Held around the theme "What female engagement for the establishment of a participatory democracy?", this meeting allowed participants to engage in a broad debate on the tools allowing women to play a major role within civil society in line with the values of democracy, freedom, and equality engraved in the bedrock of the fundamental law. The honorary president of the Connecting Group International, Hakima El Haïti, indicated on this occasion that this conference was being held in a region that abounds with enormous human and natural potential. She expressed the wish that the Gharb woman would join this dynamic launched by her association with a view to contributing efficiently to the local development process. The honorary president of the Connecting Group International also highlighted the new roles of civil society in terms of public policies and the management of public affairs within the framework of the participatory democracy enshrined by the 2011 Constitution. She recalled on this occasion the dynamism of feminist associations that have largely contributed to the realisation of several achievements. Among these, we note the 2004 Family Code and the principle of gender equality. The president of the Regional Council of Gharb-Chrarda-Béni Hssen, Mekki Zizi, for his part, declared that Morocco, thanks to the commitment of HM King Mohammed VI, had taken numerous initiatives and opened several projects involving Moroccan women in the architecture of the development process by considering them as an essential operator for the sustainable development of the Kingdom. He called in this regard for women to engage more in the current of modernisation in order to contribute to the change of an entire society for the greater good of all citizens. The president of the Connecting Group International, Nouzha Bouchareb, stressed that the creation of the network aimed to support women who have the potential to contribute to the human and economic development of the country. The Connecting Group International also aims, she says, to support the political and leadership capacities of women in various fields.

In a speech read on her behalf, Zineb El Adaoui, Wali of Gharb-Chrarda-Béni Hssen and Governor of the Kenitra province, indicated that the royal speech of 9 March 2011 constituted a turning point in the history of women's associations, which allowed Moroccan women to access high positions of responsibility and to plead for parity. Ms. Zineb El Adaoui launched an appeal on this occasion to support all measures aimed at strengthening the position of women, particularly in areas that ensure financial autonomy and allow them to acquire the freedom to make decisions concerning their destiny, especially in the field of entrepreneurship and business. The Wali also took care to recall the giant step taken at the regional level in favour of women, illustrated by the election, for the first time in the history of Morocco and the region, of 5 women representatives of the Jmâa Soulalya.

It should be noted that this conference was characterised by the signing of a convention between the Connecting Group International and the Ibn Tofaïl University of Kenitra relating to research in the field of water and aiming to ensure the autonomy of rural women.

The missions of the Connecting Group International: The Connecting Group International is a network of women open to all female skills who campaign for respect for the values of human rights, freedom, democracy, social equity, sustainable development, and equal opportunities. Since its creation in February 2011, the Connecting Group International has implemented a training programme in partnership with the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, the National Democratic Institute, and the association Dones per la Libertat i la Democracia.

Within the framework of South-South and North-South cooperation, the Connecting Group International has established itself in different countries of the MENA region, in Africa, and in Europe. At the national level, it is present in the cities of Casablanca, Fez, Marrakech, and Tangier.