CNDH meets with the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) received, on 24 October 2017 at its headquarters in Rabat, Morocco, the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (SPT).
During its meeting with the SPT, the CNDH delegation, chaired by Mr. Driss El Yazami, President of the Council, presented the draft law No. 76-15 on the reorganization of the CNDH. Mr El Yazami highlighted the status of the National Preventive Mechanisms against torture (NPM) in this bill. He also shed the light on the process leading to the establishment of the NPM, mainly consultations with relevant government departments and NGOs and training sessions for the future staff of the NPM, as well as national and international seminars.
At the same time, the CNDH stressed the actions and partnerships related to places of deprivation of liberty, including visits to places of detention, psychiatric hospitals, child protection centres and places where foreigners in an irregular situation are held. The number of visits to places of detention is around 300 per year, with a view to conducting investigations and regular, special or preventive visits.
Special focus was given to the CNDH memorandum on the preliminary draft of the Penal Procedure Code, particularly proposals on the prevention of torture and the reduction of the risks of arbitrary detention, mainly during police custody.
The CNDH shared its experience about practices regarding the prevention of torture, which enable it to discharge the mandate of the NPM.
To be noted that, the UN delegation is visiting Morocco, for the first time, from 22 to 28 October 2017, after the accession to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The purpose of this visit is to advise Morocco to establish an NPM, and to conduct visits to places of deprivation of liberty and interview persons deprived of their liberty in order to assess how they are treated and the measures taken to protect them from torture and ill-treatment.
The SPT delegation is composed of: Mr. Hans-Jörg Viktor Bannwart (Head of Delegation, Switzerland), Mr. Gnambi Garba Kodjo (Togo), Ms. Radhia Nasraoui (Tunisia), Ms. Catherine Paulet (France) and Mr. Satyabhooshun Gupt Domah (Mauritius).
Commemoration of the African Human Rights Day: Series of regional consultation meetings with young people organized by the CNDH
As a part of the commemoration of the African Human Rights Day, celebrated on 21 October each year, the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI) called on all African NHRIs to celebrate this year’s day under the theme: “Reinforcing the contribution of young people to the effective implementation of the Action Plan on the Human and Peoples’ Rights Decade in Africa”.
The celebration of this day will be held from 21 to 26 October 2017. Within this context, the Morocco’s National Human Rights Council (CNDH) launched a series of regional consultation meetings with young people in the thirteen Regional Human Rights Commissions (CRDHs). Those meetings aim to interact with young people on their perceptions about their future on the one hand and to allow them to freely express their opinions and expectations from the CNDH and its CRDHs.
The strategic objective of this approach is to reinforce the involvement of young people in the elaboration, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of regional strategies of the CRDHs.
The purpose of these meetings is also to gather young people’s views regarding the concrete actions that guarantee them, especially the most marginalized and most vulnerable, easy access to basic services: education, training, employment and effective participation in the management of public affairs.
Child protection: Training session on the principle of participation
The National Human Rights Training Institute (INFDH) – Driss Benzekri will host the second training session on the principle of participation on 20 October 2017 for social assistants working in the Child Protection Units and the regional delegates of the Entreaide National “National Mutual Aid”. This training session is a part of the program of cooperation and partnership between the National Human Rights council (CNDH) and National Mutual Aid.
This training session will tackle the effective implementation of the principle of participation during the process of supporting children in difficult situation.
The workshop aims to strengthen the capacities of the staff of the National Mutual Aid working to protect children, particularly on themes related to treatment of children victims of violence based on child rights approach. It also intends to provide practical tools to implement the principle of participation.
This training session is the second of its kind regarding hearing techniques for children victims of violence.
Media contact: Abdelghani Berdi +2126 62 76 23 25 / a.berdi@cndh.org.ma
Study day on the law to fight violence against women: Crossed viewpoints Morocco- Tunisia
The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) and UN Women, in partnership with the Coalition Printemps de la Dignité “Spring of Dignity Coalition”, are organizing a study day on “Laws to fight violence against women: Morocco-Tunisia crossed viewpoints” on 19 October 2017 at the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMVI) in Rabat, Morocco.
This meeting will be a comparative reflection between the Tunisian and Moroccan experiences related to the adoption of laws to fight violence against women.
Indeed, if the Tunisian Parliament has just adopted an integral law on the violence against women, in Morocco, the Council of Government adopted the Bill 103-13 on 17 March 2016, followed by the House of Representatives on 20 July 2016. It is a subject which is widely debated but still waiting to be adopted by the Chamber of Councillors.
Bringing together institutional actors and civil society organizations involved in the prevention of violence against women, this meeting will provide an opportunity to deepen the analysis and the reflection on the challenges of the adoption of a comprehensive national legal framework to counter all forms of violence against women.
It will also provide an opportunity to exchange experiences and points of views from both countries in order to identify the main challenges and resistances, as well as the best practices to overcome them and to achieve the adoption of satisfying legal texts.
In addition to the universal norms and standards related to legislation on violence against women, this meeting will introduce the Bill 103-13 on violence against women and the CNDH’s analysis of the mentioned Bill.
A cross-reading of the Tunisian Law and the Moroccan Bill will also be scheduled. It will be carried out through the analysis of two legal experts: Sana Ben Achour from Tunisia, university professor of public law, and Khadija Rouggany from Morocco, lawyer and member of the Coalition Printemps de la Dignité.
The opening session will take place on 19 October 2017 starting 9 am in the Auditorium of the MMVI in Rabat, Morocco.
To sum up:
Event: Study day on the law to fight violence against women: Crossed viewpoints Morocco- Tunisia
Time and venue: 19 October 2017 starting at 9 am in the Auditorium of the MMVI in Rabat, Morocco
Media contact: Abdelghani Berdi +2126 62 76 23 25 / a.berdi@cndh.org.ma
Download the program of the Study day (available only in French)
CRDH participates in the seventh edition of the Regional Book Fair in Tangier
The Regional Human Rights Commission (CRDH) in Tangier will participate in the seventh edition of the Regional Book Fair on “Reading and the challenges of development” which will be held from 13 to 18 October 2017 in Tangier, Morocco.
The CRDH will exhibit different publications of the National Human Rights Council of Morocco (CNDH). It is also an opportunity to interact with the public and different human rights actors and researchers, particularly on the missions and achievements of the CNDH and its CRDH.
Organized by the Regional Department of Culture, this event will schedule collective exhibitions of photos, poetry, lectures and book signings will be scheduled in this Book Fair.
In addition, several cultural and educational NGOs, institutions, bookstores, book publishers will take part in this cultural event.
Media contact: Abdelghani Berdi +2126 62 76 23 25 / a.berdi@cndh.org.ma
Study day on Combating Violence against Women in Laayoune –Smara, Morocco
The Regional Human Rights Commission of Laayoune-Smara (CRDH) organizes a study day on “Combating violence against women: implementation of the national and international commitments related to human rights and territorial coordination mechanisms”. This event will take place on Friday 20 October 2017 starting at 8 am at the Emilio Moretti Hotel in Laayoune, Morocco.
Different specialized NGOs, institutional actors and participatory democratic mechanisms at the local and regional level will participate to this event.
The study day aims to strengthen the capacity of local actors in order to protect women’s rights and develop relevant social reception structures. It also intends to coordinate and simplify the administrative and judicial procedures among stakeholders.
This event will tackle the national and international legal framework to counter violence against women, the role of the National Human Rights Institutions in combating gender discrimination, and the role of local actors in protecting women’s rights. During this study day, participants will develop a participatory diagnosis of the situation of women victims of violence in the Laayoune –Smara region, Morocco.
Media contact: Abdelghani Berdi +2126 62 76 23 25 / a.berdi@cndh.org.ma
Saadia Belmir is re-elected member of UN Committee Against Torture
Moroccan magistrate, member of the National Human Rights Council and former member of the Advisory Council on Human Rights, Saadia Belmir is re-elected as a member of the UN Committee Against Torture. The vote was held on Thursday in Geneva at the 16th meeting of State Parties to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
The Moroccan Jurist has been a member of the UN body since her first election in November 2005, and was re-elected in 2009 and 2013;
Ms. Belmir is a member of the Constitutional Court (and the former Constitutional Council).
Regional seminar on death penalty in French-speaking countries in Africa
The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) and the Association Enùsemble Contre la Peine de Mort (ECRM) “Together Against the Death Penalty”, in partnership with the Association francophone des Commissions nationales des droits de l’Homme (AFCNDH) “Francophone Association of National Human Rights Commissions” and the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI), are organizing a regional seminar on the death penalty in African French-speaking countries on 4 and 5 October 2017 in Rabat, Morocco.
This seminar is entitled “National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and Death Penalty”, and will be held with support of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the International Organization of la Francophonie (OIF).
As of 31 December 2016, the majority of the African Union member States have abolished the death penalty in law (20 countries), or have applied a de facto moratorium on executions (20 countries); only a minority that still maintain the death penalty (14 countries). Morocco has enshrined the right to life in article 20 of the 2011 Constitution and has implemented a moratorium on executions since 1993, which has made it a de facto abolitionist country. Nevertheless, Morocco courts continue to order judgments on death penalty.
The CNDH, as an abolitionist institution, has repeatedly called on the government to adhere to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to abolish the death penalty and to vote for the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly calling for a moratorium to suspend the execution of the death penalty with a perspective to abolish it.
Considering their mandate to protect and promote human rights, NHRIs are well placed to encourage the authorities to rethink the abolitionist arguments. Nevertheless, in practice, NHRIs are less involved or not at all involved in the abolitionist dynamic. In fact, there are several reasons why this issue is not often discussed within NHRIs, particularly in African francophone countries.
ECPM, in conjunction with the UN, cooperates with NHRIs on the issue of death penalty, particularly in the Maghreb and Central Africa. Therefore, this meeting will be an opportunity to reiterate the importance of the role of NHRIs in their fight against the death penalty and to study possible means to encourage them to advocate for the abolition of this penalty.
Representatives of 12 NHRIs from the African francophone countries are participating in this event: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Tunisia, Togo, Mali, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Comoros, Mauritania, Cameroon, Rwanda and Algeria. ECPM and other representatives of civil society from Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco will also take part in this seminar.
The first day of the meeting will be devoted to an overview of the situation of the death penalty in the world, especially in Africa. The second day will shed the light on the actions of NHRIs towards the abolition of the death penalty (review of legislation in force, recommendations and follow-up, monitoring the conditions of detention of those sentenced to death, interaction with international mechanisms).
The opening session of this seminar will take place on 4 October 2017 from 9:00 am at the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMVI). Driss El Yazami, President of the CNDH, Mohammed Aujjar, Minister of Justice, Alexis Le Cour Grnadmaison, Minister Counselor, French Embassy in Morocco, Raphaël Chenuil-Hazan, Director General of the ECMP, Nasos Makrythanasis, representative of OIF and Ahmed Elhou, former prisoner sentenced to death in Morocco, will contribute to this session.
The proceedings of this seminar will be held in two days:
4 October 2017 at the MMVI: Opening session and debate open to public.
5 October 2017 at the CNDH’s Driss Benzekri National Human Rights Training Institute (INFDH)- Driss Benzekri: Workshops for NHRIs and civil society (upon invitation).
Regional meeting of National Mechanisms for the prevention of torture in North Africa
The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) and the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) organize a regional meeting of national mechanisms for the prevention of torture (NPMs) in North Africa from 26 to 28 September 2017 in Rabat.
The purpose of this meeting is to improve the understanding of the status, mandate, organization and functioning of the NPM and to cooperate and exchange on compared experiences of NPMS in North Africa.
The meeting brings together representatives of Tunisian and Mauritanian NPMs and those of the CNDH, which is the Moroccan institution to house the NPM according to the upcoming CNDH Law currently under discussion in the parliament. This event also intended to discuss the main opportunities and challenges faced at the beginning of the existence of these emerging mechanisms and to better understand the preventive mandate.
Finally, this meeting aims to identify needs concerning exchanging and strengthening the capacity of NPMs in the region.
This event will combine plenary sessions and practical exercises using an interactive approach. In this context, members of the French and Italian NPMs are invited to share their practical experiences in implementing the mandate.
Participants will learn about the preventive mandate and its specifications, complaints treatment mechanisms, visit reporting techniques, preventive visit methodologies and interviews with administrative staff and detainees.
Morocco initiated the ratification process of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) on 1 November 2012 and deposited the instruments of ratification on 24 November 2014. Hence, Morocco became the 76th State Party to OPCAT. The latter requires, in its Article 17, the establishment of the NPM within a period not exceeding one year following the entry into force, ratification or accession of the OPCAT.
The opening session of this meeting will be held on 26 September 2017 starting at 2 pm in the auditorium of the National Library of the Kingdom of Morocco. Mr. Driss El Yazami, President of the CNDH will take part to this gathering jointly with Mr. Mustapha Ramid, Minister of State for human rights, Mrs. Barbara Bernath, Head of Operations of the APT in Geneva and Mr. Massimo Baggi, ambassador of Switzerland in Morocco.
This meeting will continue on 27 and 28 September 2017 at the CNDH’s National Human Rights Training Institute- Driss Benzekri.
To sum up:
Event: Regional meeting for National Mechanisms for the prevention of torture in North Africa
Time and venue: 26 September 2017 starting at 2 pm in the auditorium of the National Library of the Kingdom of Morocco
Media contact: Abdelghani Berdi +2126 62 76 23 25 / a.berdi@cndh.org.ma
CNDH participate in the first edition of the Maghreb Book Fair in Oujda
The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) participates in the Maghreb Book Fair in Oujda on “Maghrebian Literature”. This exhibition will be held from 21 to 24 September 2017 at the Grand Theatre Mohammed VI in Oujda.
This event is organized by the Oriental Agency, the Oriental Regional Council and the Wilaya, and supported by other partners including the CNDH. It is the first edition of the Maghreb Book Fair entitled Dire la jeunesse, écrire l’espoir “Speaking about youth, writing hope”.
The CNDH will hold an exhibition stall, which will present various publications of the Council and will interact directly with the public around issues related to its missions.
Driss El Yazami, President of the CNDH, will take part in the round table on “Maghreb youth: Living here or dreaming elsewhere” in the morning of 22 September 2017.
More than 200 intellectuals will take part in this Book Fair exhibition, coming from five countries of the Maghreb, from Europe and especially from Africa, including Senegal, as a guest of honour. Poets, novelists, storytellers, playwright or visual artists, regional and national institutions, book publishing and distribution professionals will moderate roundtables on youth.
Presentations and book signings, film screenings, writing workshops and poetic readings are also part of the program of the Book Fair.
To sum up:
Activity: First edition of the Maghreb Book Fair
Time and venue: from 21 to 24 September 2017 at the Grand Theatre Mohammed VI in Oujda
Media contact: Communication department: Abdelghani Berdi +212 6 62 76 23 25/ a.berdi@cndh.org.ma