Bouayach: Global transformations put international human rights law to the test

The President of Morocco’s National Human Rights Council (CNDH), Amina Bouayach, warned Tuesday in Geneva that the profound transformations reshaping the world are putting to the test the very foundations of international human rights law.

“The world is undergoing a period of profound transformation,” she said, noting that the principles of international human rights law are being tested as never before amid a volatile global landscape marked by multiplying crises and increasingly complex challenges to the protection of fundamental rights, Bouayach stated at the opening of the first General Assembly she is chairing as head of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI).

She also stressed that the multilateral system built around the United Nations, particularly the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the broader body of international law, now faces direct pressures that threaten values shaped over decades of international cooperation.

Bouayach pointed to rising geopolitical polarization as a key factor weakening multilateralism, alongside shrinking civic space, growing threats to institutional independence, and increasing barriers to accessing UN mechanisms.

She also highlighted the spread of crises across multiple regions, including Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and the Americas, and warned of serious human rights violations occurring in a context marked by the erosion of international protection frameworks and the sidelining of core principles of international law.

Despite these challenges, Bouayach underscored that national human rights institutions (NHRIs) remain fully engaged, including in conflict and crisis settings, by documenting violations and advocating for the protection of rights.

In this regard, she said the Geneva meeting reflects a renewed collective commitment to advancing and safeguarding human rights worldwide—an effort that is all the more critical in times of global instability.

She further noted that ensuring the Alliance’s financial sustainability remains a major challenge, particularly as the role of NHRIs continues to expand, their mandates diversify, and their activities intensify at national, regional, and international levels.

Bouayach called for sustained collective efforts to enable these institutions to fully carry out their essential mission of protecting rights and freedoms across the globe.

Participants, for their part, welcomed Morocco’s financial contributions—alongside those of other international partners—saying they demonstrate a clear commitment to multilateralism and to strengthening the capacity of national institutions.

Co-organized with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and running through April 1, the GANHRI annual meeting brings together more than 250 representatives of NHRIs, UN agencies, governments, and civil society organizations.

The program includes a Bureau meeting that took place on Monday, the General Assembly, regional network meetings, as well as a series of side events and knowledge-sharing sessions, notably on the rights of people on the move, including migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, and stateless individuals.

The meeting will culminate on Wednesday with the annual conference under the theme: “The Role of NHRIs in Promoting and Protecting Human Rights in the Digital Space.” Discussions will focus in particular on the impact of digitalization on the enjoyment of fundamental rights, addressing issues such as surveillance, automated decision-making, artificial intelligence, and restrictions on freedom of expression and access to online information.

The annual gathering is expected to conclude with the adoption of a final declaration outlining priority actions for NHRIs in addressing challenges related to digitalization and emerging technologies, with a view to strengthening coordination at the national, regional, and international levels.