Report on Youth Protests in Morocco and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A series of youth-led protests, organized by the “Gen Z 212” movement, have occurred across major Moroccan cities, including Casablanca and Tangier. The demonstrations highlight a significant disconnect between government spending priorities and the public’s demand for improved social services. Protesters contend that substantial investment in sports infrastructure, particularly for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 FIFA World Cup, directly conflicts with the nation’s progress toward key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically those concerning health, education, and institutional integrity.

Core Grievances and Links to SDGs

The central theme of the protests is the perceived neglect of fundamental public services in favor of large-scale national projects. These grievances align directly with several SDGs:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: Protesters explicitly demand better healthcare infrastructure, chanting “Stadiums are here, but where are the hospitals?” This call was amplified following an incident where eight women died during childbirth in a public hospital, underscoring critical deficiencies in the healthcare system.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: Demonstrators have voiced anger over deep disparities between public and private education systems. Concerns include teacher shortages, inadequate resources, and regional inequalities, which impede the goal of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education. Protesters criticize officials for utilizing private schools while overseeing a deteriorating public system.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The protests reflect broader frustration with social and economic inequality, where essential services for the general population are seen as underfunded compared to high-profile projects.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: Calls for the ouster of Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch on grounds of corruption point to a demand for more effective, accountable, and transparent institutions.

Protest Demands and Civic Action

The Gen Z 212 movement has articulated a clear set of demands aimed at realigning national priorities with citizen welfare. Key actions and demands include:

1. A boycott of soccer matches hosted in the country’s new stadiums, beginning with the Africa Cup of Nations in December.
2. The immediate release of demonstrators arrested during previous protests.
3. The dismissal of the current Prime Minister due to allegations of corruption.
4. A fundamental reallocation of government funds from sports infrastructure to the healthcare and education sectors to accelerate progress on SDG 3 and SDG 4.

Government Response and Policy Implications

The government’s response to the protests has been multifaceted, involving high-level statements and law enforcement actions.

• King Mohammed VI addressed the issue indirectly, stating that national projects and social programs should advance concurrently to improve citizens’ living conditions.
• Morocco’s Finance Minister, Nadia Fettah Alaoui, announced at a World Bank meeting that the forthcoming government budget would prioritize reallocating funds to healthcare and education.
• Authorities have responded to protest-related violence and vandalism with force, resulting in injuries and over 400 arrests. A court in Agadir issued lengthy sentences to 17 individuals for vandalism, raising concerns about civic freedoms in the context of SDG 16.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • The article directly addresses this goal through the protesters’ demands regarding “subpar healthcare.” The chant, “Stadiums are here, but where are the hospitals?” highlights the public’s perception that government spending prioritizes infrastructure over essential health services. The specific mention of “eight women died giving birth in a public hospital” is a critical event that sparked widespread anger, pointing to severe deficiencies in the healthcare system.

2. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • This goal is a central theme of the protests. The article mentions demands against “subpar… education” and anger over “disparities between public and private schools.” Specific issues cited include “teacher shortages, regional disparities and transportation problems, particularly in rural areas,” and a protester’s account of being “thrown out of class for not being able to get a needed textbook.” The article also notes that government measures to improve education have not had the “desired impact on improving school quality or student retention.”

3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • The protests themselves are a call for more accountable and transparent institutions. Demonstrators are protesting “corruption” and demanding the ouster of the Prime Minister. Furthermore, the response to the protests, including the arrest of “more 400 people across Morocco for vandalism” and protesters declining to give their names “out of fear of retribution,” touches upon issues of justice and fundamental freedoms.

4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • The article implies a struggle against inequality. The core of the protests is the disparity in resource allocation, prioritizing sports infrastructure over social services like healthcare and education that serve the general population. The mention of “disparities between public and private schools” and specific problems in “rural areas” points to socio-economic and regional inequalities in access to quality essential services.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Targets under SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

   • Target 3.1: By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio. The article’s reference to “eight women died giving birth in a public hospital” directly relates to the failure to prevent maternal deaths, a key focus of this target.
   • Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including access to quality essential health-care services. The general protest against “subpar healthcare” and the call for more hospitals instead of stadiums is a demand for progress towards this target.

2. Targets under SDG 4 (Quality Education)

   • Target 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education. The issues of “subpar” education, a student lacking a textbook, and poor “student retention” all indicate challenges in achieving this target.
   • Target 4.5: By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education for the vulnerable. The mention of “regional disparities” and problems in “rural areas” directly connects to the goal of ensuring equal access for all, a core component of this target.

3. Targets under SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

   • Target 16.5: Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms. The protesters’ direct accusation of the Prime Minister being “corrupt” and their demands for his ouster align with this target.
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. The public anger at elected officials and their spending priorities is a clear call for more accountable governance.
   • Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms. The arrest of hundreds of protesters and the fear of retribution for speaking out suggest that fundamental freedoms, such as the right to peaceful assembly, are under pressure.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for SDG 3

   • Indicator 3.1.1 (Maternal mortality ratio): The article provides a qualitative, tragic data point—”eight women died giving birth”—which is a direct measure related to this indicator. It signals a high maternal mortality rate in at least one public hospital.

2. Indicators for SDG 4

   • Indicator 4.1.1 (Proportion of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and mathematics): While not providing statistics, the article implies negative progress on this indicator by citing government audits which found that measures “have not produced the desired impact on improving school quality or student retention.”
   • Indicator 4.5.1 (Parity indices for education indicators): The article’s mention of “regional disparities” and specific problems in “rural areas” directly relates to the rural/urban parity index, suggesting significant inequality in educational access and quality.

3. Indicators for SDG 16

   • Indicator 16.5.2 (Proportion of businesses that had at least one contact with a public official and who paid a bribe…): The protesters’ perception of the Prime Minister as “corrupt” implies a high level of perceived corruption, which this indicator aims to measure.
   • Indicator 16.10.1 (Number of verified cases of… arbitrary detention…): The article states that “more 400 people across Morocco were arrested,” and some were “held in custody for investigation.” This can be seen as a measure related to arbitrary detention in the context of protests.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

Source: abcnews.go.com