Marrakech-Safi Region: Communication Meeting on the Manual for Managing Hunger Strikes in Prisons

The Regional Human Rights Commission in the Marrakech-Safi Region (CRDH) will organize a meeting on the Practical Guide on Managing Hunger Strike in Prison, on Thursday 4 May 2023, at 9 am at the CRDH headquarters in Marrakech, Morocco.

This meeting is organized within the framework of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) and its CRDHs’ missions related to protecting and promoting prisoners’ rights.

Representatives of all sectors working on following up on cases of hunger strikes will participate in this meeting.

It aims to define the working areas of these sectors and their coordination mechanisms to improve the management of these cases.

This guide was developed by a Commission composed of the Ministry of Health, National Human Rights Council (CNDH), Presidency of the Public Prosecution, and General Delegation for Prisons Administration and Reintegration, in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross. This Commission also consulted various civil society actors, experts and attorneys.

The elaboration of this document was based on international guidelines, particularly those contained in the Declaration of Malta on Hunger Strikers, and founded on the principle of respecting detainees’ rights and preserving their dignity and their physical integrity.

This document is a practical tool and an essential reference for comprehensive and integrated hunger strike management. It focuses on administrative procedures and medical care that must be provided to prisoners on hunger strikes in full respect of the relevant legal requirements.

Contact: +212524420587

Draa-Tafilalet Region: Symposium on the effectiveness of linguistic and cultural rights

The Regional Human Rights Commission in the Draa-Tafilalet Region (CRDH) will organize a symposium on the effectiveness of linguistic and cultural rights, on Saturday 29 April 2023, at 9:30 am  Errachidia, Morocco.

This event is organized as part of the implementation of the CRDH action program 2023, given that linguistic and cultural pluralism is one of the significant building blocks for democracy and the promotion of human rights.

This symposium aims to thoroughly debate and dialogue on the concept of linguistic and cultural rights, strategies for their promotion and protection mechanisms.
It also intends to address the extent of the official implementation of the Amazigh language in the Draa-Tafilalet Region.

Professors, students, human rights activists, media professionals and civil society will participate in this symposium.

They will address several points, including the balanced presence of Amazigh culture in the Draa-Tafilalet region, the reality of the Amazigh language in the education system in this region, The reality of the Amazigh language in the training system in the regional centers of education and training, and the reality of the implementation of the Amazigh language from the point of view of civil society.

Contact: +212535791182

Drâa-Tafilalet Region: Training session for reporters and journalists on ethics and fake news

The Regional Human Rights Commission in the Drâa-Tafilalet Region (CRDH) will organize a training session on ethics and fake news for reporters and journalists, on Friday 28 April 2023, at 9:30 am in Errachidia, Morocco.

This training session is organized as part of the implementation of the CRDH action program 2023, considering that the CRDH believes in the role of the media in promoting and strengthening human rights culture regionally.

This event aims to launch a discussion among professionals in the region on several significant human rights issues, particularly with regard to the editorial language, media reports contents and the adoption of a participatory approach. It also seeks to strengthen the capacities of media representatives in the field of human rights and media.

Around 30 participants will address human rights issues and focus on: Journalism Ethics (Theory and Reality) and Fake News and its threats to Building Democracy and Freedom of Expression.

The program of this event will be concluded with several practical exercises.

Contact: +212535791182

CNDH organizes the fourth regional consultation with children in the Marrakech-Safi Region

Within the framework of the regional consultations with children, launched by Ms. Amina Bouayach, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), from Guelmim, Morocco, on Friday 3 February 2023, under the slogan "I decide my fate", the Regional Human Rights Commission in the Marrakech-Safi Region (CRDH) will organize the fourth regional consultation, on Friday 28 April 2023, at 9 am, at the High School Hassan II in Marrakech, Morocco.

Around 35 boys and girls between 12 and 17 years, representing every province of the region, will participate in this meeting.

This event aims to collect views and expectations of children on the protection and promotion of their rights.

It will be an opportunity to express the extent of their access to their rights, in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, through three axes: Public policies (health, education, justice, etc.); Protection (services, protection and redress bodies); Access to information and participation.

The consultation also aims to implement and institutionalize the Principle of participation, which is one of the fundamental principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

This event intends to ensure the participation of children of all groups, boys and girls, from rural and urban regions, as well as children with disabilities, children in difficult and vulnerable situations, foreign children, etc.

This event will also be preceded by the organization of an interactive workshop with institutional and civil actors, on Thursday 27 April 2023, at the headquarters of the CNDH Regional Commission in Marrakech, aiming to raise awareness of the importance of the Principle of participation and present the methods that will be adopted at this consultative meeting.

Consultative meetings with children will continue throughout the year in Agadir, Casablanca, Rabat, Errachidia, Beni Mellal, Oujda, Laayoune and Dakhla.

Drâa-Tafilalet Region: Communication Meeting for the staff of the Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques

The Regional Human Rights Commission in the Drâa-Tafilalet Region (CRDH) will organize a meeting for the Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques (ISPITS) staff, on Wednesday 19 April 2023, at 1 pm at the institute's headquarters in Errachidia, Morocco.

This meeting will be organized within the framework of the implementation of the CRDH action program 2023. It is part of CRDH’s mission related to the promotion of human rights culture and the implementation of its partnership agreement with the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection.

More than 80 participants from ISPITS will take part in this event.

This meeting aims to consolidate the culture of education on citizenship and human rights in the health sector. It also intends to integrate the human rights approach into the health system through the ISPITSs within the framework of Morocco’s international and national commitments.

CRDH President, Regional Director of the Ministry of Health and ISPITS Director will launch the opening session of this meeting.

This event will be an occasion to introduce the roles and mandate of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), its national mechanisms and its CRDHs, as well as the human rights international system.

At this meeting, the executive summary of the CNDH report on violence against women and girls will be presented.

Contact: +212535791182

Draa-Tafilalet Region: Meetings with the staff of the Regional Center for Education and Training Professions

The Regional Human Rights Commission in the Draa-Tafilalet Region (CRDH) will organize a series of meetings with the staff of the Regional Center for Education and Training Professions in the region, at 1:30 pm, on Wednesday 12 April 2023, at the Regional Center in Errachidia, Morocco.

These meetings are organized within the framework of the implementation of the CRDH action program 2023 and the partnership agreement signed between the two institutions.

They aim to consolidate citizenship and human rights culture within the educational institutions and integrate the human rights approach into the educational system as part of Morocco’s international and national commitments.

600 staff at the Regional Center for Education and Training Professions in the Draa-Tafilalet region will participate in these meetings.

The program of these meetings will include presentations and workshops on the international human rights system; the roles and mandates of the CNDH, national mechanisms, and its CRDHs; the executive summary of the CNDH report on violence against women and girls; and the handbook on education on citizenship and human rights.

Contact: +212535791182

Interactive meeting: Sexual violence towards children

The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) will organize an interactive meeting on sexual violence against children on Tuesday 11 April 2023, at 10:30 am, at the CNDH headquarters in Rabat, Morocco.

This meeting aims to address and deepen the discussion on the sexual violence against children phenomenon. It also intends to develop practical proposals to enhance the compatibility of the national protection system with the international normative framework and relevant protection mechanisms.

Participants will study this issue and focus on several points: Representation of sexual violence against children in Moroccan society, the Psychological impact of sexual violence on children, Legal protection and judicial action, Civil society and the protection of children from sexual violence, and the role of the child within the national protective system.

Ms. Amina Bouayach will chair this meeting.
Researchers, academics and civil society representatives will participate in this event.

Interactive meeting: Sexual violence towards children

The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) will organize an interactive meeting on sexual violence against children on Tuesday 11 April 2023, at 10:30 am, at the CNDH headquarters in Rabat, Morocco.

This meeting aims to address and deepen the discussion on the sexual violence against children phenomenon. It also intends to develop practical proposals to enhance the compatibility of the national protection system with the international normative framework and relevant protection mechanisms.

Participants will study this issue and focus on several points: Moroccan society's representation of sexual violence against children, the Psychological impact of sexual violence on children, Legal protection and judicial action, Civil society and the protection of children from sexual violence, and the role of the child within the national protective system.

Ms. Amina Bouayach will chair this meeting.
Researchers, academics and civil society representatives will participate in this event.

CNDH re-accredited with “A” status as a National Institution complying with the Paris Principles

The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) was reaccredited with “A” status as an independent national institution in full compliance with the Paris Principles.

In its session held from 20 to 24 March 2023, the Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) reviewed the CNDH, with a delegation led by Ms. Amina Boiahach. At this meeting, the focus was put on several issues including:

-CNDH legal framework and its implementation;

-Actions by the CNDH and its  national mechanisms ;

-CNDH initiatives related to the protection and promotion of human rights as well as the  prevention of violations;

-CNDH administrative organization and its interactions with the international human rights system.

The SCA is one of the main bodies of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI). It decided upon applications submiitted by National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI) for accreditation and re-accreditation across the world, by examining the extent to which these institutions comply with the Paris Principles.

The SCA noted the conformity of the CNDH law with the Paris Principles, by virtue of which the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture (NPM), the National Child Redress Mechanism, and the National Mechanism for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities were established.

The Paris Principles include a set of guiding principles related to the legal status of NHRIs, their independence, mandate for protecting and promoting human rights, diversity in their composition, and adequate human and financial resources necessary to conduct their missions. They were approved by a resolution adopted in 1993 by the United Nations General Assembly.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights serves as Secretarial of the Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA).

The CNDH welcomes the SCA positive assessent of the independence of its interventions and its effectiveness in fulfiling its mandate related to the prevention of violations, the protection of victims and the promotion of human rights.

CNDH memorandum on the Right to Water- Approaches to Confronting Water Stress in Morocco

The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) will present a memorandum entitled: The Right to Water- Approaches to Confronting Water Stress in Morocco on 7 February 2023, at 9:30 am, at the CNDH headquarters in Rabat, Morocco.

This memorandum was developed in line with the requirements of the CNDH Law No. 76-15 and pursuant to its strategic directions (2022-2024) based on the effectiveness of human rights.

This memorandum was approved at the CNDH Ninth General Assembly in October 2022. It was developed based on the human rights approach in assessing public policies. Through this memorandum, the CNDH seeks to contribute to the national public debate on the challenges of water stress and ways to confront them. The CNDH follows with great concern the problem of the steady decline of the national water reserve and the threats it poses to social stability and its repercussions on human rights.

Ms. Amina Bouayach, CNDH Chairperson, indicated that the effectiveness of the right to water and sanitation for the current and future generations depends on changing measures to stop water stress, rationalize the exploitation of this natural resource and guarantee everyone's right to sufficient and safe water.

The CNDH presents this memorandum to the relevant institutions, stakeholders interested in water security and national public opinion.

This memorandum focuses on the principles established by the United Nations in the field of protecting the right to water and the legislative framework regulating the management of water resources and the public policies adopted by the State.

It also presents recommendations and proposals aiming at confronting water stress, promoting the right to water, ensuring the improvement of its management, and preserving the right of future generations.