The Moroccan Justice Ministry is considering a legal framework that would mandate high-earning women to contribute to child support in the event of a divorce, Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi said on Tuesday.
In an interview with Moroccan TV Channel 2M, Ouahbi explained that “if a woman’s income is higher than that of a man, she should provide.” Currently, Moroccan law requires only men to provide child support, including suitable housing for the child in case of a divorce.
“There should be balance and justice,” Ouahbi emphasized. “When we talk about fairness, we also do so for the benefit of the man, including economic fairness.”
Under the proposed changes, courts would need to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of both spouses’ assets to determine financial responsibilities. The evaluation aims to ensure that any necessary compensation is fairly allocated, as the new terms would mean “financial responsibility is shared.”
Ouahbi’s statement coincides with ongoing discussions about reforms to the family code in Morocco. The proposed reform has polarized public opinion, with women’s rights organizations advocating for the reform as a step toward closing the gender equality gap. Meanwhile, more conservative members of the population are concerned about potential impacts on the country’s religious identity.