Changing rape laws in Morocco

In March 2012, 16-year-old Amina Filali committed suicide after being forced to marry her rapist. Article 475 in Moroccan law allowed for men who raped underage girls to go unpunished if they married their victims. Because rape carried huge cultural stigma for the woman raped, young victims were often pressured by both the courts and their families to marry their attackers. 

In the wake of Filali's death, women's rights campaigners created a Facebook page called "We are all Amina Filali" and used it to encourage people to sign petitions, and send letters to the authorities, calling for the law to be repealed. In January 2013, the Justice Ministry issued a statement saying it was in favor of amending Article 475 and would consider tougher sentences. 

Women's rights organisations across Morocco have since set up a website called Marsadnissa, or Women’s Observatory, which lists decisions that have been made in the courts. The site functions as a resource to help women’s rights lawyers better argue their cases.