Morocco’s U.N. envoy says Sahara is no longer on Human Rights Council agenda

Morocco’s ambassador to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Omar Zniber, said the Sahara issue is no longer included on the agenda of the U.N. Human Rights Council or in reports by the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Speaking to Hespress AR on the sidelines of the opening of the council’s 63rd session, Zniber said the absence of references to the Sahara had become a consistent pattern “session after session and year after year,” despite what he described as attempts by Morocco’s opponents to use the issue against the kingdom.

Zniber, who previously served as president of the Human Rights Council, said Morocco responds to such attempts with what he described as a calm approach, using interventions at the council to present Rabat’s position while highlighting economic and social development and the exercise of rights and freedoms in Morocco’s southern provinces.

His comments came a day after U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk opened the council’s latest session amid a global rise in wars, humanitarian crises and political tensions.

Türk addressed migration and called for greater protection of migrants’ rights but did not refer to Morocco or the recent events in Ceuta in his opening remarks.

Morocco’s role on migration

Zniber said Morocco’s absence from Türk’s remarks reflected the kingdom’s record and policies on migration.

“Morocco is not ready to be a policeman for anyone” on migration, he said, arguing that the kingdom has played an active role in defending migrants’ rights at the Human Rights Council and in other international forums.

He said Morocco was among the first countries to develop a legal framework for migrant integration and has pursued cooperation with African and European countries on migration issues.

“Morocco is one of the most active countries when it comes to migration issues within the Human Rights Council and the protection of migrants’ rights,” Zniber said.

He also pointed to Morocco’s participation in initiatives and resolutions concerning migration at the council, as well as its engagement with the International Organization for Migration and the U.N. General Assembly in New York.

Moroccan Sahara and the Human Rights Council

Asked about the absence of Morocco and the Sahara from the high commissioner’s opening speech, Zniber reiterated that the Moroccan Sahara is not currently an item on the council’s agenda or a subject of the high commissioner’s reports.

“Session after session and year after year, there is no longer any reference to the Sahara issue as a human rights matter,” he said, describing the situation as an established pattern.

Zniber accused Morocco’s opponents of promoting what he called false claims aimed at the kingdom, but said Rabat has chosen to focus on presenting developments in the southern provinces.

“We always present things as they are,” he said, referring to Morocco’s approach at the council, including its emphasis on economic and social development and rights and freedoms in the southern provinces.

He said Morocco’s forthcoming legislative elections would provide another opportunity to demonstrate the country’s approach to political participation and rights.

At the same time, Zniber acknowledged that, as in other countries, Morocco can face questions or shortcomings concerning human rights.

“We are here to respond to them and engage in dialogue about them,” he said.

Defending the Human Rights Council

Zniber acknowledged criticism over what some countries and observers describe as double standards at the Human Rights Council, saying geopolitical considerations can influence positions taken by member states.

However, he rejected the idea that the council had lost its credibility.

“The credibility of the council remains” intact, he said, arguing that the body continues to provide an important forum for dialogue and debate.

He said the council should be protected from political and geopolitical confrontations so it can fulfill its role in preventing conflicts and promoting human rights.

“The council is a tool for preventing conflicts if it works in the way we want it to,” Zniber said.

Rabat retreat on universal review

Zniber also discussed a retreat held in Rabat in June on the Universal Periodic Review, the U.N. mechanism through which the human rights records of all U.N. member states are reviewed.

He said the results of the retreat would be presented Sept. 24 during a special session organized by the Moroccan delegation with several partners, including the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights and civil society organizations.

Morocco, he said, has played a leading role in the mechanism since the creation of the Human Rights Council.

The retreat produced concrete recommendations aimed at improving the Universal Periodic Review process, he said.

Morocco’s role in the U.N. rights system

Zniber described Morocco’s position within the U.N. human rights system as “very distinguished,” citing its involvement in several international initiatives.

He highlighted Morocco’s leadership of a network of national human rights mechanisms, which he said was launched by Morocco, Portugal and Paraguay and has since developed into an important avenue for cooperation between countries.

He also pointed to Morocco’s role in the Universal Periodic Review and its contribution to discussions on women’s rights, gender equality, cultural and civilizational dialogue and the role of religious leaders in promoting human rights.

Morocco also regularly organizes side events at the Human Rights Council, he said, adding that these initiatives have received support from international partners.

Artificial intelligence and human rights

Zniber said artificial intelligence was another major issue discussed during the council’s opening session.

He said the technology could affect education, economic development, employment and individual rights, while also creating risks surrounding the reliability of news and information.

He called for legal and ethical frameworks governing the use of artificial intelligence to ensure that technological development remains consistent with human rights.

Morocco, he noted, had already raised the issue at the Human Rights Council during its presidency of the body in 2024, when it organized a full-day session in Geneva bringing together academics, experts and practitioners from around the world.

Zniber said Morocco had sought to encourage the council to address artificial intelligence across its various dimensions and ensure that the development of emerging technologies respects human rights.

What reform does the council need?

Drawing on his experience as president of the Human Rights Council, Zniber said the body’s most urgent need was greater protection from political and geopolitical confrontations.

The council has a specific mandate to promote universal human rights, including civil and political rights as well as economic, social and cultural rights, he said.

He argued that stronger human rights institutions, legal frameworks and education could help countries prevent conflicts before they escalate.

For Morocco, he said, the council should focus on prevention and the promotion of human rights rather than becoming consumed by ideological or geopolitical disputes.

Morocco’s message at the 63rd session

Zniber said Morocco’s primary message during the current session was to present the kingdom’s recent progress on human rights.

The Moroccan delegation will present the recommendations emerging from the Rabat retreat, discuss the network of national human rights mechanisms and highlight ongoing debates over social rights and Morocco’s new development model.

Morocco will also participate in the drafting and presentation of several resolutions during the session and take part in discussions on migration and other human rights issues.

“Our message to the council is always positive,” Zniber said.

“We try to work on concrete issues and not waste our time on sterile discussions of an ideological nature.”

He added that Morocco would continue working within the African, Arab and Organization of Islamic Cooperation groups and engaging with U.N. human rights institutions in Geneva.