Morocco Records Over 16,000 Child Marriage Requests in 2024 — Report
Morocco’s Supreme Council of the Judiciary has revealed that courts received 16,755 marriage requests involving children in 2024, marking a 17% decrease from 2023. Despite this decline, child marriage remains widespread in rural communities, which account for over 78% of all cases.
The report showed that 62.9% of all underage marriage petitions were approved, with rural courts granting 65.8% compared to 52.9% in urban areas.
The Marrakesh Court of Appeal recorded the highest number of cases (2,941), followed by Fez (2,394) and Kenitra (1,480). In contrast, Errachidia had the highest approval rate at 81%.
The data also indicated that girls represented 98% of applicants (16,501), with the majority aged 17 and above. More than 96% of them were unemployed, and 92.5% were not enrolled in school, highlighting how poverty, lack of education, and social inequality perpetuate early marriage.
While the reduction in numbers signals slight progress, the persistence of child marriage underscores a continued threat to children’s safety and well-being, especially girls in vulnerable communities.
Under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), every child has the right to protection from all forms of sexual abuse, exploitation, and harmful practices, including forced and underage marriage.
Safeguarding this right demands urgent action to strengthen laws, promote education, and ensure that no child is subjected to sexual abuse.
