by Nancy Lukas-Slaoui, President AIWA Rabat
This year, AIWA Rabat hosted the FAWCO Region 7 Meeting at the Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture in Rabat on October 24, 2026. We were honored to have FAWCO President Ann Marie Morrow presiding over the event. She was joined by FAWCO 2nd Vice President Belen Monasterio and our Region 7 Coordinator Cynthia Smith-Ayed from AIWC Casablanca.
This year’s conference focused on women’s legal rights and women’s poverty as a consequence of human rights violations, with particular emphasis on the Moroccan family code and inheritance laws. Our guest speakers on these very current and pertinent issues were Stephanie Willman Bordat and Jamila Boulima. Though the struggle goes on, women are becoming organized and informed of their rights and the lack of equality in areas of economic importance. Several issues that are locking them in poverty, bearing the burden of caretaking, are due to the fact they are without adequate financial support, as is their right. These issues include divorce, sexual assault, unwanted pregnancies and physical abuse. There was discussion with regard to inheritance laws and the Quran. Present laws were influenced by the Hadith that came 200-250 years after the death of the Prophet Mohammed. Leading Muslim scholars of the 2nd century professed differing opinions on this matter. Today, Muslim countries are beginning to reexamine this issue, and several uphold equal inheritance for men and women, such as Egypt and Tunisia.
Our luncheon buffet began with a succulent variety of Moroccan salads, delicious tagines—such as the chicken with olives and beef with prunes dishes—fish with broccoli and cream sauce, ending with the famous lemon cream phyllo crepes, fresh fruit, Moroccan cookies, and tea/coffee. We had a lively tombola and an aerial group picture taken inside the Royal Institute, surrounded by beautiful Amazigh artwork.
Jody McBrien, FAWCO Target 6 Human Rights Chair, and Emma Acheng, president of a women’s activist association Nuhoneb, from Uganda, could not join us in person as planned. We arranged for them to present virtually on Zoom during our afternoon session. They shared information on the pressing issue of human trafficking of women, girls and young boys. This is an atrocity that exists worldwide, including in Uganda, the United States and Morocco.
Concluding the afternoon session, Cynthia Smith-Ayed spoke about The FAWCO Foundation, and Belen Monasterio explained the benefits of being part of FAWCO. FAWCO offers community and connection; global access and support; and advocacy and impact. As always, we thank AIWC Casablanca for their participation and the support of FAWCO. We encourage all our members to be inspired and become involved.
