馃嚥馃嚘MoroccoNorth Africa
Moroccan government announces new autism support measures, civil society expresses reservations
via Le Matin3 min read
The Moroccan government has unveiled a series of measures to enhance autism care, focusing on early detection, school inclusion, and family support. A national early detection program, with a pilot phase starting in April 2026, aims to identify autism signs earlier. Authorities also highlight increased school support for over 6,000 children and a budget increase to 500 million dirhams. The initiative includes training specialized support staff and deploying a digital platform for families. While these announcements acknowledge autism as a public health and inclusion issue, civil society organizations, such as the Association Vaincre l鈥橝utisme, question the adequacy of these measures. M'Hammed Sajidi, president of Vaincre l鈥橝utisme, emphasizes the need to evaluate the real impact, stating that the announced care remains "very partial" given that autism affects about 2% of Morocco's population, representing hundreds of thousands of people. He warns against a limited response, noting that school inclusion alone is insufficient and that specialized interventions based on validated methods are crucial. The association also points out the significant financial burden on families and the lack of structured services, leading to inequalities. Vaincre l鈥橝utisme advocates for a dedicated national autism strategy, distinct from general disability policies, to ensure comprehensive, science-based, and long-term support, including for adults. Sajidi concludes that "the time for announcement
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
The government is addressing repayment difficulties faced by some beneficiaries of the Forsa program, which has supported over 21,000 project holders since its launch. The program emphasizes accompaniment, with nearly 16,000 projects currently active due to monitoring, supervision, and coaching. For entrepreneurs experiencing constraints in meeting repayment deadlines, the government offers the option to request credit rescheduling based on individual situations, providing additional time to consolidate activities. Between June 2025 and June 2026, 4,600 rescheduling requests were filed. To date, approximately 1,400 beneficiaries have completed the necessary steps to defer loan repayments for up to twelve months, following an amendment to their loan and guarantee contracts. Other requests are still under review by financial institutions in coordination with regional stakeholders. The support system for the first edition of the program, launched in 2022, is provided by financial institutions and regional offices, while incubators support project holders from the second edition, initiated in 2023. These measures aim to sustain the entrepreneurial momentum of the Forsa program and reduce business failures, highlighting post-financing support as crucial for project longevity.
Meryem Belhoussine's research, based on testimonies from over 80 former Moroccan female parliamentarians, highlights the persistent exclusion of women from political governance. She identifies financial and sociocultural obstacles, such as limited resources for campaigns and gender stereotypes within parties, as well as "invisible resistances" like psychological violence and unfulfilled promises. Many women wait 30 to 35 years in activism before reaching parliament, revealing systemic dysfunctions. While quotas have significantly increased women's presence in parliament, they haven't transformed party operations, which remain opaque and influenced by informal networks. Quotas have often led to women being elected through reserved lists rather than competitive local constituencies, and are sometimes seen as political rent rather than merit-based promotion. Belhoussine notes that Moroccan political parties, despite constitutional reforms and legal requirements for female representation in leadership, often only partially adhere to these obligations without developing genuine strategies for promoting female leadership. She argues that the main challenge is no longer just getting women into institutions, but ensuring they have equal conditions, career prospects, and evaluation criteria as men. For the upcoming September 23, 2026 legislative elections, Belhoussine emphasizes that parties must invest in women in truly competitive constituencies. She advocates for democratizing the
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