Rabat – HRH Princess Lalla Meryem, president of the National Union of Moroccan Women (UNFM), presided, on Thursday in Rabat, over the ceremony celebrating World Women’s Day, marked on March 8.
In a speech on this occasion, Farida Khamlichi, councilor to the UNFM, commended efforts by HRH Princess Lalla Meryem since she assumed the presidency of the Union, at the levels of the organization and orientation, while monitoring activities that contribute to promoting the rights of women to enable them enjoy full citizenship.
The UNFM and all Moroccan women remember the noble actions conducted by their Majesties late Kings Hassan II and Mohammed V in relation to women’s empowerment and their involvement in the management of general affairs, as well as in the administrative and political fields, she added.
She recalled the two major reforms initiated by HM King Mohammed VI, namely the promulgation of the family law that preserved immutable values and ensured openness on the universal civilization, and the new constitution which lays provisions in article 19 to uphold equality between men and women.
HRH Princess Lalla Meryem has, afterwards, chaired the graduation ceremony during which certificates were awarded to the three top graduates of the first group by the Lalla Meryem training center for apprenticeship.
Princess Lalla Meryem also presided over the signing ceremony of five agreements meant to spur community-based actions by the Union’s 54 provincial branches.
The first framework convention aimed at promoting and preserving women’s rights, was signed by Solidarity Minister Bassima Hakkaoui and UNFM’s deputy president Cherifa Lalla Oum Kaltoum Alaoui.
The second agreement, which provides for setting up a framework for common action on mediation and arbitration for the protection of consumers, was inked by Minister delegate to the economy minister in charge of the budget Idriss Azami Al Idrissi and Cherifa Lalla Oum Kaltoum Alaoui.
The third is on the establishment of a partnership for the fight against harassment and violence against women and was signed by the secretary general of the ministry of health, Rahhal Mekkaoui, the representative of the WHO in Morocco and Cherifa Lalla Oum Kaltoum Alaoui.
The forth, signed by Cherifa Lalla Oum Kaltoum Alaoui and Abdelaziz Al-Touijri, director general of ISESCO, includes a cooperation protocol to foster coordination in fields of shared interest.
The last one, signed by Cherifa Lalla Oum Kaltoum Alaoui and the UNFPA’s representative in Morocco, lays provisions for strengthening cooperation and partnership between the two parties.
Princess Lalla Meryem received, later on, Michelle Bachelet, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women and former president of Chile, who is on a visit to the Kingdom on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
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