“TOGETHER FOR GENERATIONS WITH FULL-FLEDGED CITIZENSHIP AND RIGHTS”, THEME OF EDUCATIONAL CARAVAN ON CITIZENSHIP AND HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZED BY THE REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF BENI MELLAL-KHOURIBGA

The Regional Human Rights Commission of Beni Mellal-Khouribga organizes an educational caravan on citizenship and human rights in rural areas, from March 8 to April 13, 2013, under the theme “Together for generations with full-fledged citizenship and rights”.

The caravan is part of exercising the functions of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) and its regional commissions in the field of protecting human rights, promoting a human rights culture and entrenching the values of responsible citizenship through education, training, information and awareness, pursuant to “the Citizenship Platform for the Promotion of Human Rights Culture” and the CNDH strategy of proximity and participation.

It also falls within the framework of implementing the recommendations of the outreach meetings held by the regional commission with the clubs of education in citizenship and human rights established in the region’s educational institutions.

The objective of this caravan is to help the said clubs to perform their roles and consolidate their experience in anchoring human rights culture in educational institutions. It also seeks to enhance communication between the CNDH and students and the various institutional and associative stakeholders intervening in the areas of human rights. The seminar will be an opportunity to formalize partnership and cooperation relations with the regional institutional actors, encourage the participation and innovation of the human rights education clubs, and strengthen communication and networking between these clubs both locally and regionally.

The caravan’s program is as follows:

Opening day: March 8, 2013 at 3 p.m. in the new headquarters of the Tadla Azilal Regional Academy of Education and Training, on which the Commission and the Academy will sign a partnership agreement.

Caravan stations:

1 - Beni Mellal: March 9, at the previous headquarters of the Regional Academy of Education and Training

2 - Azilal: March 16, at the Provincial Meeting and Training Center

3 - Khouribga: March 23, at the Educational Complex

4 - Fquih Ben Salah: March 30, at the Multidisciplinary Social Complex

5 - Khenifra: April 06, at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry

6 - Midelt: April 13, at the Cultural Complex.

REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF AGADIR COMMEMORATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

In celebration of the International Women’s Day, the Regional Human Rights Commission of Agadir, as part of its annual program, screens a movie entitled “Agadir, Bombay” in the presence of its Moroccan director Myriam Bakir. The event will take place at the Commission’s main office in Agadir on Friday, March 8, 2013.

Following the screening, a roundtable will be organized on the subject of the film, led by Mr. Abderrahim El Anbi, professor of sociology, and Judge Ali Ait Gaghou, Commission member.

The meeting falls within the framework of the Commission’s contribution to promoting the human rights culture and fostering pluralistic public debate on the protection and realization of human rights, including the rights of women.
This event will be attended by local and regional personalities from the fields of culture, education, civil society, and media.

“REINFORCING ROLE OF EDUCATIONAL CLUBS, A MAINSTAY TO PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS CULTURE” THEME OF MEETING WITH EDUCATIONAL CLUB COORDINATORS

The Regional Human Rights Commission of Tantan-Guelmim organizes a meeting with the coordinators of educational clubs in the secondary high schools of the Assa province, under the theme “Reinforcing the role of educational clubs, a mainstay to promoting human rights culture”, on March 6, 2013 at the headquarters of the provincial delegation for education in Assa.

The program of the meeting includes presentations on the functions of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) and its regional commissions. It also features workshops intended primarily to identify the needs of coordinators in the field of education in human rights, and encourage them to have an active role in this initiative which seeks to instill the principles of human rights and the values of diversity and difference in the minds of students.

This meeting is organized as part of implementing the Commission’s action plan for the year 2013. The objective sought is to mobilize all partners and relevant actors to spread and promote the culture of human rights.

For the record, the Regional Human Rights Commission of Tantan-Guelmim was installed on December 21, 2011. Pursuant to Article 28 of the Royal Decree establishing the CNDH, it is entrusted with tracking and monitoring the situation of human rights at the regional level and receiving complaints about alleged human rights violations. It is also responsible for implementing the Council’s programs and projects relating to the promotion and protection of human rights, in collaboration with all stakeholders in the region.

The territorial jurisdiction of the Commission, chaired by Mr. Taoufiq Berdigi, covers the provinces of Guelmim, Sidi Ifni, Tantan and Assa-Zag.

REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF TANGIER HOLDS OUTREACH MEETING TO DEVELOP A STRATEGY TO PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS CULTURE IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

The Regional Human Rights Commission of Tangier, jointly with the Regional Academy of Education and Training, holds an outreach meeting to develop a strategy to promote human rights culture in the region’s educational institutions, on March 05, 2013 at the commission’s main office.

This activity falls within the framework of the Commission’s strategic plan 2013-2015. It aims to identify the situation of citizenship and human rights clubs in educational institutions, with a view to developing a participatory strategy for the promotion of a human rights culture in these clubs.
This meeting will bring together members of the Commission, officials from the Academy and the provincial delegations of education, and the educational staff of the said clubs.

For the record, the Regional Human Rights Commission of Tangier, which was installed on February 2, 2012, is entrusted with tracking and monitoring the situation of human rights at the regional level and receiving complaints about alleged human rights violations. It is also responsible for implementing the Council’s programs and projects relating to the promotion of human rights, in collaboration with all stakeholders in the region.

The territorial jurisdiction of the Commission, chaired by Ms. Salma Taoud, includes the governorates of Tanger-Assilah and M’diq-Fnideq, as well as the provinces of Ouezzane, Chefchaouen, Tétouan, Fahs-Anjra and Larache.

LAAYOUNE: TRAINING SESSION FOR STUDENTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION

The Regional Human Rights Commission of Laayoune–Smara, jointly with the Regional Academy of Education and Training, holds a training session for students on human rights education on March 2-3, 2013, at the headquarters of the Academy in Laayoune.

This activity is part of implementing the Commission’s action plan which focuses, inter alia, on capacity building in the field of human rights. The session will benefit 40 students from junior and senior high schools of Laayoune as well as 30 student parents and administrative staff members of the school life section.

During the session, a host of specialists will deliver presentations on the basic principles and mechanisms of human rights culture and the latter’s roles in school, the pillars and terms of reference of the human rights culture and its roles in promoting school life, and enhancing the human rights culture in school life as a mainstay for the development of the educational and social functions of parent associations.

The program of the session includes the following topics: “Principles and methods for students to develop a culture of human rights in their environment, activities and school relationships”, “training on the principles and tools for the development of a culture of human rights in student activities and relationships”, and “Principles and methods for student parent associations to develop a culture of human rights at school and its surrounding environment”, and “the processes and roles of promoting the principles and mechanisms of human rights and civil behavior in school life”.

It is noteworthy that the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training, which the General Assembly adopted in December 2011 and which Morocco was among the countries that proposed its preparation, stipulates in its first article that “Everyone has the right to know, seek and receive information about all human rights and fundamental freedoms and should have access to human rights education and training.”

According to the Declaration, human rights education and training comprises “all educational, training, information, awareness-raising and learning activities aimed at promoting universal respect for and observance of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and thus contributing, inter alia, to the prevention of human rights violations and abuses by providing persons with knowledge, skills and understanding and developing their attitudes and behaviours, to empower them to contribute to the building and promotion of a universal culture of human rights”.

REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF AL HOCEIMA–NADOR HOLDS ITS 4TH ORDINARY SESSION

The Regional Human Rights Commission of Al Hoceima–Nador holds its fourth ordinary session on March 1-2, 2013, at its main office.

The agenda of this session, held pursuant to the rules of procedure of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), includes discussing the 2012 reports of the thematic committees and presenting the proposals put forward by these committees for the development of the annual action plan.

For the record, the Regional Human Rights Commission of Al Hoceima–Nador was set up on January 9, 2012. In accordance with the Royal Decree establishing the National Human Rights Council, it is entrusted with tracking and monitoring the situation of human rights at the regional level and receiving complaints about alleged human rights violations. It is also responsible for implementing the Council’s programs and projects relating to the promotion of human rights, in collaboration with all stakeholders in the region.

The Commission is chaired by Ms. Souad El Idrissi, and its territorial jurisdiction includes the provinces of Al-Hoceima, Nador and Driouch.

REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF CASABLANCA-SETTAT ORGANIZES FILM DAYS ON MEMORY PRSERVATION IN MOROCCO

“For the strengthening of the process of democratization and human rights realization” is the slogan of the film days organized by the Regional Human Rights Commission of Casablanca-Settat on memory preservation in Morocco for the benefit of students.

The film days, to be staged in Casablanca, El Jadida and Mohammedia, will be an opportunity to introduce students to a number of Moroccan movies produced between 2000 and 2004 centered on the past grave violations of human rights.

The screening of these films is part of implementing the program of monitoring the recommendations of the Equity and Reconciliation Commission (IER) on archives, history and memory, financed by the European Union. It also falls within the framework of following up the implementation of the IER recommendations relating to preserving collective memory and strengthening the process of democratization and human rights realization.

The movies to be shown are “Nizar’s Spectrum” directed by Kamal Kamal, “Memory in Detention” of Jilali Ferhati, “Derb Moulay Cherif” of Hassan Benjelloun and “Jawhara, Prison Girl” of Saad Chraibi.

In rescreening these films, which all focus on the most critical and troublesome period in the history of Morocco, the National Human Rights Council aims to honor their directors who have contributed, through these films, to the process that Morocco has launched in the last decade to provide open and pluralistic readings of its history.

REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF MARRAKECH CONVENES ITS FOURTH ORDINARY SESSION

The Regional Human Rights Commission of Marrakech convenes its fourth ordinary session on February 23, 2013, at its main office in Marrakech.

This session is held pursuant to articles 40 and 43 of the Royal Decree establishing the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) and its rules of procedure (in particular articles 21 and 22). Items on the agenda include discussing the Commission’s first annual report, reviewing the work of thematic committees, examining the action programs proposed by the Commission members for the implementation of the Citizenship Platform for the Promotion of Human Rights Culture at the provincial level, and setting the action plan for the coming three months.

For the record, the Regional Human Rights Commission of Marrakech was set up on January 10, 2012. In accordance with Article 28 of the Royal Decree establishing the National Human Rights Council, it is entrusted with tracking and monitoring the situation of human rights at the regional level and receiving complaints about alleged human rights violations. It is also responsible for implementing the Council’s programs and projects relating to the promotion of human rights, in collaboration with all stakeholders in the region.

The territorial jurisdiction of the Commission, chaired by Mr. Mustapha Laârissa, includes the governorate of Marrakech and the provinces of Al Haouz, Chichaoua, Kalaa des Sraghna, Essaouira, Rhamna, Safi and El Youssoufia

REGIONAL COMMISSION OF AL HOCEIMA-NADOR HOLDS SEMINAR ON REGIONALIZATION CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

The Regional Human Rights Commission of Al Hoceima-Nador organizes a seminar on “Regionalization in Morocco: Challenges and Opportunities”. The seminar will be held on February 23, 2013, in AL Hoceima.

The seminar will bring together researchers, teachers and other stakeholders. It will be held in implementation of the Commission’s annual plan of action targeting thoughts and dialogue on human rights and democracy. It will discuss the development of the issue since 1971, when it was officially introduced, till the publication of the report of the Regionalization Advisory Commission in 2011.

The first session will tackle the following: “Cultural bases of the advanced regionalization in Morocco”, "Regionalization in Morocco: Analysis and Expectations” and “Regionalization in Morocco between Democratic Foundations and Security Concerns”. The second will discuss “Regionalization and Democratic Development Issues”, “Report of the Regionalization Advisory Commission: Challenges and Procedures” and 3Cultural Development and Regionalization in The Rif”.

The Opening session will be chaired by Ms Souad Al Idrissi, Chairperson of the Regional Human Rights Commission of Al Hoceima-Nador. The Wali of the Regional of Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate.

CNDH PARTICIPATES IN 22ND SESSION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL IN GENEVA

The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) takes part in the 22nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, which opens in Geneva on February 25 and will run until March 22, 2013.

The CNDH will participate in the interactive debate with Mr. Juan Mendez, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. It will give an oral statement on the report of Mr. Mendez who paid a visit to Morocco upon the invitation of the Moroccan government from 15 to 22 of September, 2012.

The CNDH will give three other oral statements. The first during the annual discussion on human rights and persons with disability, which focuses this year on the work and employment of persons with disabilities, the second during the annual full-day meeting on the rights of the child, organized this year under the heading “The right of the child to the highest attainable standard of health”, and the third during the session devoted to the report of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances on the follow-up to its country mission to Morocco from June 22 to 25, 2009, released on February 9, 2010.

In addition to the oral statements, the Council has contributed to the drafting of an oral intervention on strengthening the work of the UN treaty bodies, which will be delivered on behalf of the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, which was chaired by the Council for two terms (2003 and 2004).

The CNDH delegation is composed of Mr. Ahmed Berkia and Mss. Jamila Sayouri, Houria Es-Slami and Zineb El Adaoui, Council members, in addition to two staff members.