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Media
- Press Release: Morocco Cites ‘Unyielding Commitment’ To Universal Human Rights Protections, Founded Dec 19 2008
CONTACT: Calvin Dark
202-587-0855
For Immediate Release:
Friday, Dec. 19, 2008
Morocco Cites ‘Unyielding Commitment’ to Universal Human Rights Protections, Founded on ‘Sincere Action’ not just a ‘Slogan’
King & Parliament note achievements, call for further advances to promote & protect human rights of all citizens, including refugees forcibly held by Polisario Front in Southern Algeria
Washington, DC (Dec. 19, 2008)—In remarks by both its King and Parliament over the past week, Morocco reaffirmed its commitment to continue its wide-ranging efforts to protect and promote the human rights of all its citizens, as a key pillar of the remarkable social and economic progress the North African nation has made in the last decade, which has been a model for the region.
Honoring the 60th anniversary of the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, His Majesty King Mohammed VI noted in a speech last week the Declaration’s significance for reforms that have beena pillar of progress and governance in his country. He stressed Morocco’s “unyielding commitment to the universal character of human rights” and “the lofty values and principles enshrined in thishistoric document… thanks to which human rights have become a common heritage of mankind that contributes to bringing about a world where brotherhood, peace, justice, dignity and equality prevail.”
“This is not just a slogan,” the King said. “It is in fact one of the fundamental demands of mankind,especially when it comes to people suffering the humiliation brought about by oppression and poverty.” Putting the Declaration’s principles into effect “requires strong commitment, active involvement and sincere action to carry out the reforms and changes needed in a bold, albeit wise, manner.”
Morocco’s commitment to strengthening human rights has been demonstrated by the ground-breaking 2004 reforms to the moudawana, or family code, which enshrine equal rights and gender equality for all Moroccans in line with the principles of Islam and democracy, the 2007 parliamentary vote that continued a history of free and fair elections, the 2004 Truth and Reconciliation commission which was established with broad support from civil society to publicly examine past abuses and compensate thousands of victims, and human rights guaranteed by provisions of the Constitution.
In his address, King Mohammed VI announced further steps by Morocco to protect the rights of women and people with disabilities, including ratification of the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and fully accepting without reservations the United Nations Convention Ending Discrimination Against Women, the first nation in the region to do so.
Earlier this week Morocco’s Parliament echoed the call for continued concrete action, recommendingcreation of a Moroccan High Commissioner of Human Rights. Members of Parliament also stressed the importance of Morocco’s continuing assistance to its African neighbors “to ensure individual and collective rights and to counter the marginalization, poverty and epidemics affecting the continent.”
In addition, both the King and Parliament called attention to the worsening plight of thousands of Sahrawi refugees held against their will in inhumane camps in southern Algeria by Polisario Front rebels. “We cannot but condemn the humiliation and suffering inflicted upon Moroccan citizens detained in the Tindouf camps, in gross violation of basic principles of international humanitarian law,” said the King, reaffirming Morocco’s commitment to “open, constructive dialogue” to achieve a peaceful, lasting resolution to the Western Sahara conflict.
Earlier this year, the U.S. State Department’s annual “Country Reports on Human Rights Practices” noted “Morocco implemented significant measures during the year which resulted in the advancement of human rights… In September an overall civic commitment to developing a culture of human rights was reflected in parliamentary elections which were monitored by domestic and international groups.”
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The Moroccan American Center for Policy (MACP)is a non-profit organization whose principal mission is to inform opinion makers, government officials and an interested public in the United States about political and social developments in Morocco and the role being played by the Kingdom of Morocco in broader strategic developments in North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East.
For more information, please visit www.moroccanamericanpolicy.org
FINAL_MACP_HRPress_Release121908.pdf
- Press Release: King Affirms Morocco’s Progress & Support for Women’s Rights; Fully Accepts U.N. Conv Dec 19 2008
CONTACT: Calvin Dark
202-587-0855
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 19, 2008
King Affirms Morocco’s Progress & Support for Women’s Rights; Fully Accepts U.N. Convention Against Discrimination of Women
Morocco Sets Example as First Nation in the Region to Accept U.N. Convention Without Reservations to End Discrimination Against Women
Washington, DC (Dec. 19, 2008) – Last week, Morocco reiterated its commitment to protect and promote women’s rights against discrimination, as part of the North African nation’s wide-ranging campaign to improve human rights for all its citizens, and advance social and economic progress as a model for the region. In a bold and unprecedented move in the region, His Majesty King Mohammed VI announced Morocco now fully accepts, without reservations, the United Nations Convention Ending Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
In Dec. 10 remarks honoring the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the King stressed “Morocco’s firm commitment to the lofty values and principles enshrined in this historic document… thanks to which human rights have become a common heritage of mankind that contributes to bringing about a world where brother-hood, peace, justice, dignity and equality prevail.” Putting those principles into effect, however, “requires strong commitment, active involvement and sincere action in order to carry out the reforms and changes needed in a bold, albeit wise, manner.”
The cause of Women’s Rights in Morocco, in particular, has benefited from reforms and changes both bold and wise, with significant legislative protections for women enacted since Morocco first signed the CEDAW in 1993. Several Arab and Muslim nations, including Morocco, signed the CEDAW with reservations for those provisions that might conflict with Islamic law.
When King Mohammed VI assumed the throne in 1999, one of his first initiatives was to reform Morocco’s moudawana, or family code, to provide women with equal protections under the law, fair treatment in the workplace and equal access to inheritance, divorce and child custody. As Morocco’s spiritual leader, the King brought together leading Koranic scholars, women’s rights groups and lawmakers to examine proposed reforms to the family code to ensure they were in line with principles of Islam and democracy. In 2004, both houses of Morocco’s Parliament unanimously approved the reforms with wide grassroots support from Moroccan society, including religious conservatives.
“Given the advanced legislation adopted by our country,” the King said, the reservations “are now obsolete. I hereby announce that the Kingdom of Morocco is withdrawing its reservations concerning the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women.”
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The Moroccan American Center for Policy (MACP)is a non-profit organization whose principal mission is to inform opinion makers, government officials and an interested public in the United States about political and social developments in Morocco and the role being played by the Kingdom of Morocco in broader strategic developments in North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. For more information, please visit www.moroccanamericanpolicy.org
FINAL_MACP_CEDAWPress_Release121908.pdf
- Press Release: Morocco Underscores Importance of Protecting the Rights of Peoplewith Disabilities, R Dec 19 2008
CONTACT: Calvin Dark
202-587-0855
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 19, 2008
Morocco Underscores Importance of Protecting the Rights of Peoplewith Disabilities, Ratifies International Convention
King Mohammed VI Highlights Commitment as Part of Morocco’s Ongoing Efforts to Improve Human Rights and Advance Social & Economic Progress in Region
Washington, DC (Dec. 19, 2008) – Last week, the Kingdom of Morocco reiterated its commitment, and ratified the International Convention, to protect and promote the rights of people with disabilities, as part of the North African nation’s wide-ranging action plan to advance human rights for all its citizens and serve as a model for social and economic progress in the region.
“I wish to announce the ratification by the Kingdom of Morocco of the International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities,” said His Majesty King Mohammed VI, “confirming how much we care about this segment of our population.” His remarks were made at a speech in Rabat Dec. 10 to honor the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Earlier this year, King Mohammed VI launched the National Forum for People with Disabilities, a four-day annual seminar that focused on critical issues such as implementing policy for educating children with disabilities in Morocco’s schools, and including health care for people with disabilities in national human development initiatives. The Forum was conducted by the Mohammed VI National Center for People with Disabilities, a national research and training center established in 2006.
“The issue of people with disabilities is a human rights issue,” said Nouzha Skalli, Morocco’s Minister of Social Development, Family and Solidarity, during an international conference on social and professional integration of people with disabilities in Rabat, Morocco earlier this month. “Morocco has devised a national strategy to prevent disability, reduce the disability rate and improve social integration indicators, based on human rights, gender mainstreaming and inclusive development,” said Min. Skalli.
For more information on Morocco’s efforts to protect and promote the rights of people with disabilities, please visit the website of the Ministry of Social Development, Family and Solidarity: http://www.social.gov.ma
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The Moroccan American Center for Policy (MACP)is a non-profit organization whose principal mission is to inform opinion makers, government officials and an interested public in the United States about political and social developments in Morocco and the role being played by the Kingdom of Morocco in broader strategic developments in North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East.
FINAL_MACP_PDPress_Release121908.pdf
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