The Third Millennium Association for the Development of Associative Action (ATMDAS), founded in 1999 in Errachidia, plays a leading role within the Soulaliyates women's movement in the South-East, thanks to its distinguished commitment to the promotion of human rights culture at local, regional and national levels.
The issue of civil, political, economic and social rights in the south-east region, particularly the right of Soulaliyates women to benefit from collective lands, has been a priority in the ATMDAS action programme. In this context, the association has accompanied the Soulaliyates in their struggle for recognition as rights holders, on an equal footing with men, on these lands and in order to achieve social justice in accordance with the laws in force.
Thus, the ATMDAS has sparked a social dynamic at the level of the south-east region between the various actors around the issue of collective lands, which has allowed for the launch of a public debate through the organisation of "citizen forums" in different regions and provinces of the south-east. These initiatives have provided an opportunity to make a precise diagnosis of the problem of collective lands and to call for the amendment of the law that governs them, in order to accompany the provisions of the Constitution which stipulate equal opportunities between citizens.
In a statement to the MAP, the Secretary General of the Association, Abdennabi Taâlocht, indicated that these forums have constituted a space for discussion and dialogue between the various actors to identify the dysfunctions resulting from the lack of knowledge of officials regarding the laws governing these lands, on the one hand, and the inadequacy of these laws with the political reforms undertaken in Morocco in recent years, particularly the constitutional gains enshrining gender equality, the achievement of social justice, accountability, transparency and the rule of law.
Furthermore, this associative space has worked to raise awareness among the associative fabric in the south-east region, the Soulaliyates communities, and civil and institutional actors about the importance of this issue and the need for coordination, consultation and guidance for movements fighting for the realisation of these rights, he said, highlighting the role that could be played by all media outlets in popularising the cause of Soulaliyates women and their rights to collective lands.
The Association's commitment has also allowed for the achievement of several gains and the emergence of a new educated elite that currently assumes the responsibility of managing collective lands, he continued, citing in this sense the election of a woman as "Naïba" of the collective lands of the province of Ouarzazate, in addition to the legal recognition of certain associations in the provinces of Boudnib and Midelt.
For him, the organisation of the Citizen Forum was essential for coordination and networking, in particular the establishment of the "Al Khank rural coordination network", which was an important interlocutor for local authorities.
