Morocco is a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral parliament. The King (Mohamed VI, 1999) holds both spiritual and temporal authority over the country. He presides over the Council of Ministers, appoints the Prime Minister and approves members of the government. He may dissolve the cabinet and Parliament, call new elections and rule by decree. The Chamber of Representatives has 325 members who serve for terms of 5 years, and 34 women were elected in the 2007 elections (10.5%). The Upper Chamber, or Chamber of Advisers has 270 members who are elected for 9 year terms renewable by thirds every 3 years: 162 are elected by local associations, 81 represent the Chambers of Commerce and Industry, 27 represent the trade unions. In the most recent elections which took place in 2009, 6 women were elected to the Upper Chamber (2.2% of the total). The next legislative elections are due to take place in 2012.

Morocco is rich in natural resources. It is the worlds third largest producer of phosphates and its largest exporter. It has deposits of iron and non-ferrous metals (lead, cobalt, copper and zinc). Agriculture represents 20% of GDP and employs 45% of the population. The industrial sector produces and exports textiles and foodstuffs although new sectors are under development, such as chemicals, car equipment, electronics and technology, with these already representing a third of GDP.

Current legislation prohibits discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, disability, language or social status, although there is evidence of fundamental rights violations, as highlighted by the Human Rights Watch report on illegal detentions and mistreatment during the imprisonment of suspects arrested under the Anti-Terrorism Act . According to the report, these abuses began with the detention of the suspects by plain clothes agents who failed to identify themselves or explain the reasons for the arrest, and transported them blindfolded to a clandestine detention centre. They remained imprisoned in these centres for periods in excess of the maximum legal limit for preventative detention of 12 days, and many detained under such conditions claim to have been tortured or mistreated. The authorities eventually transferred them to a police station where officers presented them with a declaration to sign. The majority did not see a lawyer and did not notify their families of their detention until they had signed the declaration, sometimes four or five weeks after their arrest.

In November 2009, Morocco prohibited Aminatou Haidar, President of the Collective of Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders (CODESA) from returning to the Western Sahara region which is under Moroccan control, forcing her to board a flight to Spain after having indicated that her place of residence was Western Sahara on a border control form. Haidar is a Moroccan national and was travelling with a Moroccan passport. The United Nations classifies the Western Sahara region as a territory without its own government and does not legally recognise Moroccos claim to the land. Morocco has proposed regional autonomy under Moroccan control, although this solution has been rejected by the Polisario Front, the Sahrawi independence movement based in Algeria which upholds the right to a referendum for self-determination that could lead to independence of the territory. Meanwhile, Morocco administers the disputed land as though it were part of its national territory. This includes issuing Moroccan passports to its residents, few of which have access to other types of travel documents. Following a number of days on hunger strike, Aminatou Haidar managed to return to the Sahara.

Serious incidents occurred once again in November 2010. During the early hours of 8th November, the Moroccan security forces dismantled the Gdeim Izik campment, made up of around 6,500 tents erected by the Sahrawi at the start of October in protest at social and economic conditions in the Moroccan controlled region. This triggered violent confrontation between residents and the security forces, both in the campment and in the neighbouring capital, El Aain. Eleven security officers and at least two civilians were killed, according to the official report. A large number of vehicles and public and private buildings were set alight in the city. Following the dismantling of the campment, the Moroccan authorities strictly limited access to El Aain, allowing very few journalists or representatives from non-governmental organisations to reach the city and turning back many of those who tried. The origin of the current conflict over Western Sahara dates back to 1975 when Spain, the old colonial power, withdrew from the region and Morocco took control of the territory.

Impunity is also a problem. Transparency Internationals Corruption Perceptions Index reports an increase in public perceptions of official corruption (3.4 on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 the least corrupt). Freedom of information is not recognised by law, and freedom of speech and of the press are restricted. The Anti-Terrorism Act imposes sanctions on journalists who violate the restrictions on criticism of the monarchy and territorial integrity. There are journalists under arrest and publications which have been shut down. Television and radio is controlled by the government and a government appointed committee monitors broadcasts. The government also owns the only television networks whose broadcasts can be received in most parts of the country without decoders or satellite dishes although the latter are becoming increasingly used. Spain and France are common destinations for women who are the victims of people trafficking for informal work or prostitution. Sex tourism is now a crime. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Endowments monitors mosque sermons and the curriculum in Koranic schools to ensure the teaching of the approved syllabus.

Education is free, compulsory and universal from the age of 6 to 15. Efforts have been well received to reduce the level of school leavers under the framework of the National Education and Training Charter (CNEF), however there are still major problems and challenges to be tackled by the Moroccan education system. These are discussed in the report ducation au Maroc. Analyse du secteur published by UNESCOs Maghreb office , and include the persistence of high rates of school leavers and repeated grades, low levels of learning in basic education and significant gaps between the knowledge acquired by pupils and the requirements of the labour market. This has led to fears that there is a crisis of quality in the countrys education system and as a result of this, the Urgent Programme 2009/2012 has been approved which seeks to consolidate existing achievements and proceed to make the changes required for the full application of CBEF The first challenge to be met by the Moroccan education system is related to access, which continues to be partial and unequal, with a significant number of children from the most vulnerable sectors of society still being excluded from education. Rural areas are among the worst affected and in spite of improvements in adult literacy rates, 40% of Moroccans over the age of 10 are illiterate, with the figure being close to 60% in rural areas and 75% among women.

Human rights education for teachers has been introduced. There are a number of schools for the Jewish community and the government provides funds to support the teaching of Islam in public schools.

A two year programme begins at the age of 4. All education at this level is private and the Net Enrolment Rate (NER) is 56% (42% girls). Of the 39,443 teachers working at this level, 52% are women and the pupil/teacher ratio (PTR) is 17:1.

Education is compulsory from the age of 6 to 14 and primary school begins at the age of 6 and lasts for 6 years. At this level 5% of education is private and the NER is 90% (47% female). Of the students who enrol in Grade 1, 76% continue to the last grade of primary school and 14% of students repeat grades. 147,730 teachers (45% female) work at this level and the PTR is 26:1.

Secondary education begins at the age of 12 and lasts for 6 years. At this level 5% of education is private and 3% of students in lower secondary and 12% in upper secondary study on technical vocational programmes. The NER is 35% and 16% of students repeat grades. There are 100,367 secondary teachers, 60,010 (36% female) in lower secondary and 40,357 (29% female) in upper secondary. The PTR is 20:1 in lower secondary and 16:1 in upper secondary.

418,833 students (47% female) study in tertiary institutions, with a Gross Enrolment Rate of 13%. At this level 5% of education is private. International students come to study in Morocco from the following countries: the Arab States (1,357), Asia (189), Central and Eastern Europe (9), Latin American and the Caribbean (6), North America and Western Europe (18) and Sub-Saharan Africa (2,934). There are 51,503 Moroccan students studying abroad, mainly in France (32,082), Germany (8,305) Belgium (2,547), the USA (1,835) and the Netherlands (1,664).

There are no laws to assist those with disabilities and non-profit special education programmes are too expensive for most families. Some of the disabled survive by begging.

Morocco has traditionally been a country with high levels of worker emigration, mainly towards Western Europe. There are a large number of Moroccans in France and Spain, although they are also present in other countries in the region. However, until a few years ago, the country also received a growing number of immigrants, the majority of which came from Sub-Saharan Africa on transit to Europe. An irregular migration route which has been in use for an unspecified period of time from the country involves crossing the Strait of Gibraltar in precarious boats, has resulted in a regrettable number of deaths and disappearances, many of which are women with small children. Morocco has signed agreements with France and Spain in an attempt to stop and regularise this flow of migration.

The official language is Arabic although French is also taught in schools. Many science and technology courses are taught in French, thus excluding students who only speak Arabic, particularly in certain rural areas. Education reforms in the last ten years have emphasised the increased use of Arabic in secondary schools. Spanish and Amazigh (Berber) dialects are also spoken.
The largest minority is the Berber, and there are groups of Jews, Europeans (the majority of which are French and Spanish) and, as a product of recent immigration, a growing number of people from Sub-Saharan Africa.

Academic freedom is restricted, because no open debate is allowed on the monarchy, Islam or the situation of Western Sahara. Government informers monitor on-campus activities, mostly of Islamist groups. The Ministry of the Interior approves the appointments of university rectors.

Reformation of the Moudawana (Family Code) has attempted to improve the conditions of women. Progress in the implementation of the Code has been reported. The legal age for marriage is now 18. According to the Code, the family is the joint responsibility of both spouses, and a wifes duty to obey her husband has been curtailed. Divorce must be carried out by mutual agreement and polygamy is limited by law, although has not been abolished. However, both tradition and cultural norms make it difficult for women to exercise their rights. Men are still able to repudiate their wives without a requirement to provide justification or reasons, while women may only request a divorce through a procedure referred to as khul, obliging them to offer compensation to their husbands, financially or otherwise. Even if women are now able to marry foreign nationals, they are not able to pass their nationality on to their children if their husband is not a Muslim.
While many well-educated women pursue professional careers, few women rise to the top levels of their professions. Women constitute between 35% and 40% of the active workforce, above all in the industrial and teaching sectors. 22% of women are the primary wage earners for their families. Domestic violence is a cause of divorce, however few women report abuse to authorities, who are reluctant to become involved in what is considered to be a private matter. Similarly, so-called honour killings continue to take place, with the majority of the perpetrators enjoying impunity. Sexual harassment is not addressed by the law.

Morocco has not lifted its CEDAW reservations, which limit full application in the country.

The majority of child labour occurs in the agricultural sector. Children work as shepherds and are paid in cash or in kind. They also work as weavers in the carpet industry, in small workshops where ceramics, wooden handicrafts and leather items are produced, and as baggage handlers, tourist guides, street traders and beggars. A large number of children work as apprentices before reaching the age of 12, particularly in the informal handicraft industry, where they are traditionally considered not as workers but as students undertaking an apprenticeship for a skill or trade. In urban areas, many girls from the country work as domestic servants, often in situations of semi-slavery, being traded and sold by their families.

Education is compulsory for six years between the ages of 7 and 13. Primary education is free and girls continue to attend school less frequently than boys, especially in rural areas where attendance can be complicated by domestic chores. The minimum working age is 15 and applies to all sectors, including apprenticeships and family businesses. However, in family-run workshops in the handicraft industry, children are often employed before reaching the age of 12. Children under 18 may not be employed for more than 10 hours per day. According to Human Rights Watch, the majority of girls employed as domestic servants work between 14 and 18 hours a day, for 7 days a week. Laws have been approved for the eradication of child labour and the government is working with the International Labour Organisations (ILO) International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC). However, there are few workplace inspectors and a lack of resources limits the application of laws which are generally insufficient to punish and deter perpetrators.

EI, together with its member organisation, the Moroccan National Teachers Union (SNE), is making efforts to contribute to teacher training for the detection of child labour in schools. Among other actions, a video entitled No to Child Labour! Yes to Education! has been produced jointly with the US National Education Association (NEA), with images and audio provided by the ILO.

Worker unionisation, especially in free trade areas, continues to be difficult. In almost all sectors, the right to strike is violated. Activists and workers are threatened and often suppressed for demanding improvements in working conditions and the reintegration of colleagues dismissed during strikes.

According to the law, workers have the right to form and join trade unions, except for several categories of public employees, such as members of the armed forces, the police and the judiciary. The majority of unions are affiliated with political parties. The right to collective bargaining is limited, although collective bargaining is becoming more common in the service sector. The wages and conditions of employment of unionised workers are set by negotiations. The government has the right to intervene in strikes, and a strike cannot take place regarding issues covered in a collective bargaining agreement for 1 year after the agreement comes into force. Companies in the informal economy do not comply with labour laws. Forced or compulsory labour is prohibited, although there is evidence of the occurrence of such practices. The informal sector accounts for 60% of the labour force and does not implement the minimum wage.

In 2009, union centres reported a toughening of the governments stance on the right to strike, specifically regarding the decision to withhold wages during strikes involving public sector workers. The decision was taken on 9th February, the day before a strike organised by union centres, the second of the year following a strike on 27th January. The unions have condemned the arbitrary decision in consideration that their actions of protest were related to blocks in social dialogue. In October 2009, the unions requested a reduction in the period of advance notice required for strike action in addition to legislative reform to reduce the period to 10 days. The government has also refused to negotiate any pay rises before 2011.

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