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Friday 22 March 2019

Moroccan Authorities Deeply Regret Unilateral Approach by Special Rapporteur on Independence of Judges and Lawyers

Vocal synthesis
Moroccan Authorities Deeply Regret Unilateral Approach by Special Rapporteur on Independence of Judges and Lawyers

The Moroccan authorities deeply regret the unilateral approach by the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers who cancelled his visit to Morocco due to lack of guarantees, thus ending a process of formal and informal exchanges undertaken since June 16, 2017 to prepare for his visit at the invitation of the Kingdom of Morocco.

The Moroccan authorities were informed about the press release by the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyer, posted on the website of the high commissioner for human rights on March 19, 2019, in which he announced that he has cancelled his visit to Morocco, scheduled on March 20-27, 2019, due to lack of guarantees.

The Moroccan authorities gave all necessary guarantees to ensure the success of this visit, notably the inclusion of all cities proposed by the Special Rapporteur in the visit program, in addition to proposing other cities and interlocutors to help him have an overall vision on the different themes covered by his mandate nationwide, a fact that the Special Rapporteur refused to include in his visit program.

The Moroccan authorities repeatedly expressed their readiness to make the readjustments required by the Special Rapporteur to enable him bring his mission to a successful conclusion.

Instead of considering that the Moroccan authorities' proposals are meant to reinforce the guarantees allowing the success of this visit, the Special Rapporteur, unfortunately, deemed that they minimize such guarantees, which the Moroccan authorities flatly deny.

The Moroccan authorities have received so far 12 visits for special procedures in conformity with the applicable modalities and reaffirm their voluntary-based approach of openness, dialogue and cooperation with UN special procedures.

MAP 20 March 2019