The parliamentary delegation, which was received by the President of the Czech Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, is made up of the President of the thematic working group on equality and parity, Najwa Koukouss, as well as other members of the group, including Hayat Oumenjouj, Madiha Khayir, Latifa Chrif, Khadija Oualbacha, Aziza Boujrida and Touria Afif, indicates a press release from the Chamber of Representatives.
The delegation also held working sessions with the President of the Commission on family issues, equal opportunities and minorities, as well as with the President of the Czech section of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, reports the press release.
During her meeting with the delegation of the House of Representatives, in the presence of the Ambassador of Morocco in Prague, Ms. Hanane Saadi, the President of the Czech Chamber of Deputies praised the dynamic relations between the legislative institutions of the two countries, welcoming the contribution and presence of Moroccan women within the legislative institution.
For her part, the President of the Commission on Family Issues, Equal Opportunities and Minorities in the Czech Chamber of Deputies reviewed the missions of the Commission, its areas of intervention, its relations with the other institutions as well as its initiatives at the legislative and regulatory levels to promote equality and reduce violence against women and children, based on the evaluation of public policies aimed at women and their exploitation for the preservation family policies and equality.
For her part, Ms. Koukouss presented information on the thematic working group on equality and parity, noting that its creation within the House of Representatives since 2013 and the commitment to its renewal and structuring is are part of the reforms accumulated by Morocco, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, for the economic and political empowerment of women and the strengthening of their presence in representative and executive decision-making positions and in all aspects of public life.
After recalling the figures for the presence of women in the House of Representatives, she highlighted the importance that His Majesty the King attaches to the participation of women in political and institutional life, evoking the advanced provisions of the Constitution of Kingdom enshrining and preserving the rights of women, children and the family, as well as the institutions and public policies put in place for this purpose.
She also recalled the reform dynamics that Morocco is experiencing to enshrine women’s rights and strengthen equality, highlighting the initiative to revise the Family Code as well as the social assistance and social protection project which places women at the heart of its concerns. She also recalled the interest shown by His Majesty King Mohammed VI in the success of this structuring project.
Ms. Koukouss also presented the working mechanisms of the Group and its collaboration with other powers, constitutional institutions and governance bodies, in a logic of cooperation and partnership.
She also emphasized the importance of creating a parliamentary women’s forum bringing together women parliamentarians from legislative institutions forming part of the institutional twinning financed by the European Union, to create a space for dialogue on issues relating to women and their participation in the management of public affairs and decision-making positions.
Regarding the participation of women in parliamentary work, she highlighted the importance of the mechanisms of the previous national list and regional lists reserved for women during the elections to the House of Representatives, allowing 90 women to be members of the Chamber, in addition to the women deputies elected in local constituencies, in addition to the presence of women in the structures of the Chamber and in thematic groups, as well as their productive and effective participation in parliamentary action.
In the same vein, the Moroccan delegation held a meeting with Mr. Viktor Vojtko, president of the Czech national section of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and Mr. Petr Fifka, member of the section.
In this regard, Mr. Vojtko praised Morocco’s efforts in empowering women to be part of the House of Representatives thanks to the positive discrimination mechanism, as well as the fact that Moroccan women have always been able to vote and stand candidates for parliamentary elections, saying that her country is seeking to increase the number of women in Parliament.
During this meeting, Ms. Koukouss recalled the contribution and presence of the Moroccan Parliament in multilateral parliamentary organizations, notably the Inter-Parliamentary Union, of which he has already chaired and hosted several meetings.
She also mentioned the presence and contribution of Moroccan women in institutions and various functions, recalling national legislation relating to the empowerment of women and the guarantee of their rights.
Likewise, she recalled the agenda on which the Thematic Working Group on Equality and Parity is working, as a mechanism provided for by the internal regulations of the House of Representatives, which ensures the evaluation and control of different public policies related to women, equality and parity.
Remember that the delegation of Moroccan women parliamentarians is carrying out a working visit to the Czech Chamber of Deputies as part of the institutional twinning project between the Chamber of Representatives and several European legislative institutions, financed by the European Union.