Condemned but often silenced, the veil of hchouma shamefully drapes this ignominy. But it is beginning, with difficulty, to be lifted. This deep-seated taboo is none other than the sexual abuse of children. The association 'Touche pas à mon enfant' (Don't touch my child) is once again stepping up to "make things happen" through a meeting organised in Rabat under the theme "It's urgent, our children are in danger". The occasion for Najat Anwar, president of the association, to recall the importance of this issue given the increasingly growing interest that the media and civil society are giving it. And to denounce the pressures to which the association has been subjected, which fights tooth and nail to defend the interests of children, at least when cases are brought into the public arena. This constitutes only the visible part of the iceberg because many families prefer to keep the ignominy quiet.

Comments relayed by Mostafa Rachidi, legal advisor and lawyer for the association: "with rudimentary means, we have been able to invest in neighbourhoods and have reached out to families in order to help them take the step. Which is certainly not an easy thing given the social hypocrisy that prevails on this subject," he indicated. And to add: "They put sticks in our wheels and try by all means to muzzle us or even minimise the importance of our fight near the victims. A state that even extends to the courts where it is difficult to call things by their name. "But good God, the prostitution of minors does exist, but we have trouble recognising it," protests Mr Rachidi. Yet Morocco has a legal arsenal capable of protecting children. But in this regard, certain provisions that enshrine the rights of the child, particularly at the level of the new Constitution, are slow to be implemented. Furthermore, the application of the law poses a problem as Mr Mostafa Rachidi recalled again. According to him, the sanctions are not always exemplary to the point that the aggressors sometimes receive light sentences and find themselves outside to the great displeasure of the victims. "Besides the corruption that sometimes prevents a severe and serene application of the law, the judge does not always adapt it according to the interests of the victims," he further indicated.

A situation that civil society is trying to change. Far from any psychosis, it makes awareness-raising against this scourge its battle horse. A scourge that takes the form of either prostitution, pornography, paedophilia, or even voyeurism and exhibitionism, as recalled for his part by Ahmed El Hamdaoui in his capacity as a psychologist. Crimes more ignoble than the others and whose victims often suffer from post-traumatic stress. We are talking about a psychic break-in whose symptoms can range from panic, fear, sleep disorders, to depression, Mr El Hamdaoui further indicated. Furthermore, victims of sexual abuse isolate themselves, become disorganised, their school level regresses, and sometimes suicide is at the end of the road. More seriously still, 2/3 of the victims become sexual aggressors in their turn. "It is in this context that medical-psychological expertise should be mandatory in our courts," our psychologist further stressed. It is salutary first of all for the aggressor in order to avoid recidivism. The case of the monster of Taroudant is very indicative. He was assaulted 13 times and that is also the number of his victims. The said expertise is also recommended for victims in order to protect our human capital that constitutes children. But we are still far from the mark.

With one voice, all the speakers insisted on awareness-raising and on dialogue with children. Approaching them, knowing how to listen to them, gaining their trust is already a way of protecting them. A single leitmotif: "Your body belongs to you".