Oum El Banine
- for solidarity with mothers and children in distress
Oum El Banine is a Moroccan association supporting women in distress. It was created on May 7, 2001 and it is located in Agadir, Morocco. It is a small, independent, non-governmental organisation. The main aim of Oum El Banine is to support one of the most excluded groups in the Moroccan society: unmarried mothers and their children.
According to Moroccan law, which in this area is based on religion, a woman cannot legally become a mother before marriage. If an unmarried woman becomes pregnant, she is the one who has to face the consequences. The man does not have to take any responsibility - at birth only the name of the mother will be registered. There are also traditions of family honour, making the situation for these women even more vulnerable. Unmarried, pregnant women are condemned by society and are often forced to leave their families. They have nowhere to go – many of them end up in the street – but some are lucky and find their way to Oum El Banine.
The association has a home where the women can live before and after giving birth and also a daycare centre where the mothers can leave their children while getting an education or working.
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Objectives »
Programme »
The women »
The women's house »
The daycare centre »
Information and prevention »
Actions in progress »
Some actions carried out »
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