Human Rights and SDGs: Moroccan Model Highlighted at HRC 46th Session

Morocco’s efforts to achieve sustainable development and enshrine human rights in their various forms were highlighted Tuesday during a side-event organized by the Kingdom on the sidelines of the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

This event, organized in virtual mode under the theme “Establishing a synergy between human rights and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): sharing experiences and best practices” was an opportunity to highlight the dynamics that the Kingdom is experiencing in various areas, through the structural projects implemented both under the national initiative for human development and in the various sectoral programs, in addition to the prospects related to the new development model desired by HM King Mohammed VI as a new inclusive social contract.

The panel, moderated by Morocco’s Permanent Representative in Geneva, ambassador Omar Zniber, also discussed different approaches illustrating how SDGs cover all aspects of human rights, including economic, civil, cultural, political and social rights as well as the right to development and the correlation between the achievement of SDGs and the human rights system.

Speaking on this occasion, minister of State for Human Rights and Relations with Parliament, Mustapha Ramid, noted that Morocco has been committed since the beginning of the millennium in structural development projects and major social projects, whose foundations have been consolidated with the adoption of the objectives and the global program of sustainable development that the Kingdom seeks to implement through a participatory approach among all actors on the basis of the promotion of human rights, social cohesion, the adoption of a green economy, the enshrining of advanced regionalization and the development of strategic partnerships, particularly with the countries of the South.

The minister noted, in this regard, that Morocco has also established a framework law for the environment and sustainable development, adopted a national strategy for sustainable development 2030 and created a national committee for coordination and evaluation.

Aware of the interdependence between the achievement of human rights and the implementation of sustainable development goals, Morocco has adopted the national action plan in the field of democracy and human rights whose strategic objectives are to integrate human rights principles and standards into economic, social and cultural development policies, plans and programs, said Ramid, stressing that the Kingdom has recently concluded a plural national dialogue to design a new development model that will be based on the same foundations.

In line with its international and regional commitment, the Kingdom, stressed the minister, presented its voluntary national report on the level of achievement of sustainable development goals on the African continent, in accordance with the first 10-year implementation plan of Agenda 2063 and the Marrakech Declaration of the fifth session of the African Forum for Sustainable Development in 2019.

For his part, Zniber highlighted Morocco’s efforts to achieve sustainable development goals and the considerable progress made in infrastructure, social justice and human development, in line with the far-sighted vision of HM King Mohammed VI, highlighting the Kingdom’s regional and continental leadership on sustainable development issues.

He cited Morocco’s approach to combating the new coronavirus pandemic, noting that this approach has set an example for the Kingdom to follow, especially in its efforts to preserve the health of its citizens and make it a top priority.