». The NGOs warn of the «serious social, professional, and legal repercussions» that force «survivors to withdraw from a digital space that has become central for learning, employment, and civic engagement». The statement also highlights the «psychological burden» of such abuse: «anxiety, depression, loss of self-esteem, and, all too often, suicide». The groups underline that «digital violence not only destroys reputations; it breaks lives». UN Women reported in 2021 that 58.1% of women in the MENA region, including Morocco, were affected by this violence. Of those, one in three «sees this violence move from virtual to real life». To tackle the issue, Aatifa Timjerdine, president of the ADFM, stressed the need to «strengthen the capacities of responsible institutions and improve coordination among stakeholders». She called for «a multisectoral and integrated approach», alongside «continuous adaptation of laws to keep pace with the rapid evolution of technology». The NGOs further recommend «specifically defining and integrating GBVFT into the upcoming penal code reform, introducing deterrent penalties, and repealing restrictive texts».
