New memorandum: Forty-five recommendations for more inclusive elections
The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) released on Wednesday, March 4, 2015 a Memorandum on the general elections legal framework, as adopted by its 9th Plenary Session, held on February 11, in Rabat.
Through this memorandum, the CNDH effectively contributes to the current public debate on the electoral laws that Parliament is considering. The memo builds on the elections observation conclusions since 2007, by the (former) Advisory Council on Human Rights and later by the CNDH.
The memorandum includes forty-five recommendations for more inclusive elections. It proposes a series of amendments and measures to contribute to achieving the constitutional goals related to parity, between men and women, and greater participation of youth in the political development and the participation of people with disabilities in the process.
The Council also recommends the participation of foreign nationals residing in Morocco in the local elections. This is actually possible under Article 30 (§4) of the Constitution.
The recommendations also concerned the expansion of the electorate, redistricting, reducing the representation gap, strengthening women's access to elective mechanisms and political representation of young people.
Some recommendations concern the legal framework of the neutral and independent observation of elections, fair access to public broadcast media as well as transparency of election campaigns. Other recommendations aim at strengthening participatory democracy mechanisms, in addition to the gender approach, the human rights based approach and the inclusive approach that should be considered in designing regional public policies. These recommendations can contribute to implementing the regional and territorial organization principles provided for in Article 136 of the Constitution.
The memorandum includes, as well, recommendations for the professional elections, particularly strengthening women's representation in the different bodies to represent employees.
Quarante-cinq recommandations pour des élections plus inclusives et plus proches des citoyens
Conference to establish national appeal committee for the regularization of migrants in irregular administrative situations
A step further in implementation of Morocco’s new migration and asylum policy
*** Joint press release - CNDH and the Ministry of Moroccans Living Abroad and Migration Affairs ***
The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) hosts, on Friday, June 27 at its headquarters in Rabat, at 3:00 p.m., a conference to establish a national appeal committee to give chance to more migrants to regularize their irregular administrative situations. Several agreements will be signed by the Ministry of Moroccans Living Abroad and Migration Affairs with other government departments and with civil society associations to facilitate integration of migrants in Morocco.
The appeal committee will be chaired by the CNDH. Members representing the Ministry of Moroccans Living Abroad and Migration Affairs, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs, the Inter-ministerial Department for Human Rights, civil society associations and qualified individuals will set in the committee.
The committee will review the applications that the provincial commissions refused. The criteria will be consistent with the Constitution and the international human rights. The Committee will also take a humane approach.
The Ministry of Moroccans Living Abroad and Migration Affairs will sign agreements with the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training, the Ministry of Solidarity, Women, Family and Social Development, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Office of Vocational Training and Labour Promotion (OFPPT).
12 agreements will also be signed with migration civil society associations. Through the implementation of these agreements, associations and organizations will contribute to the integration policy targeting regularized migrants and asylum seekers recognized as refugees.
Will also take part in this ceremony Minister-Delegate for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, M'Barka Bouida, Minister of Solidarity, Women, Family and Social Development, Bassima El Hakkaoui, Minister-Delegate for the Interior, Cherki Draiss, Minister of Youth and Sports, Ouzine Mohamed, Inter-ministerial Delegate for Human Rights, Mahjoub El Haiba, and OFPPT Director General, Laarbi Bencheikh.
Contact:
CNDH Communication Directorate 05.37.73.29.13
Statement by Mr. Driss El Yazami, CNDH Chairman
CNDH holds press conference to present a memorandum on violence against women
The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) holds on Thursday, March 6, 2014, at 9:00 a.m., a press conference to present a memorandum in contribution to the debate on the Bill on the fight of violence against women.
This memorandum was approved by the CNDH Sixth Plenary Session, held on February 28, 2014. It sheds light on the different aspects of the issue of violence against women: the international frame of reference and concepts, the responsibility of the State in fighting gender-based violence, punishment of intentional violence, protection of victims and survivors, access to justice and care services for the victims and survivors, measures of protection and prevention, etc.
The press conference will be chaired by Mr. Driss El Yazami, CNDH Chairman.
This memo was prepared in fulfillment of the Council’s mandate in the promotion and protection of human rights, and in contribution to the current debate on the Bill on the fight of violence against women.
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Activity: Press conference to present memorandum on violence against women
Date: Thursday, March 6, 2014, at 9:00 a.m.
Venue: CNDH Headquarters, Place Achouhada, Rabat
Contact: Communication Department (0537732913)
CNDH 6th ordinary session: Fighting violence against women, freedom of association, alternatives to incarceration and justice
The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) holds its sixth ordinary session, on Friday, the 28th of February 2014, at 10:00 a.m. at its headquarters in Rabat.
The Council’s memoranda on the bill on fighting violence against women, on freedom of association, on the amnesty procedure, and on alternatives to incarceration will be discussed during this session.
The session will also discuss drafts of two complementary memorandums on the “organic law” relating to the statutes of judges and the draft “organic law” relating to the Higher Council of Judicial Power, in addition to the conclusions of a study on the freedom of assembly.
The National Human Rights Council has published several memoranda, advisory opinions and thematic reports, in fulfillment of its mandate to protect and promote human rights and to contribute to democracy building and harmonizing domestic legislations with the provisions of international human rights conventions. The Council’s publications, so far, covered the situation in prisons, mental health, child protection centers, forensic medicine activities, rights of domestic workers, the exception of unconstitutionality, the constitutional court, military justice law, migration, etc.
CNDHl is a national institution for the protection and promotion of human rights. It’s accredited as in “A” status institution by the International Coordinating Committee of NHRIs. Its founding law is in full compliance with the Paris Principles governing national human rights institutions (NHRIs), adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1993. It holds four ordinary sessions per year at most, according to its founding law, dated March 1st, 2011.
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Activity: Sixth ordinary session of the National Human Rights Council
Date and hour: Friday, the 28th of February 2014, at 10:00 a.m.
Venue: Headquarters of the Council in Rabat
Contact: Communication Department (0537732913)
My rights, my future! Cherishing children’s rights at Casablanca international book fair
The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) and the Central Authority for the Prevention of Corruption (ICPC) take part in the International Editing and Book Fair, held in Casablanca from 13 to 23 Feb. 2014. Being aware of the role that culture and reading can play in promoting human rights, the two constitutional institutions will have a joint exhibition stall to celebrate children’s rights in 20th edition of this international book event.
“My rights, my future!” is the slogan chosen for the stall, which invites the book fair visitors to a rich activity program. More than 70 partners have their marks on this program: all Moroccan children book publication houses, dozens of children’s rights associations, national institutions (Mohammed VI Foundation for the Environment, Royal Institute of the Amazigh Culture, Institut des beaux-arts de Tétouan, etc.) and international organizations (UNICEF, Council of Europe, etc.), regional education and training academies, school citizenship clubs and several art stakeholders and professionals.
The CNDH and the ICPC take part in this international book fair, together, for the third consecutive year. This year, they shed light on the rights of the generations of tomorrow…whose rights are enshrined in the Constitution of July 2011 and the international Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the international community in 1989 and ratified by Morocco in 1993.
The stall was designed following an open competition for Moroccan young architects. It will be a space for entertainment and free expression for children and stakeholders alike.
The activities of the stall will evolve around children and their interest. Hundreds of books for and about children and interactive kiosks for children to entertain and learn will be available. Children will have the opportunity to “question” Moroccan and foreign senior officials about their rights and issues: Minister of women solidarity and family, Minister of public health, Minister of migration affairs, an Advisor of His majesty the Kingn CNDH and ICPC chairmen, Rector of Amazigh culture institute, UNICEF Reprehensive in Morocco, etc.. They will discuss their rights to health, education, protection, participation, culture, development, entertainment, etc. and enjoy and take part in art workshops, readings and storytelling sessions, and theatrical performances.
Tributes will be given to several pioneers who worked for the rights of children. Nine national human rights institutions (from Togo, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Mali, and Sierra Leone) will take part in these activities. Their respective states are members of the ECOWAS, guest of honor at this 20th edition. They are invited by the CNDH to discuss and share experiences relating to the protection of the rights of the child in the region.
The activities of the program will be extended outside the Fair premises. A large Kermis for children’s rights will be held at a school nearby. Parades, street performances and visits to orphanages and children hospitals are scheduled in the program as well. These visits will be supervised by some regional human rights commissions.
INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR Impunity and discrimination: gender-based violence in Morocco
The National Human Rights Council and the Moroccan Spring of Dignity Coalition (a Coalition of 23 NGOs) organize an international seminar on impunity and discrimination: gender-based violence in morocco, on Thursday, 30 Jan. 2014, in Rabat.
The seminar aims to shed light on and support the current process of the elaboration and adoption of a law to combat gender-based violence, in accordance with international definitions and standards. It also aims to analyze how violence against women is addressed in the national legal framework and identify gaps and limitations in terms of punishment, protection and prevention of gender-based violence.
It will also be an opportunity to exchange lessons learned about mobilizations and international experiences in the fight against gender based violence impunity. It will discuss three main points; the current situation of gender-based violence in practice and in legislation; international experiences in combating gender-based violence: prevention and protection; and the fight against gender-based violence in Morocco: current projects and visions. A roundtable for parliamentarians from the different political trends is scheduled on the sideline of the seminar as well.
Experts and civil society, institutional and political stakeholders concerned are invited to take part in this seminar. Ms Rachida Manjou, UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, and Ms Marie-Laurence Sranon Sossou, Minister of Family, Social Affairs, National Solidarity, Persons with Disabilities and Older People of Benin, and Ms Gordana Gasmi, Expert at the Council of Europe will also take part in this international gathering for the fight against gender-based discrimination.
.The opening sessions will be held at 9:00 a.m., at Tour Hassan Hotel, Rabat
Training session in Azilal for school citizenship and human rights clubs
The Regional Human Rights Commission of Beni Mellal-Khouribga organizes a training session for school citizenship and human rights clubs, in Azilal, at Chems Bin El Ouidane Hotel, at 9:00 a.m.The Regional Human Rights Commission of Beni Mellal-Khouribga organizes a training session for school citizenship and human rights clubs, in Azilal, at Shems Bi El Ouidan Hotel, at 9:00 a.m.
This training session is organized in implementation of a partnership agreement signed by the Commission, the Tadla Regional Academy for Training and Education and the Directorate of the Ministry of National Education in the Province of Khouribga. It also reflects the joint efforts made with these clubs and the African Film Festival Institution.
This session is also organized in preparation for a human rights & education film festival, due in May 2014. This festival aims to strengthen cooperation and coordination among the different stakeholders in the region for the promotion of human rights culture among the youth in general and within schools, in particular.
Seminar in Taghjijt on development and human rights
The Pôle associatif Taghjijt (local NGO) holds, in partnership with the Regional Human Rights Commission of Tan-Tan-Guelmim, a seminar on development and human rights, on Friday, January 24th, 2014, in the Conference Room of the Rural Commune of Taghjijt, in the Province of Guelmim, at 4:00 p.m.The Pôle associatif Taghjijt (local NGO) holds, in partnership with the Regional Human Rights Commission of Tan-Tan-Guelmim, a seminar on development and human rights, on Friday, January 24th, 2014, in the Conference Room of the Rural Commune of Taghjijt, in the Province of Guelmim, at 4:00 p.m.
The seminar will shed light on (1) the right to development, in light of international human rights conventions, and (2) the role of the National Human Rights Council and its regional commissions.
Two members of the Regional Human Rights Commission of Tan-Tan-Guelmim will be invited to lecture on these two topics: Mr. Abdelmaled Liderbi and Ms Jamila el Ouazani, respectively.
Meeting in Inzegan on mental health and human rights
The Regional Human Rights Commission of Agadir holds, in coordination with the Regional Health Department in Souss-Massa-Deraa, a meeting to shed light on the National Human Rights Council’s thematic report on mental health and human rights, on Thursday, 23 Jan. 2014, in Inzegan.
This meeting is held in line with the Commission’s plan of action. It aims to discuss the legal framework governing mental health, the situation in psychiatric hospitals, and the recommendations of national Human Rights Council’s report.
Mr. Omar Battas, member of CNDH, will shed light on the report’s conclusions and recommendations.
CNDH Secretary General, the chairperson of the Agadir human rights commission and the Ministry of Health Regional Director in Souss-Massa-Deraa took part in this meeting.