CCDH and Moroccan Interior Minister to collaborate towards a new human rights culture

10/05/2006

The 25th session of the Consultative Council on Human Rights that was held Saturday in Rabat was marked by the Interior Minister's declaration of support for the national plan to promote human rights in Morocco.

By Hassan Benmehdi from Casablanca -- 10/05/06

[File] Benmoussa

At the 25th session of the Consultative Council on Human Rights (CCDH) meeting, held Saturday (6 May) in Rabat, the CCDH gave a round-up of all activities and actions it has undertaken related to human rights in Morocco. Despite the absence of CCDH President Driss Benzekri, the meeting was still of great interest to several NGOs, Interior Minister Chakib Benmoussa and many human rights workers.

The CCDH also discussed its action plan for this year, and put forward plans relating to its annual report on the human rights situation in 2005. Particular attention was paid to the thematic report on illegal immigration. The agenda for the meeting also included renewal of the CCDH's working groups and international activities.

However, two decisions grabbed the attention of the Moroccan public.

Firstly, people took notice of the CCDH decision to embark on a citizenship charter project. CCDH Secretary-General Al Mahjoub El Hiba said such a project was necessary to be in line with achievements in the human rights field, and to overcome challenges in the area, which continue to present a real obstacle to the development of a human rights culture in Morocco.

The decision, according to El Hiba, reflects the CCDH's will to unite all those working in the field in setting up a real action plan and promoting a human rights culture in Morocco. He said the CCDH can become a meeting point for discussion and concerted effort between NGOs, civil society, political parties, and university and international partners.

He reminded meeting attendees of the recent creation of a monitoring and co-operation mechanism to implement the action plan, noting that the criteria adopted for choosing participating members included constant effort, experience and knowledge of the aspects of the soon-to-be-implemented plan.

The initiative also aims to put in practice the royal concept of authority, King Mohammed VI mentioned in a 12 October 1999 speech, in which he stressed that the assimilation of the principles of human rights is the cornerstone of an orderly state and that society based on respect for human rights in connection with human, social, economic and cultural development will lay the foundations for a modern democratic society.

The second noteworthy decision at the CCDH meeting came from the intervention of Benmoussa, who declared his ministry’s intention and will to work together with the council through the signing of a partnership and co-operation agreement.

Benmoussa pointed out that this initiative will be included in teaching programmes at the Royal Police Institute, the Interior Ministry's professional development school for senior executives,– as well as at the auxiliary forces and civil protection training centres. The signing of the partnership agreement is expected to take place soon.