Inauguration of Marrakech RHRC’s new headquarters
The Regional Human Rights Commission of Marrakech organizes an opening ceremony for its new headquarters on 8 November 2012.The Regional Human Rights Commission of Marrakech organizes an opening ceremony for its new headquarters on 8 November 2012.
The new office will provide the Commission with an appropriate space to communicate with citizens, engage with stakeholders and properly discharge its missions: protection of human rights, promotion of human rights and contribution to the promotion of the human rights culture in the region.
Prompted by the desire to involve the different human rights, political and civil society stakeholders, Marrakech RHRC will organize a consultation on the thematic report on the situation of prisons in Morocco, recently published by the National Human Rights Council (CNDH). This meeting will be chaired by CNDH president Mr. Driss El Yazami. Several members of the Council will take part in this gathering, which will start right after the inauguration ceremony, at the Commission’s new office.
The new headquarters includes a conference room and a library that will be accessible for students and researchers. The library will receive donations from King Abdul Aziz Al Saoud Foundation for Islamic Studies and Human Sciences and the Royal Institute of the Amazigh Culture. Human rights related books, publications, studies and references will be available in this bibliotheca, which will encourage scientific research in this field.
So far, the Commission of Marrakech has received dozens of complaints relating to allegations of human rights violations in the region. It has identified several projects to promote the culture of human rights and enrich dialogue and debate in this field.
The Commission was established on 10 January 2012. It is one of the National Human Rights Council’s 13 regional human rights commissions, which were created in accordance with the Council’s founding law, in line with its new mandate, and in conformity with the provisions of the Moroccan new constitution and the advanced regionalization project. These regional mechanisms implement national programs and projects related to the protection and promotion of human rights at the regional level, in cooperation with local and regional stakeholders.
CNDH & UN WOMEN LAUNCH TRAINING PROGRAM ON GENDER EQUALITY AND FIGHT AGAINST DISCRIMINATION FOR REGIONAL COMMISSIONS
In partnership with UN Women, the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) will organize five training sessions on gender equality and fight against discrimination for its regional commissions, from 15 October to 16 December 2012.In partnership with UN Women, the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) will organize five training sessions on gender equality and fight against discrimination for its regional commissions, from 15 October to 16 December 2012.
The objective of this program, which will be divided into five training sessions, is to strengthen knowledge of the members of its regional commissions in international instruments relating to gender equality and the fight against discrimination and the human rights approaches relating to gender and gender-based strategic planning.
CNDH’s regional commissions are created under the Council’s founding law. There are thirteen commissions (Dakhla-Aousserd Casablanca-Settat, Tantan-Guelmim, Marrakech, Tangier, Fez-Meknes, Rabat-Kenitra, Al Hoceima-Nador, Beni Mellal-Khouribga, Errachidia-Ouarzazate, Agadir, Oujda-Figuig, Laayoune-Smara).
They are mandated to monitor the situation of human rights and receive and examine complaints related to human rights violations at the regional level. They also help implement the National Human Rights Council’s projects and programs.
RHRC OF FEZ-MEKNES HOLDS ITS THIRD PLENARY SESSION
The Regional Human Rights Commission of Fez-Meknes holds its third plenary session on October 16, 2012, in Meknes, at 10:00 a.m. It will be chaired by the chairperson of Commission, Mr. Abdelmahid Mekni.The Regional Human Rights Commission of Fez-Meknes holds its third plenary session on October 16, 2012, in Meknes, at 10:00 a.m. It will be chaired by the chairperson of Commission, Mr. Abdelmahid Mekni.
The report of the activities of the commission, the report of the visits of the commission to child protection centers, CNDH’s preliminary report on mental health and human rights and its follow-up mechanisms at the regional level, the plans of action of the Commission’s permanent working groups (October-December 2012) will be discussed during this session, held under article 22 of the National Human Rights Council’s by laws.
The Regional Human Rights Commission of Fez-Meknes was appointed on December 28, 2011. It covers the provinces of Fez, Meknes, Boulmane, El Hajeb, Ifrane, Moulay Yacoub, Sefrou, Taounat and Taza.
It is mandated to monitor the situation of human rights and receive and examine complaints related to human rights violations at the region. It also helps implement the National Human Rights Council’s projects and programs.
REGIONAL MEETING: STRATEGY FOR PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS CLUBS AT HIGH SCHOOLS IN ORIENTAL REGION
The Regional Human Rights Commission of Oujda-Feguig and the Regional Academy of Education and Training (oriental region) organize, on October 8, 2012 at Regional Center of Continuing Training in Oujda, a meeting to discuss a strategy to promote human rights clubs at high schools in the region.The Regional Human Rights Commission of Oujda-Feguig and the Regional Academy of Education and Training (oriental region) organize, on October 8, 2012 at Regional Center of Continuing Training in Oujda, a meeting to discuss a strategy to promote human rights clubs at high schools in the region.
The objective is to contribute to promoting the culture of human rights at the region, through the promotion of the role of human rights clubs.
Three workshops are scheduled for this meeting: strategy and organization, contents and programs and the experience of human rights clubs: achievements & challenges.
A cooperation agreement will be signed by the Regional Human Rights Commission of Oujda - Figuig and the Regional Academy of Education and Training.
RIGHT TO TRUTH, REPARATION AND INSTITUTIONAL REFORM: WHAT PROGRESS AND WHAT PROSPECTS FOR TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE? - INTERNATIONAL MEETING
The National Human Rights Council (CNDH), in partnership with Driss Benzekri Foundation for Human Rights and Democracy and the CDG Foundation, organizes an international meeting on “Right to truth, reparation and institutional reform: What progress and what prospects for transitional justice?” on January 14 – 15, 2013 at the headquarters of the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Rabat.Seven years after publishing the final report of the Equity and Reconciliation Commission (IER), this meeting seeks to review the progress made in implementing the IER recommendations, followed up by the Advisory Council on Human Rights and then, as from March 2011, the National Human Rights Council.
After the end of the IER mandate, other transitional justice experiences have been implemented, like in Brazil and Togo. In this regard, this event will be an opportunity to take stock of the progress achieved worldwide in transitional justice and identify lessons learned and best practices.
At a time when several countries in the Arab region are going through similar experiences, the meeting will enable participants to examine the prospects for this new phase in transitional justice at the international level. This event will bring together politicians, civil society activists and experts from Morocco and other 18 countries (United States, France, Switzerland, Argentina, Peru, South Africa, Senegal, Mali, Togo, Ghana, Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, Algeria, Libya, Jordan, Palestine and Lebanon).
It will see the participation of a host of international personalities, particularly Ms. Tawakkul Karman, Yemeni Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Mr. Mohammed Ahmed al-Mikhlafi, Yemeni Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Pablo de Greiff, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non- recurrence, Mr. Michel Tubiana, president of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network Rights, Mr. Sidiki Kaba, honorary president of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), and Mr. Mokhtar Trifi, honorary president of the Tunisian League for the Defense of Human Rights.
Participants also include representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (Geneva), the International Center for Transitional Justice (New York), the United Nations Development Programme, the UN Women, and the European Union in addition to many nongovernmental organizations.
The two-day meeting will discuss several transitional justice-related topics, including the mandate of truth commissions (creation, temporal and specific jurisdiction, powers, types of violations processed, core activities, etc.), implementation strategies for truth and justice (judicial and extrajudicial procedures, working techniques for hearings, testimonies and archives consultation, role of victims and NGOs and their relations with truth commissions, etc.). The participants will also examine the issue of individual and community reparation policies, and the outcome of recommendations (types of recommendations, monitoring mechanisms, effectiveness of implementation, etc.). Crosscutting debates will focus on the issue of reconciliation (especially the role of hearings), gender dimension, and the degree of integration and interaction at the national, regional and international levels.
Batnae municipium in Anthemusia
Mensarum enim voragines et varias voluptatum inlecebras, ne longius progrediar, praetermitto illuc transiturus quod quidam per ampla spatia urbis subversasque silices sine periculi metu properantes equos velut publicos signatis quod dicitur calceis agitant, familiarium agmina tamquam praedatorios globos post terga trahentes ne Sannione quidem, ut ait comicus, domi relicto. quos imitatae matronae complures opertis capitibus et basternis per latera civitatis cuncta discurrunt.
Mensarum enim voragines et varias voluptatum inlecebras, ne longius progrediar, praetermitto illuc transiturus quod quidam per ampla spatia urbis subversasque silices sine periculi metu properantes equos velut publicos signatis quod dicitur calceis agitant, familiarium agmina tamquam praedatorios globos post terga trahentes ne Sannione quidem, ut ait comicus, domi relicto. quos imitatae matronae complures opertis capitibus et basternis per latera civitatis cuncta discurrunt.
NATIONAL SEMINAR ON CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC PLURALISM AND MEANS TO IMPLEMENT NEW CONSTITUTION
The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) holds a national seminar on cultural and linguistic pluralism in the city of Arfoud, on 12 and 13 of January 2013, under the heading “Cultural and linguistic pluralism; What means to implement the Provisions of the Constitution”.This seminar is organized by CNDH in contribution to implementing the provisions of the constitution, mainly article 5 on cultural and linguistic diversity. It aims at broadening debate on how to implement the provisions that have made the Amazigh language an official language in Morocco. The participants will exchange on how this language will be used in the spaces and areas mention in this article.
The participants will also exchange on yet-to be drafted and approved organic law which will establish the National Council for Moroccan Culture and Languages. The will discuss this Council’s mandate, structure, function, management, etc.
The seminar will discuss the linguistic policy and the educational system in Morocco. It will highlight current constraints related to the quality of education, Constitution and how to deal with the relevant provisions, how to manage cultural diversity as a source to enrich the national culture, the Sahraoui-Hassani culture, which is an separable component of the Moroccan identity and culture, under the constitution, as an example.
The seminar will bring together national and international academicians, members of CNDH and its regional commissions and civil society stakeholders.
CNDH REVEALS FATE OF DISAPPEARED LARBI BEN MOHAMED AND BUILDS A GRAVE
On Friday, January 4, 2012, the soul of the late Larbi Ben Mohamed finally rested in peace in a known grave yard in Tinghir.A victim of the enforced disappearances, after the painful events of March 1973 in Tinghir, the late Larbi Ben Mohamed is was buried in an unknown grave, which has been revealed just recently.
A delegation chaired by CNDH Secretary General and the Chairperson of the Regional Human Rights Commission of Errachidia-Ouarzazate attended the religious rituals and the burial along the victim’s relatives and family. The President of the Truth and Reconciliation Forum, civil society activists, Tinghir Governor and local authorities attended the ceremony.
The fate of the late was revealed thanks to efforts made by CNDH and civil society activists in Tinghir. These efforts have been made in follow-up of the implementation of the Equity and Reconciliation Commission’s recommendations, related to investigations to elucidate the fate of a few suspended cases. The case of Larbi Ben Mohamed was one of these cases. May he rest in peace.
Human Rights and Postage Stamps, East of Morocco
The traveling exhibition on “Human Rights and Postage Stamps”, organized by Poste du Maroc in cooperation with the Advisory Council on Human Rights (CCDH), the United Nations Information Office and Amnesty International (Morocco Section) on the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, will arrive in Oujda, east of Morocco, on February 7, 2009.
The exhibition, which was already held in Rabat and Tangier, will make it possible to exhibit a set of postage stamps on human rights in Morocco.
On this occasion, Poste du Maroc will release a special postage stamp at this exhibition, which will be held on February 7, 2009, at 17.00 at the Galeries des arts, located at Mhaj Prince Héritier Moulay Hassan, Oujda.
Preserving the Memory: Case of Tazmamart
In cooperation with the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), the Advisory Council on Human Rights (CCDH) and the Association of Victims of Tazmamart Prison (AVIBAT) organize on December 22, 2008, in Rabat, a workshop on “Preserving Positive Memory: Case of Tazmamart”.
The workshop will be a major step to exchange views between various international, national and local stakeholders involved in preserving the memory linked to political violence, with the aim to enrich the first proposals on the Tazmamart site.
The meeting will see the participation of human rights associations, the Errachidia Local Coordination Body of Community Reparation, as well as partners of the CCDH in this program, namely the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Culture, the Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture (IRCAM), the CDG, a financial group, the Ministry of Housing, in addition to several experts: historians, artists, filmmakers, architects etc ....
The opening of the workshop is scheduled at 9:00 am at Hotel Tulip Farah in Rabat, and will be attended by Mr. Ahmed Herzenni, CCDH President, Mr. Ahmed Merzouki, AVIBAT President, and Mr Habib Nessar, ICTJ representative.