CNDH GENERAL ASSEMBLY HELD ITS EIGHTH ORDINARY SESSION
Pursuant to the requirements of Law No. 76-15 related to the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) reorganization and its Rules of Procedure, Mrs. Amina Bouayach, CNDH Chairperson, chaired the Eighth Ordinary Session of the CNDH General Assembly (GA) on Saturday 18 June 2022, in Rabat, Morocco.
The program of this session included reports on the Standing Committees and National Mechanisms actions for the first half of the current year. The GA also debated over the axes of the draft opinion on the Bill related to alternative penalties, following the Ministry of Justice’s request for the CNDH opinion. Besides, they addressed the CNDH general budget for the year 2023.
In her opening statement, Ms. Bouayach considered that the CNDH was right to be proud of the responsibility and the collective exercise related to ensuring protective and preventive missions, promoting human rights, and elaborating annual reports on time. This became a reality. This collective exercise is developing qualitatively, she added.
On this occasion, the CNDH Chairperson underlined the most prominent actions conducted by the institution since the Seventh Session at the national, regional and international levels, by highlighting the periodicity of publishing reports, its interaction at the international level, its noticeable participation in the 27th Session of the International Publishing and Book Fair (SIEL), etc.
Ms. Bouayach also announced that the CNDH will continue its efforts to protect the right of the Moroccan citizen, Ibrahim Saadoun, to life and protect him from the risk of the death penalty. She stressed that the CNDH initiated international efforts and communication with National Human Rights Institutions to protect him from the risk of the death penalty, which the CNDH advocates for its abolition from all national and international legislations.
On the side-lines of this Session, and on the initiative of Ms. Bouayach and the National Child Redress Mechanism, the CNDH named “Rayan” the space for listening to children’s complaints at the headquarters in Rabat, Morocco.
Download the Opening Statement of Ms. Amina Bouayach (Available in Arabic)
Forum on Women's Access to Justice in the Maghreb: Case Study of Morocco
The National Human Rights Council (CNDH), Mohammed V University in Rabat, the State of Law Programme Middle East and North Africa of the Konrad Adenauer-Stiftung and the International Law Group (ARPA) are organizing a forum on "Women's Access to Justice in the Maghreb: A Case Study of Morocco", from 20 to 22 June 2022, at the Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco.
The forum will develop relations between women leaders in North Africa (Mauritania, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco) working in justice, civil society, and politics. It intends to develop action plans to enhance women's access to justice in the Maghreb, through a collaborative approach related to the legal empowerment.
This forum will shed light on Morocco’s actions related to justice, particularly, since Morocco celebrates the 11th anniversary of the Constitution this year.
The forum will also be an opportunity to launch a network of practitioners in the field of access to justice for Maghreb women to promote exchanging experiences and follow-up on the proposed recommendations.
Access to justice in the Maghreb countries is a growing concern. It has been further exacerbated during the health crisis related to Covid-19, which reduced women’s freedom of movement and increased the gap in accessing justice due to the digitization of their system and delays in providing legal aid and scheduling cases in the courts. The pandemic also has resulted in increasing violence against women, and obstacles that still hinder their access to justice.
Contact: contact@arpainternational.org
Phone number: +212 6 28 03 20 89
CNDH draws the curtain on its participation at the 27th Session of the International Publishing and Book Fair 2022
The pavilion of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) interacted with thousands of visitors. It welcomed more than 100 national and international actors and more than 240 students from 43 Moroccan cities or rural communities.
On the eve of Sunday 12 June 2022, the CNDH pavilion drew the curtain on its participation, which focused on the theme Expressions of the Human Rights, in the 27th Session of the International Publishing and Book Fair, known in French as Salon International de l’Edition et du Livre (SIEL), from 2 to 12 June 2022 in Rabat, Morocco.
Over ten days, the CNDH pavilion was an inclusive and open space for all ages and groups... A space in which ideas met and intersected through various expressions of poetry, storytelling, theater, drawing and music in various languages to create a combination inspired by the diversified Moroccan culture.
On the occasion of this event, Mrs. Amina Bouayach, CNDH Chairperson, said that SIEL was a cultural and knowledge rendezvous marked with a unique human and intellectual nature. It took place after a global pandemic that deprived us, for nearly two years, of human, spontaneous and comprehensive interaction. It was a space for ideas to meet and intersect. It was also an occasion to search collectively and jointly for ways to promote rights and freedoms in our country...
The CNDH pavilion extended over an area of 200 m2. It provided access to persons with disabilities, including sign language. It hosted thousands of visitors who took part in 40 activities conducted by experts and national and international actors (human rights activists, civil society representatives, experts, authors, researchers, and artists...). Besides, the CNDH organized 70 awareness-raising and entertaining events animated by more than 240 girls and boys, from public schools in 43 cities or rural communities of different regions of Morocco.
They created artistic activities through words, theater and drawings that expressed their concerns and aspirations.
The CNDH focused on five daily sections: Debates and Interviews, Book Talk, CNDH Guest, Artistic Expressions, plus a morning section on children's expressions of their rights.
As part of its strategy based on the effectiveness of rights, the CNDH shed light and interacted with visitors and discussed several issues such as the right to life, the right to health, the right to culture, the right to development, collective memory and history, migration, artificial intelligence, digital citizenship, inclusive cities, Moroccan heritage, and African cultures.
In addition, the CNDH pavilion exhibited different publications, including more than 25 new books elaborated by the CNDH and others.
The Pavilion of Expressions of Human Rights hosted open events during which recent publications and critical readings were presented on current human rights issues such as women’s rights, childhood, health system, migrants’ rights, schooling children with a disability, security policies, abolition of the death penalty, Amazigh and Saharan heritage, African Heritage, memory...
It also included artistic expressions such as exhibitions, paintings, poetry, theater... on the abolition of the death penalty, combating violence against women and girls, the rights of foreigners, childhood, the Hassani heritage, memory...
Extending debates on expressions of human rights, the CNDH reinforced its digital interaction through comprehensive coverage of all its events on its online platforms on the internet: its official website, Twitter and Facebook.
On the final day of the 27th Session of the SIEL, the CNDH decided to organize various forms of expression of rights through music. Hence, the closing moment would be a moment of joy on the horizon of the renewed meeting next year, as described by Mrs. Amina Bouayach, CNDH Chairperson.
Laâyoune- Sakia El Hamra Region: Study Day on the Effectiveness of Cultural Rights
The Regional Human Rights Commission of the Laâyoune -Sakia El-Hamra Region (CRDH) will organize a Study Day on the “Effectiveness of Cultural Rights, Conservation and the Perspective of Protection” in partnership with the Wilaya of the Laâyoune -Sakia El-Hamra Region, the Council of the Laâyoune -Sakia El Hamra Region, the Agency for Promotion and Economic and Social Development of Southern Provinces (APDS), the Phosboucraa Foundation, and in cooperation with the Regional Directorate of Culture, the Regional Directorate of Handicrafts and Social Economy in Laayoune, the Chamber of Handicrafts in the region and the Regional Channel of Laâyoune.
Mrs. Amina Bouayach, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), will launch the proceedings of this Study Day, which will take place on Tuesday 7 June 2022, at 9 am, at the Conference Palace in Laayoune, Morocco.
This event is part of the implementation of the CNDH strategy aiming to monitor the effectiveness of human rights in its aspect related to cultural rights.
It is organized within the context of the regional vision that seeks to provide the opportunity for all stakeholders to share their views on the outcome of the implementation of the contents of the 2011 Constitution related to maintaining and protecting Hassani culture. Besides, it intends to diagnose relevant challenges and develop methodologies based on the human rights approach to preserve and protect this cultural heritage.
Institutions, elected Councils, civil society, researchers and innovators in this field will share their best practices and experiences at this event.
On the side-lines of this Study Day, two exhibitions entitled "Features of Hassani Culture, Between Preservation and Creativity" and "One Hundred Books on the Saharan Morocco" will be organized to shed light on the material and immaterial Hassani culture productions.
Contact: +212 528 89 39 81
Casablanca-Settat Region: Conference on Young People and New Development Model
The Regional Human Rights Commission of the Casablanca-Settat Region (CRDH), in partnership with the Moroccan Center for Youth and Democratic Transitions, is organizing a conference on "Youth and the New Development Model: Cross-Readings", on Saturday 4 June 2022, at 3 pm, at the CRDH headquarters in Casablanca, Morocco.
This conference is part of the implementation of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) general strategy based on the effectiveness of human rights in public policies. It is also part of the implementation of the CRDH annual action plan.
It aims to shed light on the strategic directions drawn by the New Development Model General Report in its relationship to the economic, social and cultural rights of young people and to interact with this group at the regional level. It also intends to implement the principle of active participation of youth in developing relevant public policies.
This conference reflects the importance of this issue to the CNDH and its Regional Commissions.
Mr. Mounir Bensalah, CNDH Secretary-General, representatives of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Communication and the Council of the Casablanca-Settat Region, as well as a group of academics, researchers and civil society actors will take part in this conference.
Contact: +212666015907
Expressions of Right, CNDH theme at the 27th Chapter of the International Editing and Book Fair 2022
From 3 to 12 June 2022, visitors to the International Editing and Book Fair, known in French as Salon International de l’Edition et du Livre (SIEL), in its 27th Chapter at the Souissi Space in Rabat, Morocco, will have an appointment with the National Human Rights Institution to shed light on the theme Expressions of Human Rights.
The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) pavilion will cover 200 m². It will be an open and inclusive space. Its activities will focus on updates and issues the CNDH pleads through daily sections such as Debates and Interviews, Book Talk, CNDH Guest, Artistic Expressions, plus a morning section on children's expressions of their rights.
Throughout the SIEL days, we will not seek to delve into questions introducing and sharing elements of diagnosis only. But we will try, within this space, to stir ready-made points of view, raise new questions and get into their ramifications in light of the societal developments... Our goal is to renew our advocacy and lay the foundations of new practices to serve the fight for equality and for human rights respect.
Mrs. Amina Bouayach, CNDH Chairperson
Over ten days, the CNDH pavilion will host more than 40 events. They will be moderated by Moroccan and foreign experts and actors (about 100 participants), besides the contributions of national and international institutional and civil partners.
Themes such as the right to life, the right to health, the right to culture, the right to development, collective memory and history, migration, artificial intelligence, digital citizenship, inclusive cities, Moroccan heritage, and African cultures... will be addressed at the CNDH pavilion at SIEL.
The Expressions of Right pavilion will also host open sessions to present recent publications and critical readings on current human rights issues such as women’s rights, childhood, health system, migrants’ rights, schooling of children with disabilities, security policies, abolition of the death penalty, Amazigh and Saharan heritage, African heritage, memory…
In addition to presenting artistic sections (exhibitions, paintings, poetry, theater...) advocating for the abolition of the death penalty, combating violence against women and girls, the rights of foreigners and migrants, childhood, Hassani heritage, memory, the image of Africa..., the CNDH pavilion will, during SIEL days, give the floor for children from different parts of the Kingdom to express their concerns and aspirations, through words, art and culture.
CNDH Bureau Meeting Communication
In accordance with the provisions of Law No. 76-15 on the reorganization of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), and the requirements of its Rules of Procedure, the CNDH Bureau held its regular monthly meeting on 1 June 2022 at the CNDH headquarters in Rabat, Morocco.
The CNDH Secretary-General was commissioned by the CNDH Chairperson, following Article 49 of the law and Article 15 of the Rules of Procedure, to coordinate this meeting.
The Bureau welcomed the publication of the CNDH Annual Report 2021, its periodicity, and the Thematic Report on the Right to Health.
It hailed the CNDH’s interaction with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and the United Nations Committee on the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (CMW). The Bureau also commended the CNDH’s effective contribution to the International Migration Review Forum and the scientific meetings on migration, the effectiveness of rights in public policies, and the fighting violence against women, which were organized in partnership with the universities.
The Bureau reviewed the implementation of the CNDH annual action plan 2022 and the programs of its organs. It also addressed several activities programmed in June 2022, including the CNDH participation in the International Publishing and Book Fair (SIEL 2022).
At the end of the meeting, the Bureau members discussed and approved the CNDH draft budget for the year 2023, with a view to submitting it to the next Session of the General Assembly.
Oujda: Regional forum on "Combating Harassment in Universities, What is their Role and What are the Mechanisms"?
The Regional Human Rights Commission of the Oriental Region (CRDH), in partnership with the University Mohamed I in Oujda, Morocco, will organize a regional forum on “Combating Harassment in Universities: What is their Role and What are the Mechanisms?”, on Monday 30 May 2022, at 2.30 pm at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Oujda, Morocco.
Mrs. Amina Bouayach, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), and Mr. Yassine Zaghloul, President of Mohamed I University of Oujda, will launch the opening session of this forum.
This event is part of the CNDH national awareness campaign to combat violence against women and girls, which was launched on 25 November 2021 and extends to 25 November 2022.
Academics, representatives of higher education trade unions, students, representatives of civil societies and the media, and legal stakeholders will take part in this event.
Participants at this regional forum will focus on:
- Combating sexual harassment and developments in Moroccan law;
- Mechanisms to combat sexual harassment in universities;
- Reviewing several national and international best practices and experiences related to combating harassment in universities.
Contact: +212 539 71 25 72
Fifth Ordinary Meeting of the Regional Human Rights Commission in the Marrakech-Safi Region
Following the requirements of Articles 35 and 36 of the Rules of Procedures of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), the Regional Human Rights Commission of Marrakech-Safi Region (CRDH) holds its Fifth Ordinary Meeting on Saturday 28 May 2022, in Marrakech, Morocco.
At this meeting, stakeholders will present the outcome of the Standing Committees’ actions and address the thematic report on “The Effectiveness of the right to health in Morocco- Challenges and ways to its strengthening”.
Signing a partnership agreement with the National School of Commerce and Management
On the side-lines of this meeting, the CRDH will also sign a partnership agreement with the National School of Commerce and Management in Marrakech. This agreement aims at establishing training pathways in the field of business and human rights and organizing joint activities related to introducing international human rights standards and national and international mechanisms in this field.
Contact: 0524 42 05 87
CNDH organizes seminars on "Protecting Human Rights within the context of Migration"
As part of its monthly program "Thursday of Protection", the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) will organize online seminars on "Protecting Human Rights within the context of Migration".
The first seminar will be organized on Thursday 26 May 2022, at 6:30 pm. It will be live on the CNDH’s Facebook page. It will address the National Migration and Asylum Policy and its outcome.
Mrs. Amina Bouayach, CNDH Chairperson, will launch this event.
It is part of the preparation of the outcome of the National Migration and Asylum Policy and defining the measures to be implemented to face persistent challenges impeding the effectiveness of the right of all foreigners in Morocco.
Stakeholders will discuss the outcome of the national strategy for migration and asylum, considering that international organizations, representatives of governments, associations and researchers have converged and crossed attitudes on this issue.
The program of this seminar will be scheduled as follows:
- Mr. Ahmed Skim, Director of Migration affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, will address a summary of the important achievements of migration policy in Morocco since 2013.
- Mr. Mamadou Boye Diallo, Coordinator of the Coalition for Sub-Saharan Communities in Morocco, will focus on the results of the association in terms of access to justice and the right to education.
- Mrs. Luciana Ceretti, Migration Health Coordinator at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Morocco, will highlight the experience of the IOM in the field of migrants' right to health.
- At the end of this event, Dr. Sara Benjelloun, researcher in migration, will present a comprehensive and intersectional analysis.
Since 2013, Morocco has engaged in a new humanitarian, comprehensive and homogeneous migration and asylum policy. About a decade ago, several action programs were implemented to support foreigners’ social and economic integration, update the legislative and institutional framework, and enhance respect for human rights in managing migration.