Along with France and various other African countries, Morocco will be celebrating Mother’s Day today, May 29.

Mother’s Day: Morocco Celebrates Women’s Achievements

Rabat – Along with France and various other African countries, Morocco will be celebrating Mother’s Day today, May 29.

The celebrations serve to honor mothers, motherhood, and maternal bonds, as not only an essential part of the nuclear family, but as an essential fabric that ties society together as well.

And although the holiday has been criticized for being too commercialized, many aspects of it still retain the traditional valuing of motherhood and appreciation for mothers that has been celebrated for thousands of years.

The holiday is celebrated at different dates across the globe, with Morocco and other African countries celebrating with France on May 29.

Most countries including the United States celebrate on May 8, while the UK celebrates on March 27.

On an occasion that celebrates the position of mothers and women in society, it is worth taking a look at the achievements Morocco accomplished in regards to their rights and positions in society.

Although progress remains slow, there have been noticeable improvements. In the field of education in particular, young women’s access saw a considerable improvement.

Rural areas, which had especially faced problems with young girls’ access to education, have seen improvements. Recent reports suggest that the access has jumped by 34 points in the last two decades.

While it still remains to be seen if this higher access to education will be reflected in the job markets, the poverty rate for households headed by women has also gone down in recent years.

Women who are heads of households have seen their monetary poverty rate go down to 1% in recent years, according to a report by the Moroccan High Commission for Planning (HCP).

While Moroccan women remain underrepresented in the workplace at only 20%, the figures do show a slow improvement over time, giving positive signs for the future.

As the economic and professional situation of women continues to improve, mothers –particularly single mothers and those who are heads of households– can find themselves able to provide better.