Moroccan Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Ouahbi is heading the Moroccan delegation of the 49th ordinary session of the Human Rights Council (HRC), which started this Monday in Geneva.
In a speech to the plenary, Ouahbi reiterated Morocco’s position on Russian attacks on Ukraine, saying that “the Kingdom is following with concern the developments in the situation between both countries, and renews its support for the territorial integrity and national unity of all United Nations member states.”
Ouahbi stated that Morocco affirms its “adherence to the principle of avoiding force to settle inter-state disputes,” and that the Kingdom “encourages all initiatives and measures that contribute to promoting the peaceful settlement of differences.”
The official highlighted Morocco’s efforts in tackling major human rights issues, which have been amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ouahbi called for the “intensification of international efforts” to help the countries of the South to face the grave social and economic repercussions of the pandemic.
The Minister asked for “the development of international cooperation and solidarity, especially through the circulation of COVID-19 vaccines and ensuring fair and equitable access to them,” as an inevitable mechanism to enforce human rights.
Ouahbi additionally pointed to the recent Moroccan legislative and communal elections, which he described as “a clear commitment of the Kingdom to the right of political choice and the guarantee of the democratic process.”
Despite the sanitary circumstances, the Kingdom organized parliamentary, regional and communal elections in September 2021, in which the Minister said “Moroccan women had a pivotal role, and constituted a large portion of candidates and elected officials.”
The Minister of Justice additionally highlighted Morocco’s commitment to improving its social state, economic endeavors, civil involvement and political climate, through the new development model.
“The development model is now one of the tributaries of safeguarding freedoms and guaranteeing rights, whether civil, political, or economic and social,” said Ouahbi, adding that within this new framework, “Morocco considers that women’s issues have become the biggest challenge for civil society and the government alike,” assuring that the executive “is dealing with it with great seriousness, boldness and credibility.”
The Moroccan delegation to this high-level meeting, which will continue until Wednesday, includes the Ambassador Permanent Representative of Morocco in Geneva, Omar Zniber, the Governor, Director of Freedoms and Civil Society at the Ministry of Interior, Mohamed Ouzgane, the Secretary General of the Inter-ministerial Delegation of Human Rights, Abdelkarim Boujradi and the Director of Criminal Affairs and Pardons at the Ministry of Justice, Hicham Melati.
The session opened under the chairmanship of Federico Villegas, Permanent Representative of Argentina to the United Nations Office in Geneva.
The UN Secretary General, António Guterres, the President of the UN General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, and the President of the Swiss Confederation, Ignazio Cassis all gave speeches during the first plenary session.
Due to the preventative restrictions imposed by sanitary context, debates will take place in a hybrid format, combining in-person and virtual participation.
During the five-week session, the Council will study over 100 reports submitted by human rights experts and other investigative bodies on a wide range of topics relevant to the human rights situation in nearly 50 countries.
In total, the Council will hold more than 30 interactive debates with ratifying member states.
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