2020/2021 Winners & Shortlists

Cultural / Context information for the jury

Despite important reforms to Morocco's Family Code in 2004, the law provides little protection to single mothers who can still face criminal prosecution for having had sex outside of marriage. Counsellors are few and far between and trying to persuade fathers to officially recognize babies so that single mothers can have the legal status and rights of a legitimate child is almost impossible. Women feel that if they keep the child - and the father doesn't recognise it - people will point fingers at her. Moroccan society is not very forgiving. Moroccan law provides protection for single mothers, but entrenched cultural norms mean they still face enormous social barriers. Those who choose to keep their babies can be ostracized by family and friends and find it impossible to support themselves.