The parliament of Morocco has unanimously amended an article of the penal code that allowed rapists of underage girls to avoid prosecution by marrying their victims.
The move follows intensive lobbying by activists for better protection of young rape victims.
Article 475 of the penal code generated unprecedented public criticism and was first proposed by Morocco's Islamist-led government a year ago, the BBC reports.
While the official marriage age in the North African kingdom is 18, judges and the parents of victims will sometimes permit such a marriage to protect the family's honour.
One such victim was 16-year-old Amina Filali who swallowed rat poison in March 2012, seven months after being forced to marry her rapist. She accused Moustapha Fellak, who at the time was about 25, of physical abuse after they married, which he denies.
Her death sparked protests and calls for the law to be changed.
While welcoming the move, rights groups say that much still needs to be done to promote gender equality, protect women and outlaw child marriage in the Morocco.
