Faced with a question from a parliamentarian on the alarming increase in divorces in Algeria, the Minister of Justice, Keeper of the Seals, Lotfi Boudjemaâprovided a nuanced response. He stressed that this phenomenon, although worrying, was not specific to Algeria and was observed in many countries. According to him, the causes are multiple and go far beyond the legal framework.
The minister explained that studies show that recourse to justice often occurs as a last resortwhen the couple has already exhausted all their resources and the relationship is irreversibly broken.
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Despite this, Algerian courts make considerable efforts to try to reconcile the spouses, calling on family members or in some cases, imams. However, if one or both spouses persist in their decision to divorce, the judge is required to grant the divorce, in accordance with the law and Sharia.
Divorces in Algeria: Minister Boudjemaâ calls for collective awareness
Lotfi Boudjemaâ also highlighted the crucial role of prevention and awareness. He called for a mobilization of all actors in society, in particular through awareness-raising action carried out by organizations and associations dealing with family issues, to better prepare young people for marriage and instill in them the values of responsibility and commitment.
For the minister, the problem of divorce does not lie so much in the laws as in the profound changes that society is experiencing and which have a direct impact on family relationships. THE economic, social and cultural changes have changed the expectations and behaviors of individuals, making married life more fragile.
Opinions differ on the causes of this increase in divorces. Some see it economic emancipation of womenwhich would allow them to consider divorce more calmly. Others point to more general social factors, such as growing individualism or the difficulty reconciling professional and family life.
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In response to the questioning of MP Khadidja Belkadi, who asked for measures to fight against this scourge, the Minister of Justice therefore underlined the complexity of the issue and the need for a global approach, combining prevention, mediation and adaptation of legislation.
In summary, the Minister of Justice considers that the increase in divorces in Algeria is mainly linked to societal developments and changes in mentalities.
Although Algerian laws offer possibilities for conciliation, the decision to divorce ultimately rests with the spouses. To combat this phenomenon, it is essential to strengthen prevention and raise awareness among young people about the issues surrounding marriage.
