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Tuesday 27 May 2014

The Visit Of UN High Commissioner For Human Rights To Morocco

Vocal synthesis
The Visit Of UN High Commissioner For Human Rights To Morocco

"Morocco Is Undergoing An Important Transition And Setting High Standards Through Its Constitution And Laws" (UN Human Rights Commissioner)

"Morocco is undergoing an important transition and is setting high standards through its constitution and laws", said here on Thursday UN high commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.

Morocco is undergoing an important transition and setting high standards through its constitution and laws (UN Human Rights Commissioner)

"Morocco is undergoing an important transition and is setting high standards through its constitution and laws", which give primacy to international conventions, said here on Thursday UN high commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.

   Stressing that since the last visit to Morocco of a UN High Commissioner for human rights 13 years ago, "Morocco has clearly made great strides toward the better promotion and protection of human rights", the UN official noted that the "equity and reconciliation commission, established in 2004 to investigate past human rights violations, served as a catalyst for many of the wide-ranging human rights reforms."

      Speaking at a press conference, Pillay who visited Morocco this May 26-29 at the invitation of the Moroccan government, also cited the strengthening of a number of key independent national institutions, including the National Council for Human Rights (CNDH), the Ombudsman, the establishment of the inter-ministerial delegation for human rights, which she described as "a welcome development".

    "Several members of the opposition, previously political detainees, are now a part of the government", she went on, before praising the existence of a "vibrant" civil society.

Pillay further remarked that "several other key reforms, including legislation that will enable the enforcement of the rights set out in the constitution, remain pending either in the executive or legislative arenas", stressing that "many of the promising protections under the Constitution have yet to be translated into reality".

   The UN commissioner also welcomed reforms adopted regarding immigrants, stressing that she has praised this royal initiative publicly during her visits to European capitals.

     Pillay hailed Morocco's positive interaction with recommendations of the universal periodical review of human rights of the UN Human Rights Council, stressing that 140 out of the 148 recommendations have been accepted by Morocco which is a "good example" for countries of the region.

   Regarding the right to demonstrate, Pillay remarked that "demonstrations in Morocco take place regularly without incident", adding that she proposed during her talks with Moroccan authorities the holding of training sessions for law-enforcement agents in order to "better promote their awareness of their first responsibility which is to protect citizens".

    On the issue of torture, the UN High Commissioner said that officials acknowledged that torture was not state policy but that +bad habits+ will take time to eradicate".

     "Measures, including the installation of CCTV (closed circuit television) in police stations and training for officers, have been proposed", she went on.

    Stressing the need to "engender the culture of respect for human rights among all institutions of the state", she recommended to spread this culture among "judicial officers, law enforcement and corrections officers and administrative officials at the national, regional and local levels".

   "It was clear that there is the political will at the highest levels to continue efforts to set a firm human rights foundation for Moroccan society", she concluded, noting that HM the King is firmly determined to succeed in the reforms". 

 

MAP 29 May 2014

UN Welcomes 'Considerable Progress' Made ​​By Morocco In Field Of Human Rights

 UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay welcomed on Wednesday the "considerable progress" made ​​by Morocco in the field of human rights.

"Morocco has made ​​considerable progress in terms of human rights," said the UN official in a speech at a meeting held at the headquarters of the National Council for Human Rights (CNDH), with representatives of civil society, trade unionists, parliamentarians, politicians and ambassadors accredited to the Kingdom.

The Kingdom has established a "strong" institutional framework in the field of human rights, including the National Council for Human Rights (CNDH), and has a shown a "good" record of cooperation with international human rights mechanisms, Pillay said, adding that Rabat is also a "traditional partner" of OHCHR and an "major crossroad between West Africa and the Arab world."

"Morocco has come a long way to get rid of the legacy of the past," said the UN official, noting that the Equity and Reconciliation Commission (IER), which seeks to establish the truth about past abuses, was a first of its kind in the region.

She also made a posthumous tribute to the late Driss Benzekri, whose presence "is missed dearly Today."

 

Pillay 's visit to Morocco is the first of its kind of the highest UN representative in charge of human rights since taking office as High Commissioner in September 2008.

MAP 28 May 2014

Ramid Meets In Rabat With UN High Commissioner For Human Rights

 Justice minister Mustapha Ramid met, on Tuesday in Rabat, with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on human rights situation in Morocco.

During this meeting, Pillay lauded the reforms carried out by Morocco since the adoption of the 2011 constitution, deeming that the latter is very advanced mainly through the adoption of the principle of the supremacy of international conventions over national laws and the reinforcement of the special status of human rights and public liberties, said a statement by the justice ministry.

 Pillay also hailed the humane aspect of the Moroccan policy towards illegal immigrants on the national territory and the latest decisions by the Kingdom in this area, underlining that she presented Morocco as a model to follow in the treatment of African immigrants during her visits in several European countries.

 

 Ramid said that Morocco undertook several structural reforms, including the adoption of 2011 constitution, considered as one of the modern constitutions upholding rights and liberties and ensuring the independence of the judiciary.

MAP 27 May 2014

UN High Commissioner For Human Rights Applauds HM The King's Initiatives To Uphold Human Rights

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, applauded on Tuesday initiatives taken by HM King Mohammed VI to uphold human rights.

HM the King "has taken several initiatives, such as the establishment of the inter-ministerial delegation for human rights, which is in charge of supervising all governmental departments and implementing the Royal vision of human rights protection ", Pillay told the press after being received by the Sovereign at the Royal Palace in Casablanca.

HM the King has assured that he remains committed to human rights protection and defense nationwide, she went on, stressing she was "honored" to be received by the Sovereign.

Meeting with HM the King, she added, is of "prime importance, given that this is the first visit ever paid by the UN High Commissioner for human rights" for the last ten years.

"My trip to Morocco was preceded by a tour in the Sahara of a technical team from the High Commission", she pointed out, explaining that this was meant to have a clear idea on the situation.

"I am happy to note that all facilities were extended (during the visit) and that I was able to meet everybody, including the non-governmental organizations", she said, before hailing the introduction of education to human rights and democracy in school syllabi as a "good will" gesture that motivated her visit to Morocco. 

 

MAP  28 May 2014

Ramid Meets In Rabat With UN High Commissioner For Human Rights

 Justice minister Mustapha Ramid met, on Tuesday in Rabat, with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on human rights situation in Morocco.

During this meeting, Pillay lauded the reforms carried out by Morocco since the adoption of the 2011 constitution, deeming that the latter is very advanced mainly through the adoption of the principle of the supremacy of international conventions over national laws and the reinforcement of the special status of human rights and public liberties, said a statement by the justice ministry.

 Pillay also hailed the humane aspect of the Moroccan policy towards illegal immigrants on the national territory and the latest decisions by the Kingdom in this area, underlining that she presented Morocco as a model to follow in the treatment of African immigrants during her visits in several European countries.

 

 Ramid said that Morocco undertook several structural reforms, including the adoption of 2011 constitution, considered as one of the modern constitutions upholding rights and liberties and ensuring the independence of the judiciary.

MAP 27 May 2014

Royal Policy In Africa Shows That Morocco Is Deeply-Rooted In The Continent, FM

The policy adopted by HM King Mohammed VI towards African countries shows that Morocco is deeply-rooted in the continent, said Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar on Tuesday in Rabat.

Royal policy in Africa shows that Morocco is deeply-rooted in the continent, FM

Speaking at the opening of the Africa Day in Morocco, celebrated this year under the theme "Africans here, there and everywhere", the minister said that HM the King is constantly recalling, during his multiple trips in Africa which boasts huge assets, that African countries should rely on their own potential to move ahead.

 The royal approach in Africa drives its strength from the integrated human development, the spiritual aspect and stability, in addition to prospects for setting up new bodies tasked with reinforcing south-south cooperation, said the minister, calling on political, economic and social elites to support mutations under way in the continent.

 For her part, resident representative of the AfDB in Morocco Yacine Diama Fal said that Africa is currently undergoing an exceptional economic development which should last. The best way to ensure the continuation of this economic growth is the continent's integration through cooperation between all countries, notably via value chains.

 For secretary general of the Diplomatic Foundation Jean Christophe Bertrand, the meeting enabled to inform African ambassadors and foreign diplomatic missions about the Moroccan action in Africa mainly in the sectors of foreign trade, health and education.

 

 This event is organized by the Diplomatic Foundation, with the support of African ambassadors and in partnership with the foreign affairs ministry.

MAp 27 May 2014

Morocco's Foreign Minister Meets UN High Commissioner For Human Rights

Morocco's minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Salaheddine Mezouar, held a meeting this Tuesday with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, currently on a four day official visit to Morocco at the invitation of the Moroccan government.

Morocco's foreign minister meets UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

The invitation extended to the UN official comes to confirm the continuous and close partnership uniting Morocco and the UN human rights mechanisms. It is part of Morocco's irreversible choice, spurred by HM King Mohammed VI, to consolidate, protect and promote  human rights and defend basic freedoms.

This is Pillay's first official visit to Morocco since she took office in 2008.

During her stay in Morocco, the UN high commissioner will meet the head of government, the minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, the minister of justice and freedoms and the inter-ministerial delegate for human rights, the source adds.

On her schedule are also work sessions with the speakers of the two parliament's chambers, he president of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), the chairman of the economic, social and environment council and representatives of the Moroccan civil society.

Talks will cover the whole set of cooperation aspects between Morocco and the UN body as well as means to reinforce partnership.

MAP 27 May 2014