In anticipation of the UN’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, celebrated each year on November 25, Morocco’s national television service, 2M, broadcast a makeup tutorial on how women can hide traces of domestic violence, as part of its morning show called “Sabahiyates” on Wednesday.
The show thought it would broadcast a tutorial teaching female viewers how to conceal injuries from domestic violence, and when the video was posted online, it caused a lot of outrage.
The video was removed from the 2M site on Friday. Later that afternoon, 2M released a communique on its Facebook page addressing the issue.
“Management believes that this segment is completely inappropriate and displays a lack of editorial understanding due to the sensitivity and seriousness of the subject of violence against women,” says the statement.
“This approach is in total contradiction with the editorial identity of the channel and […] the commitment of 2M for 27 years in favour of the defence of women’s rights.”
Meanwhile, Lilia Mouline, the makeup expert who hosted the “Sabahiyates” show in question, has since told Yabiladi that “in no way are we endorsing [domestic violence].”
“We are here to provide solutions to these women who, for a period of 2 to 3 weeks, are putting their social life aside while their wounds heal. These women have already been subjected to moral humiliation and do not need to also have others looking at them,” Mouline adds.
“Makeup, allows women to continue to live normally while waiting for justice.”
And why would I want to hide the traces? “Eyesrolling”