Rabat – Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) has called for a deeper rethink of Morocco’s planned reform of child protection, warning that the current draft law leaves key gaps in vision and execution.
The council issued its opinion on draft law No. 29.24, which proposes the creation of a National Agency for Child Protection, along with a network of specialized centers and social care institutions for children in vulnerable situations. The review follows a formal request from the House of Representatives earlier this year.
Rather than rejecting the initiative, the CESE places it within a broader question: what kind of system does Morocco want for children at risk, and how far can a single agency respond to that ambition?
A structured but limited approach
The draft law sets out a structured model and distinguishes between closed centers, open centers, and social protection institutions, each designed for different cases. The aim is to organize care and adapt responses to the realities children face. Yet the council notes that structure alone does not guarantee coherence.
A central concern remains the agency’s role. The text presents it as a cornerstone of public policy, yet its actual mandate remains narrow. It focuses largely on the management of institutions that receive children in placement. Other dimensions, family support, prevention, and alternatives to institutional care, remain outside its reach.
For the CESE, this gap raises a basic issue of clarity. A title that suggests a comprehensive mission should match the scope of action. Otherwise, expectations risk drifting away from reality.
Missing foundations and unclear timelines
The council also points to the absence of a prior impact study, a requirement under framework law No. 50-21. Without such groundwork, the rationale behind the agency’s creation, as well as its financial and institutional impact, remains insufficiently defined.
On the ground, the draft law appears equally incomplete. Social protection institutions, which play a direct role in caring for children, receive little support in the text. The emphasis falls on sanctions in case of non-compliance, rather than on guidance or reinforcement. For many actors in the field, this imbalance could weaken engagement rather than strengthen it.
Timing presents another uncertainty. Nearly 20 provisions depend on future regulatory texts, yet no clear deadline appears for their release. This lack of precision could slow the law’s application. The same ambiguity surrounds the transition period granted to institutions, which would only begin after the publication of these texts, with a compliance window of two years.
Call for a broader vision
These elements lead the CESE to call for revision rather than simple adoption. The council argues that the reform should rest on a clearer set of principles, aligned with Morocco’s broader child protection policy and its international obligations, including those set out in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Among its recommendations, the CESE urges authorities to first assess the relevance of the proposed agency through a detailed study. If maintained, the agency should take on a wider mandate that includes prevention, oversight, and the development of alternatives to institutional placement.
Rethink juvenile justice
The council also addresses juvenile justice, where it advocates a shift away from custodial measures. It proposes options such as community service, supervised release, and tailored rehabilitation programs that combine education, healthcare, and social reintegration.
Beyond technical adjustments, the CESE’s message carries a broader tone. Reform, it suggests, cannot rest on administrative design alone. It requires a shared vision that places the child at the center, not only as a subject of protection, but as part of a wider social environment that includes families, institutions, and public responsibility.
