the National Observatory for Children’s Rights (ONDE), chaired by Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Meryem, took a decisive step on March 10, 2025, by launching the first Child Psycho-Trauma Units (CPTE) in six major Moroccan cities: Fez, Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Agadir, and Oujda.
These units aim to provide tailored psychological support to children who have suffered trauma, preventing potential psychiatric disorders that may arise from painful experiences. This initiative builds on the Child Psycho-Trauma Response System (DNPTE), launched in October 2023 under the leadership of Her Royal Highness, to address the mental health needs of children in emergency situations.
The launch of the CPTE was marked by a specialized training session in emergency psycho-traumatology, led by Gaelle Abgrall, President of the French National Network of Medical-Psychological Emergency Units (CUMP). A total of 92 child psychiatrists and psychologists benefited from this training, strengthening the expertise of the 105 professionals already trained since the creation of the system, including 75 staff members from the Ministry of Health and 30 psychologists and child psychiatrists.
With the involvement of university experts in child psychiatry, these units aim to establish a national network in coordination with the Ministry of Health and key actors in child protection. This program complements ONDE’s major initiatives, including the launch of a psychologist network within the child support and psychological care center (2511), operational since February 21, 2025.
Through this initiative, ONDE reaffirms its commitment to children’s psychological well-being and establishes childhood trauma care as a national priority.
