(MENAFN- Morocco World News) Rabat – Amidst a public outrage of the recent cases of sexual assault and rape, a launched on activist network Avaaz.com is calling for sympathizers to come "together against sexual assault in Morocco," to be sent to the head of the government, Casablanca's Wali, and the city's police prefecture.

The Moroccan association has launched a 5,000-signature-total petition to be presented to the head of the government, calling on him to effectively implement law project 103.13 against violence against women.

"For Avaaz, some parliamentarians would prefer to overlook the law project, that is why we must gather around a petition of unparalleled magnitude!" reads the petition.

The petition, which has sofar been signed 3,420 times, writes that the new wave of protests is "our chance" to advance the cause of women and their safety in the Moroccan public sphere.

"Some men think they can commit such sexual assaults with impunity. But if we have a huge outcry today, we can finally pass legislation that addresses the rise of street harassment. "

The petition's initiators stress that in orderto receive a reaction from the government regarding the issue of sexual harassment,the negative affect this phenomenon has on Morocco in general must be exposed.

While tourism is one of the key economic actors in Morocco, its image abroad has become tarnished because ofthe growing cases of harassment in the country, stated the petition writers, adding that "it is in the government's interest to respond as quickly as possible."

The petition's descriptionre calls that previous petitions have helped put an end to "the terrible Moroccan law that forced rape victims to marry their aggressors," as well as launching a call when two women were arrested because they woredresses.

The petition asserts that "it is up to us to play so that all Moroccans can enjoy the fundamental freedom to walk the streets without fear or harassment."

MENAFN2608201701600000ID1095776195