Amnesty International’s report, released on Tuesday, May 14th, 2024, sheds light on the devastating consequences of abortion criminalization for women and girls in Morocco. The human rights organization highlights that a significant number of women resort to dangerous clandestine methods to terminate pregnancies, even in cases resulting from rape.
Through interviews with 33 Moroccan women who sought abortion, Amnesty International reveals harrowing accounts, such as Farah’s ordeal. Farah, raped by a colleague, sought assistance from a gynecologist upon discovering her pregnancy, only to be denied abortion services. Desperate, she attempted self-induced abortion with various herbs and concoctions, enduring excruciating pain and discomfort.
Despite her efforts over five months, she remained unsuccessful. Farah’s employer suspended her, fearing legal repercussions for extramarital relations. Facing despair, she contemplated suicide.
Farah’s plight mirrors the grim reality of countless women in Morocco. Abortion is prohibited by the Penal Code unless deemed necessary by a licensed physician to preserve the woman’s life or health. Consequently, many women resort to clandestine, perilous, and costly methods, including ingesting medications or chemical mixtures, and even subjecting themselves to physical violence. To advocate for change, Amnesty International launches a campaign alongside the report’s release, calling for abortion decriminalization in Morocco.