Nearly 40,000 Grave Violations Against Children Reported in 2025

Nearly 40,000 serious child rights violations were recorded in Morocco in 2025, according to official figures released by the Ministry of Solidarity, Social Development, Equality and Family. The violations—including abuse, exploitation, and neglect—were documented in a report published by Libe.ma, Morocco’s leading independent news outlet, based on data from national authorities.

The report, covering the full calendar year, identified a 12% increase in severe cases compared to 2024, when 35,000 violations were recorded. Child protection organizations say the rise reflects both growing awareness of reporting mechanisms and underlying systemic challenges in safeguarding minors. The data covers incidents across Morocco’s 12 regions, with the largest concentrations in urban centers like Casablanca and Rabat, where poverty and informal labor markets heighten vulnerability.

What types of violations were most common in 2025?
The ministry’s report categorized violations into four primary groups:

• Physical and psychological abuse (48% of cases), primarily within family settings.
• Exploitation, including child labor and trafficking (22%), with rural areas showing higher rates.
• Neglect, accounting for 18% of cases, often linked to economic hardship.
• Sexual violence (12%), though child protection groups note underreporting remains a significant issue.

A spokesperson for the Moroccan Association for Child Protection (AMDE) told Libe.ma that the figures “highlight a crisis that demands urgent systemic intervention.” The organization called for expanded social services, stricter enforcement of labor laws, and public awareness campaigns targeting rural communities.

How does this compare to regional trends?
Morocco’s figures align with broader North African patterns. In Algeria, a 2025 UNICEF report documented over 25,000 child protection cases, while Tunisia recorded 18,000. However, Morocco’s rate per capita remains higher, reflecting its larger population and higher urbanization rates. The UN’s Global Study on Child Sexual Exploitation (2024) ranked Morocco among the top five countries in the region for online child exploitation cases, though exact numbers vary by source.

What are authorities doing to address the crisis?
The Moroccan government has pledged to accelerate implementation of its National Strategy for Child Protection (2023–2027), which includes:

• 24/7 hotlines for reporting abuse, expanded to all regions by mid-2026.
• Training programs for teachers, police, and social workers on child rights protocols.
• Legal reforms to raise penalties for child trafficking and online exploitation.

Critics argue progress is slow. Human Rights Watch (HRW) noted in a May 2026 report that only 3% of reported cases led to convictions in 2025, citing backlogs in courts and insufficient forensic resources. “The law exists, but enforcement is patchy,” said HRW’s North Africa director, who called for international support to strengthen judicial capacity.

Why does this matter beyond Morocco’s borders?
Morocco’s child protection challenges resonate in global discussions on migration and human trafficking. The country serves as a transit hub for sub-Saharan African minors en route to Europe, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). A 2025 IOM study found that 60% of child migrants intercepted in Morocco’s northern regions reported prior exploitation.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged Morocco to align its child protection framework with the Sustainable Development Goal 16.2, which targets eliminating abuse, exploitation, and violence against children by 2030. “This data is a wake-up call,” said UNICEF Morocco’s representative. “Without accelerated action, Morocco risks falling further behind in regional and global child rights benchmarks.”

How can the public help?
Authorities and NGOs encourage reporting suspected violations through:

• The national hotline: +212 537 77 77 77 (operational 24/7).
• Local police stations or child protection units in each region.
• Online platforms like www.protection-enfant.ma, monitored by the ministry.

Libe.ma’s investigation also highlighted gaps in data collection, particularly in remote areas where cases may go unreported. The ministry has committed to publishing regional breakdowns in its next annual report, due in early 2027.

Sources: Libe.ma (June 18, 2026); Ministry of Solidarity, Social Development, Equality and Family (2025 report); UNICEF Morocco (2024–2026); Human Rights Watch (May 2026); International Organization for Migration (2025).