Madam Khadija Bouzid a Marokkói Királyság magyarországi Nagykövetének feleségének üzenete Marokkó függetlenségének a 70. évfordulója alkalmából
Communication of Madam Khadija Bouzid
Spouse of His Excellency the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco in Hungary on the occasion of the celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the presentation of the Manifest of Independence
I would like before talking about some aspects of the participation of the Moroccan women and their role in the independence of the Kingdom of Morocco, emphasize that remarkable achievements in their emancipation are the result of the Royal guiding principles devoted to fostering gender equality as well as the drive and determination of women to play a constructive role in the development of their Country.
A particular Royal attention has always been given by His Majesty the King of Morocco for the implementation of all policies and reforms aimed at a continuous improvement of the status of women.
Indeed, there has been a strong political will to strengthen the integration of women in decision- making and access to positions of responsibility, in particular, during the last decade.
I would like also to acknowledge the efforts of various Moroccan actors (legislators, government, civil society … etc ) that contributed to the efforts allowing women access to the position they deserve in the modern society and enabling them to enjoy their rights.
The commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the presentation of the Manifest of Independence (Watiqat Al Istiqlal ), is an important turning point in the history of the Kingdom of Morocco for its independence and offers the opportunity to recall the prominent role played by women and their contribution, with an extraordinary courage, in the struggle against the foreign occupation.
In fact the activism and resistance of Moroccan women have been reflected in the signing of the Manifesto of Independence on January 11th 1944.
In this regard, allow me to mention events and relate some actions undertaken by Moroccan women in the movement of resistance and the struggle for the independence:
• Speech of late Princess Lalla Aicha, delivered in Tangier in 1947, in which she stressed that “we are a nation with high hopes and great aspirations “. This speech reflects the character and the determination of an entire nation to move forward. It was an important step in the evolution of the history of Moroccan women;
• One woman, Malika El Fassi, was among the signatories of the Manifest of the Independence, which was at that time, a completely revolutionary event in a patriarchal society. This shows the strong involvement of women, at an early stage, in the resistance movement and their role in the liberation army;
• Even before the establishment of the national resistance movement, the women of the Berber tribe Zemmour led the first protests in 1913.
These actions added a value to the national resistance movement, the Moroccan woman then became the nucleus of coordination of different actions by Moroccan nationalists. They made every effort to support their Moroccan brothers in the struggle for independence.
In order to elaborate on this aspect, I will mention a few profiles of Moroccan women that have contributed in different aspects to the resistance and played an important role, in particular, in gathering information. These structures and their actions were of great benefit to the success of Moroccan independence actions.
Indeed, women supported the resistance by supplying water and food, and by preparing, maintaining and hiding weapons and ammunition. They also gathered information.
In this respect, the history remembers great figures of Moroccan women that have marked the path of resistance for independence. I will also mention, among others, a few of them :
o Aisha Bent Abi Ziane, engaged at a very young age in the struggle for independence. She played an important role in the Battle of Anual in 1921. Other women are worth mentioning for their courage , including Al Farkhania Mamat, Aisha Al Ouarghalia and Haddhoum Bent Al Hassan,
o Itto daughter of Moha Ou Hammou Azzayani led the fight alongside her father in the Middle Atlas. She continued her fight even after the death of her father. She died later murdered;
o In the southern of the Kingdom of Morocco, women also participated directly in the battle: Aisha Al Amrania, tribe Aït Baamrane, she was killed in 1916;
o Over a hundred women have died in the battle in the mountain Boughafer Saghro in early 1933 ,
o In 1944, the Istiqal party created the association of independent women. In 1947, the Democratic Party of Independence created Akhaouat Assafa Association;
o Fatima Ben Slimane, born in 1928, joined the nationalist movement very young,
o Daouya Al Kahli born in the thirties in Temara, belonged to a nationalist modest family, her brother and husband were nationalists. She was illiterate, though she participated in the liberation struggle of 1953-1956. After the exile of Sultan Mohammed Ben Youssef and imprisonment of a large number of activists, she was part of a clandestine military unit known as the “companions of Mohammed V “.
It is easy to conclude that women of all categories of the Moroccan Society and from all the regions were invested in the nationalist movement and played a key role in the country’s independence.
Finally, I would like to recall that since the colonial period up to now, women have always been involved in all aspects and continue their activism for their emancipation and to fully participate in the politic, economic, social and cultural development of their country.
Moreover, the Kingdom of Morocco is committed, through the guiding principles of His Majesty the King Mohammed VI, in a process of democratization, modernity and equality. In this context, the Kingdom of Morocco has undertaken a major project of reforms to allow women to directly integrate the process of socio -economic development, contributing to the good governance of their country and to enjoy all their rights provided by the new constitution of the country based on the principle of equality.
Thus, women today held various positions like Counselor of His Majesty the King, Ambassadors, Ministers, Parliamentarians, General Secretaries of Ministries and Public and Private Institutions, Director General of Offices, President of Confederation, Judges, Journalists, Directors of TV and Radio Channels. They also cover almost all fields: engineers and doctors in various specialties, Academics, Olympic champions, religious counselors, pilots, police officers … etc.
The women represent the half of the Moroccan society and their role is increasingly important in a country that has chosen the path of democracy and equality.
