Project Paper 4 Morocco Country and Research Areas Report Final Version, 2010-10-11 Responsible institution: Université Mohamed V- Agdal International Migration Institute (IMI) Mohamed Berriane Authors: Mohammed Aderghal Lahoucine Amzil Abdellah Oussi Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1 Country Background .................................................................................................................... 3 Geography ................................................................................................................................. 3 Political and Administrative Environment .................................................................................... 3 A Constitutional Monarchy ..................................................................................................... 3 Local Authorities and Regionalization .................................................................................... 4 The Question of Borders ........................................................................................................ 5 Demographic Background .......................................................................................................... 6 Evolution in the Population Rate ............................................................................................ 6 Demographic Transition ......................................................................................................... 6 A More Urban Population ....................................................................................................... 8 The Young Population on Its Way to Ageing? ........................................................................ 8 An Improvement for Women‟s Status ..................................................................................... 8 Economic Development and Social Situation ............................................................................. 9 Economy ................................................................................................................................ 9 Unemployment and Employment Crisis ................................................................................. 9 Education ............................................................................................................................. 10 Health .................................................................................................................................. 10 Poverty Become Visible ....................................................................................................... 11 Culture ..................................................................................................................................... 12 Crossroads of Civilisations ................................................................................................... 12 The Issue of Human Rights .................................................................................................. 13 Relationship with the European Union, Views of Morocco ........................................................ 14 Migration...................................................................................................................................... 17 An Ancient, Evolutionary and Ground-Breaking Phenomenon .................................................. 17 The First Phase ................................................................................................................... 18 The Second Phase .............................................................................................................. 18 The Third Phase .................................................................................................................. 19 Current Trends .................................................................................................................... 19 The Migratory Policy ................................................................................................................. 20 Laws .................................................................................................................................... 21 The Authorities Involved in Migration Issues ........................................................................ 22 The Overseas Moroccan Community Council (OMCC) ........................................................ 23 Conferences and Treaties .................................................................................................... 24 International Conventions .................................................................................................... 25 Discourses ............................................................................................................................... 26 Migration and Development ...................................................................................................... 27 Appropriateness of the Participation of the Migrants in the Development ............................. 27 Migration and Economic Crisis. ............................................................................................ 28 Migration and Genre ................................................................................................................. 28 Growth in Numbers .............................................................................................................. 29 Feminization and Transformations of the Moroccan Society ................................................ 29 Background on Regions ............................................................................................................. 31 Introduction (Map 5) ................................................................................................................. 31 Research Area with High Emigration: Todra Valley (City Of Tinghir and Surrounding Villages) (Map 6) ..................................................................................................................................... 31 Natural Framework and Geo-Ecological Conditions ............................................................. 32 Population, Activities and Local Dynamics ........................................................................... 32 Cultural Aspects ................................................................................................................... 34 Migratory Aspects ................................................................................................................ 34 Research Area with Low Emigration: The Central Plateau Region (Localities: Oulmès, Aguelmous and Moulay Bouazza) (map 7) ............................................................................... 35 The Administrative Status .................................................................................................... 36 Natural Framework and Geo-Ecological Conditions ............................................................. 36 Population, Activities and Local Dynamics ........................................................................... 37 Cultural Aspects ................................................................................................................... 39 Migratory Aspects ................................................................................................................ 39 Discourses on Migration in the Region ................................................................................. 40 Research Area with Immigration History: Tangier City: A Bridgehead Towards Europe (Map 8)40 Population, Activities and Local Dynamics ........................................................................... 42 Cultural Aspects ................................................................................................................... 42 Migratory Aspects ................................................................................................................ 43 Research Area with Human Rights Situation: The Tounfite Region (Map 9) ............................. 44 Official Status....................................................................................................................... 44 Natural Framework and Geo-Ecological Conditions ............................................................. 44 Population, Activities and Local Dynamics ........................................................................... 45 Cultural Aspects ................................................................................................................... 46 Migratory Aspects ................................................................................................................ 46 Discourses on Migration in the Region. ................................................................................ 47 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 48 References .................................................................................................................................. 49 Annexes ....................................................................................................................................... 52 Introduction To characterize the position of Morocco, it was customary to use an image compared to a tree whose roots lie