Fatima al-Fihri

It is safe to say that Fatima al-Fihri has perhaps contributed more to education
over time than any other woman in history. Originally from what is today
Tunisia, Fatima arrived with her family to the city of Fez in the early 9th
century. Her father became a wealthy merchant and, on his death, awarded
Fatima and her sister, Mariam, his fortune. Fatima and her sister both built
mosques with their fortune, though Fatima added a madrasa (Koranic School)
to the mosque she built, dubbed the al-Qurawiyyin University, in 859CE. This
university is thought to be the oldest university in the world. It still continues its
function today, awarding degrees throughout the centuries in Grammar,
Islamic Studies, Mathematics, and Medicine.

Aïcha Chenna

Social worker Aicha Chenna

Aicha Chenna is a Moroccan social worker and women’s rights advocate. She founded the
Moroccan Solidarité Feminine association in 1985, in which she encouraged the community to help
the underprivileged, including single mothers and victims of abuse. Aicha received many awards for
her work, including the 2009 Opus Prize, worth US$1 million.

Born in 1941, in the midst of World War II, it’s probably more than coincidence
that she grew to become a registered nurse. Her story is one of true strength.
When she was a child, her father died and her mother remarried. At the age of
12, her stepfather wished her to drop out of school. Instead of allowing this,
her mother sent her to Casablanca to live with an aunt. In Casablanca, Aïcha
finished her studies and, at the urging of her mother and friends, pursued
nursing.
Aïcha worked in the Ministry of Health where she continued to educate the
populace and worked toward a public consciousness of health issues,
including basic sanitation. In the 1970s she even had a television show!

Aicha Chenna is the most famous Moroccan women’s right advocate

and activist. Chenna was born in Casablanca in 1941. She left school
at the age of 16 and began to work in a hospital. After working a
couple of years, she decided to enter a nursing school on the
recommendation of a few colleagues who had seen her potential.

Once she had earned her nursing diploma, Chenna began to work for
the Ministry of Health giving hygiene workshops. During her time
working at the ministry, she witnessed the miserable conditions of
disadvantaged single-mothers and abandoned children.

In 1985, after seeing women in disadvantageous situations for several

years, Chenna decided to found the Female Solidarity Association
(ASF) in Casablanca.

ASF assists disadvantaged single-mothers and victims of abuse by

training them in cooking, accounting and sewing. It also offers women
literacy assistance and education about human and women’s rights.
The association provides basic daily healthcare and medical
treatments, in addition to social, psychological, and legal support in
order to help the women become independent.

Chenna has been recognized by King Mohammed VI for her admirable

work, who gives financial support to her association.

She has also received international recognition, winning several

prestigious prizes.

In 2009, she became the first Muslim to win the Opus Prize, an award
that recognizes unsung heroes who take on the most persistent social
problems. She dedicated the $1 million prize money to continue the
commendable work of her association.

In 2017, she was crowned International Woman of the Year in Monaco.

The 79-year-old has dedicated her whole life to help the disadvantaged
and is still advocating for their rights.

Merieme Chadid, astronomer who planted the first Arab flag in

Antarctica
Merieme Chadid was born in Casablanca on October
11, 1969. She developed an interest in astronomy
from early teenage years after her brother gifted her a
book about Johannes Kepler, a 17th century German
astronomer and mathematician.

Her newfound interest led to her pursue studies in

physics. In 1992, she earned her master’s degree in
Physics from University of Hassan II in Casablanca.
Four years later she obtained her Ph.D. in Astronomy
and Astrophysics from the Paul Sabatier University in Toulouse.

Not long after earning her Ph.D. she was recruited as a research
engineer at the French National Center for Scientific Research.

Meriem Chadid is a Moroccan-French astronomer, explorer, and

astrophysicist. Her childhood was marked by a passion for
astronomy, sparked the moment she read a Johannes Kepler
book. Chadid followed her heart and earned a PhD in
Astronomy and Space from the Paul Sabatier University in
Toulouse. Chadid became the first Moroccan and French woman
to reach the heart of Antarctica and she was the first person to
plant a Moroccan flag in Antarctica. 
Touria Chaoui, fearless pilot and national hero

Touria Chaoui was born in Fez in 1936. She grew up in a time where

women did not become pilots, especially not in the Arab world. There
had only been one Arab women pilot before Chaoui, but she was firmly
determined to achieve her goal despite all the obstacles she faced.

Her supportive father assisted her in enrolling into an aviation school

in Tet Mellil, near Casablanca in 1950. The school was the only one of
its kind in Morocco and was, in fact, reserved for French forces in
Morocco. At the school there were no opportunities for Moroccans, let
alone women.

Morocco’s Najat Rochdi Among 20 UN Women Leaders Appointed In 2020

In 2020, the UN Secretary-General appointed 20 women to senior

management positions. Nine of them were appointed to positions in
political or peacekeeping missions. Of these 20 women, nine are from
Africa, seven from the Americas and the Caribbean, three from
Europe, and one from Asia. 

Among them is Morocco’s Najat Rochdi, appointed as UN Deputy

Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL) and UN Lebanon Resident
and Humanitarian Coordinator.

Najat Rochdi has more than 20 years of experience in development

and humanitarian assistance as well as international coordination in
conflict and post-conflict areas. Prior to this appointment, she served
as senior advisor to the UN special envoy for Syria and as Director of
Peer to Peer at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Geneva

Previously, Rochdi served as Deputy Special Representative of the

Secretary-General and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator of the
United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in the Central African
Republic (MINUSCA). She was also the Resident and Humanitarian
Coordinator in Cameroon and Deputy Director of the Representative
Office of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in
Geneva.

Before launching her international career, Najat Rochdi held several

Moroccan government positions. She notably served as adviser to the
prime minister, deputy minister of Small and Medium Enterprises, and
director-general of International Cooperation and Development in the
Ministry of Post and Information Technology.

Najat Rochdi holds a PhD in information systems from the National

Institute of Statistics and Applied Economics (INSEA) in Rabat and a
Master’s degree in mathematics and fundamental applications from the
University of Paris Sud 11. 

According to a study published by New York University’s Center for

International Cooperation, the appointment of women to senior
leadership positions markedly increased between 1995 and 2020. 
While women made up 19% of senior U.N. appointments in 1995, they
made up 62% of these high-level appointments in 2020. 

Women from Western Europe and North America made up 48% of the
appointments in 1995, and by 2020 they made up more than 38% of
the senior positions. Women from Africa made up 42% of the senior
appointments in 2020, compared to the 23% of high-rank roles they
occupied in 1995.

Narjiss Nejjar

Narjiss Nejjar has continuously proven her creativity through her films.
She attended the Ecole Superieure de Realisation Audiovisuelle (ESRA)
in France and went on to establish herself as an influential filmmaker
that uses her platform to represent her community.

“L’exigence de la Dignite” (1994), “Khaddouj, Memoire de Targha”

(1996), “Les Salines” (1998), “Le septieme ciel” (2001), “Le miroir du
fou” (2002), “Les Yeux Secs” (Cry No More, 2003), “Wake Up Morocco”
(2006), “Terminus des anges” (2010), and “L’amante du rif” (2011)
are only some of Nejjar’s creations. The acclaimed filmmaker is a living
proof that filmmaking is a career Moroccan women can successfully
pursue.

Nezha Hayat

Nezha Hayat is an example of a successful and influential Moroccan

businesswoman. Hayat was named president of Morocco’s Capital
Market Authority (AMMC) in 2016 after serving as chair since 1996.
She attended the highly prestigious ESSEC Business School in France. 
The businesswoman worked in Spain for seven years before returning
to her home country and becoming the first woman to join the board
of a banking institution in Morocco. In July 2019, King Felipe VI
awarded her the Medal of Commander of the Order of Spanish Civil
Merit. Hayat is a model to look up to, a powerful woman that has
proved her worth in business. 

Nadia Amal Bernoussi is the second Moroccan human

rights expert to join the UNHRC advisory committee.

Nadia Amal Bernoussi is set to represent Morocco on the 18-member

committee, which essentially acts as a think-tank for the UNHRC. 

Bernoussi is a professor of constitutional law and a member of the

European Commission for Democracy through Law, also known as the
Venice Commission. 

The professor succeeds Mohamed Bennani, who has represented

Morocco on the UN’s Human Rights Advisory Committee since its
establishment in 2008.

Members of the committee earn their appointment by demonstrating

competence in the field of human rights and high levels of morality,
independence, and impartiality.

The advisory committee primarily focuses on conducting studies and

delivering research-based advice to the UNHRC. The committee may
also propose suggestions for further research proposals in the
promotion and protection of all human rights.
The committee meets twice a year — for one week in February and
one week in August — to provide expertise to the Human Rights
Council.

Bernoussi is one of five experts representing Africa. The committee

also includes five experts from Asian states, three from Latin America
and the Caribbean, three from Western Europe, and two from Eastern
Europe. Elected experts serve the committee for three years and may
seek re-election once.

Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country’s election to the

committee is a recognition of its “continuous efforts” to promote and
protect human rights. 

The ministry added that the election “reflects the credibility and
confidence Morocco enjoys with UN human rights bodies.”