Latest news with #SocialIntegrationandFamily
Morocco World
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Morocco Calls for Unity to Address Global Social Development Challenges
Rabat — Morocco's permanent Ambassador to the UN Omar Hilale has urged countries to work together on a unified vision to tackle the world's growing social development challenges during a high-level Arab regional meeting in Tunis this week. Hilale, who co-facilitates negotiations for the Second World Summit on Social Development, said this unified approach will help guarantee peace, prosperity, and social stability across the globe, including in Arab nations. Speaking via video during yesterday's closing session of the two-day meeting, Hilale pointed out that addressing these challenges requires fresh approaches and new policies that respect cultural, religious, and ethnic differences. He said that diversity should become a driver of excellence while protecting each nation's and region's priorities. The meeting took place in preparation for the Second World Summit on Social Development, which will be held in Doha this November. Negotiations show promise Current negotiations take place in an atmosphere of openness, inclusion, and transparency, Hilale argued, noting they aim to pave the way for a concise political declaration that focuses on coordinated action. He stressed the importance of strengthening the emerging international consensus around a new vision for social development that serves multilateral social action goals. The World Summit's conclusions will support Arab participation in negotiations and improve chances of reaching consensus on the upcoming summit's declaration, Hilale confidently argued. The UN General Assembly President appointed Hilale in March 2024, alongside Belgium's ambassador, to co-facilitate UN negotiations on the World Summit's political declaration. Meeting focuses on key challenges The Arab regional meeting organized thematic sessions around three main topics. These include multi-dimensional poverty in the Arab region, social and economic inclusion of vulnerable groups, and social development amid armed conflicts and natural disasters. Participants called for developing an Arab vision that reflects commitments from the Copenhagen Summit. This includes promoting social participation, achieving inclusion, pooling efforts, and modernizing social policies to eliminate poverty and exclusion while creating decent job opportunities for everyone. Morocco shares its experience For his part, Rachid Kadida, director of social development at Morocco's Ministry of Solidarity, Social Integration and Family, spoke of the country's experience in fighting poverty. The official outlined the country's investments in social protection and inclusion, efforts to strengthen social cohesion, programs to empower vulnerable groups, and improvements to care services. The meeting concluded with the presentation of a draft document outlining Arab priorities for the Second World Summit on Social Development. However, participants postponed approval to review proposed amendments. The document will guide Arab nations' positions at the global summit, where world leaders will discuss strategies to address social development challenges facing communities worldwide. Tags: Arab meetingMoroccoSocial developmentUN
Morocco World
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Moroccan Government Plans Support Program to Encourage Marriage Among Youth
Rabat – The Moroccan government has announced a new plan to support young people who are hesitant to get married. Minister of Solidarity, Social Integration and Family, Naima Ben Yahya, announced the initiative during a meeting of the Social Sectors Committee in the House of Representatives, where the impact of the latest national census on Moroccan families was discussed. Ben Yahya said that Morocco is facing a serious demographic shift, which she described as a 'reversal' that threatens the family structure and society. She noted the need for urgent government intervention to address the issue. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Solidarity is preparing a new program to support people who are planning to get married. This comes in response to major socio-demographic changes, including a growing elderly population and a shrinking youth population, she said. 'The family structure is at risk,' she said, adding that there is no clear national policy to support families. 'We cannot be at ease while we witness the decline of the family's role,' she stated, explaining that in Moroccan society, the family is not just a place for raising children but a foundation of social stability. She mentioned values such as respect for parents and shared responsibilities between spouses. As part of the government's broader efforts, Ben Yahya also announced plans to reduce the number of social care institutions, especially shelters for abused women and elderly people, a statement many found disturbing. She claimed the correlation that the high number of these institutions indicates past failures in addressing family-related issues such as divorce and domestic violence. The minister referred to results from the national population and housing census conducted in September 2024. The data shows that the average Moroccan household size has dropped from 4.6 people in 2014 to 3.9 people in 2024. This decline was seen in both urban and rural areas. Based on these findings, the ministry is working on a national family policy, starting with a field study in five regions. The goal is to create a strategy that meets citizens' needs and strengthens the family unit. Ben Yahya also warned of the economic consequences of the demographic shift. Families are facing increased financial pressure due to smaller household sizes and a growing number of elderly people needing care. She added that birth rates are falling and younger generations are not being replaced, which could lead to a decline in the working-age population. At the same time, extended family members are contributing less financially, which increases the costs of education, health care, and housing for nuclear families. The minister also noted the high unemployment rates, especially among youth and women, saying that economic insecurity is a key factor in delaying marriage and forming new families. Tags: familyMarriageMorocco
