Morocco

In Morocco, if the parents cannot produce a marriage certificate, some registrars have come up with an ad hoc solution of registering the father of a child as “Unknown.” The administrative practice of recording “father unknown” generates social stigma. It also introduces child protection risks, including family separation. A 2015 civil society submission pointed out that children registered under their mother’s surname must be given a first name beginning with “Abd.” In the 2017 UPR cycle, the CRC and multiple Human Rights Council members recommended that Morocco eliminate from identity documents all data that could lead to discrimination against children born out of wedlock. In 2023 Morocco received a UPR recommendation to repeal all provisions of the Family Code that discriminate against single mothers and children born outside of marriage, and institute programmes to combat stigmatization against these marginalized groups.