Morocco - December 2024

On 24 December, the government proposed a reform of the Family Code (Mudawana) which, if enacted, will improve women's rights in marriage, divorce, and inheritance. Coming after years of consultations, this would be the first major revision of the code in 20 years, introducing over 100 amendments. Key proposed changes include raising the legal marriage age from 15 to 17, shared parental guardianship, divorced mothers retaining custody after remarriage, and requiring a wife’s consent for polygamy. Other proposals include simplifying divorce procedures, recognizing wives' contributions to marital assets, and giving parents the right to donate assets to female heirs. The amendments, approved by the Higher Council of Ulemas (the country’s highest religious authority), are now awaiting parliamentary and royal approval, with the legal text still being drafted.

Sources: La Quotidienne, Morocco World News, The New Arab, Le Matin