Rhizhommes - Root system

Unmarried mothers and their children are among the most vulnerable population groups in Morocco. The project provides them with protection from violence and individual support. They are empowered to assert their rights. At a social and political level, the project works to improve the legal situation by raising awareness.

The legal and moral order and the social reality in Morocco diverge. Around 50,000 children are born out of wedlock every year. They and their mothers are stigmatised and experience social, political and legal violence. If a woman becomes an unmarried mother, she is breaking social norms and the law, as sexual relations outside of marriage are forbidden in Morocco. An unmarried mother is seen as a threat to the social order and is discriminated against on various levels.

What is it all about?

Unmarried women often conceal a pregnancy from their families for a very long time for fear of repression and being rejected. The woman's parents, in turn, are afraid of being held responsible by society for their daughter's situation. Although the fathers of the children are usually informed, very few of them take responsibility. Some mothers therefore see no other way out than to give away or abandon their child. However, children who grow up with their mothers are also discriminated against and marginalised. The mothers must explicitly demand the right to an identity and citizenship for their children, but are often unaware of their own rights and options. If they do not receive any support and the children therefore do not have any papers, this has serious consequences for them. In most cases, the mothers receive neither alimony from the father nor support from the state. Many live in economically precarious circumstances. Due to social discrimination, unmarried mothers often do not receive the necessary medical care.

What do we do?

In the "Rhizhommes - Wurzelwerk" project, unmarried mothers and their children affected by gender-based violence receive individual support and psychosocial care. In emergency situations, they find protection from violence in the women's shelter run by Frieda's partner organisation 100% Mamans. They receive appropriate and non-discriminatory healthcare and are accompanied to hospital. The women also receive legal support with civil law matters, complaints or paternity declarations.

In workshops, the mothers are strengthened in their autonomy. They learn about their rights and how they can assert them. They also learn how to behave and protect themselves in the event of violence.

Through awareness-raising work, the aim is to improve society's basic attitude towards unmarried mothers and their children. Women affected by violence learn to represent their interests publicly. This strengthens the skills and self-efficacy of those affected. Awareness-raising workshops, a national campaign and cooperation with other civil society organisations aim to improve the legal framework. The project is implemented by Frieda's partner organisation 100%Mamans, which has been working with and for unmarried mothers in Tangier for 16 years. 

What are the objectives of the project?

• Improve the protection and access to fundamental rights of unmarried mothers and their children.

• Improve the rights and social status of unmarried mothers in Morocco.

What is actually carried out?

• Psychosocial and legal support for unmarried mothers

• Health care

• Establishment and support of a representative group

• Organisation of working groups and a committee for better rights for unmarried mothers

• Development and implementation of a national awareness-raising campaign