The government is moving forward with plans to introduce a new information system aimed at strengthening child protection efforts across the country. Speaking before lawmakers on Tuesday, Naima Ben Yahya, Minister of Solidarity, Social Inclusion, and Family, laid out the details of this ambitious project, stressing the importance of providing continuous care for vulnerable children—from the moment a risk is identified to their full reintegration into society.
The initiative focuses not only on enhancing the training of professionals working on the ground but also on encouraging the creation of local structures capable of addressing the specific needs of at-risk children. New support centers are being rolled out across various provinces under the supervision of the National Mutual Aid agency, with teams of trained specialists dedicated to assisting minors in crisis situations.
According to the minister, 43 child protection units have already been established nationwide thanks to partnerships with local associations, with total funding exceeding 11 million dirhams. This network is being strengthened by the ongoing expansion of support centers and the development of mobile emergency assistance units, which are already active in several cities to help homeless children. Looking ahead, ten new child protection units are scheduled to open in 2025, while twenty additional units are being added this year alone.
These combined efforts have already yielded tangible results. Since the beginning of the year, approximately 1,400 street children have been reintegrated into safer environments. In the first half of 2025 alone, nearly 1,100 children received assistance from mobile outreach services. The National Mutual Aid agency also remains a key player in social reintegration, having placed 259 children in vocational training programs and facilitated the return to school for 585 children who had previously dropped out.
Ben Yahya also underscored the ministry’s commitment to improving conditions within social protection institutions. This includes strengthening the legal framework, adopting new regulatory texts, and increasing psychological support for children who have endured trauma.
An assessment of the first national child protection program revealed significant progress in several areas: a stronger legal framework, better coordination among institutions, and the expansion of care structures within courts, hospitals, law enforcement, and community organizations. However, the review also highlighted persistent challenges, particularly the lack of a cohesive, integrated system to unify the often fragmented interventions that take place across different regions and organizations.
To address these shortcomings, the ministry is currently preparing a second national child protection program, set to launch in 2026. This new roadmap will put children’s rights and well-being at the heart of public policy, in line with royal directives, constitutional principles, and international recommendations.
A key focus of the upcoming program will be prevention—aiming to reduce incidents of violence and discrimination—while ensuring that services are more evenly distributed geographically. There are also plans to introduce innovative support services tailored to every stage of childhood, including resources that promote personal development and access to recreational activities, helping children not just survive, but thrive.
