VZCZCXYZ0014
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRB #0159/01 0300854
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 300854Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY RABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5707
INFO RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 4293
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 3208
RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT PRIORITY 3405
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 4516
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS PRIORITY 9187
RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA PRIORITY 2600

UNCLAS RABAT 000159 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/MAG, STATE FOR S/WE SMEHRA AND GLANE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KWMN PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: SEEKING NAMES OF INFLUENTIAL WOMEN 
 
REF: A. 06 STATE 202341 
 
     ¶B. STATE 00011245 
 
¶1.  This cable is sensitive but unclassified, please protect 
accordingly. 
 
¶2.  In response to reftel, Mission Morocco submits the names 
of the following five women. 
 
Latifa Jbabdi 
 
Jbabdi is a well-known Moroccan human rights advocate.  She 
is a founding member of the Moroccan Association for Human 
Rights (AMDH) and the National Observatory of Children's 
Rights (ONDE).  In 1983, she founded the Feminine Action 
Union, a nongovernmental organization specifically relating 
to women and children.  She was the coordinator for the 
National Council for the reform of the personal status code 
which was enacted as the Family Law of 2004.  She has also 
represented Morocco in United Nation's organizations.  Jbabdi 
served on the Equity and Reconciliation Committee (IER) which 
investigated human rights abuses in Morocco from 1956 through 
¶1999.  She is now a member of the Consultative Council on 
Human Rights (CCDH), which is implementing the 
recommendations of the IER, and is a permanent consultant to 
the Rabat Social Development Agency. 
 
Contact Information: 
 
Latifa Jbabdi 
President 
Union de l'Action Feminine 
425, Avenue Hassan II 
Apt 13, Diour Jemaa 
Rabat, Morocco 
 
 
--Nuzha Skalli 
 
Skalli, a pharmacist by training and the former president of 
the National Trade Union Federation of Moroccan Pharmacists, 
is a member of the board of the socialist party (PPS), a 
parliamentarian and the first female head of a parliamentary 
caucus group.  She is the founder and an executive member of 
several associations focusing on women, e.g., the  Democratic 
Association of Moroccan Women, the Listening Center for Legal 
Assistance to Women, Victims of Violence and the Center for 
Female Leadership (CLEF).  Skalli has actively fought for 
women's rights since the 1970s. 
 
Contact Information: 
 
Nouzha Skalli 
Chef de Groupe de l'Alliance Socialists 
Chambre des Representants 
30, Rue Sidi Belyout, 5eme Etage, Apt. 54 
Casablanca, Morocco 
 
--Yasmina Baddou 
 
Baddou is the State Secretary to the Minister of Social 
Development, Solidarity, Children, Family and Handicapped. 
Prior to this position, she was an accredited lawyer to the 
supreme court, a judicial advisor to the Wali of Casablanca 
and a director of the judicial department of the Banque 
Commerciale du Maroc.  Baddou is a member of the Istiqlal 
political party and a deputy elected from Casablanca; and, as 
well, she is the vice-president of Alliance Pro, a 
"think-tank" nongovernmental organization. 
 
Contact Information: 
 
Yasmina Baddou 
Secretaire d'Etat aupres du Ministre du Developpment social, 
 
SIPDIS 
de la famille et de la solidarite 
31 Avenue El Abtal, BP 8101, Agdal 
Rabat, Morocco 
 
--Asmaa Chaabi 
 
Chaabi is the director of a private school, a business woman, 
and the president of the Chaabi foundation.  In 2003, she was 
elected the president (mayor) of the municipal council of 
Essaouira. 
 
Contact Information: 
 
Asmaa Chaabi 
Maire d'Essaouira 
4 Rue Lalla Meryem, Souissi 
Rabat, Morocco 
 
or: 
 
Asmaa Chaabi 
Vice Presidente 
Ynna Holding 
233, Blvd. Mohammed V 
Casablanca, Morocco 
 
--Rahma Bourquia 
 
Bourquia is a well-known academic and women rights advocate. 
Her career has focused on women's rights in Morocco and 
throughout the Arab World.  Bourquia played an active and 
instrumental role in the formation and passage of the 2004 
Family Law.  As the president of Hassan II University in 
Mohammedia since 2002, she is the only female holding such a 
position. 
 
Contact Information: 
 
Rahma Bourquia 
Presidente 
Universite Hassan II 
279 Lot Yasmina, BP 150 
Mohammedia, Morocco 
 
¶3.  Mission officers following women's issues are: 
 
Rabat -- Cherie Lenzen -- LenzenCJ@state.gov, X2064 
 
Casablanca -- Amy Wilson -- WilsonAM@state.gov, X4151 
 
****************************************** 
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat 
****************************************** 
 
Riley