CNDH SG IN INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR IN RABAT: UNIVERSAL DIMENSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN NEW REFORMS

CNDH SG Mr. Mohamed Essabbar participated in an international seminar on "Democratic transition in Morocco in light of international experiences", in Rabat on May 6th, 2011. This seminar was organized in Rabat by the Center of Human Rights and Democracy Studies and the Center of Common Memory for Democracy and Peace, with support of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), Friedrich Ebert Foundation and the Ministry of Culture.

Speaking at the opening session of this seminar, Mr. Essabbar indicated that we should strengthen democratic principles and build a democratic system that meets the needs of citizens in order to build a democratic State and ensure its continuity and stability. He also stressed the need to launch a new generation of reforms that take into account the universal dimension of human rights with a comprehensive vision that includes democracy, good governance, social justice and the rule of law.

Mr. Essabbar highlighted the process of reforms Morocco started years ago. These reforms, he said, are related particularly to political, constitutional and institutional fields. The National Human Rights Council, he explained, was created to promote the Moroccan experience in the field of human rights protection. Its creation reflects the will to institutionalize human rights in Morocco.

CNDH SG shed light on the Council’s mandate in the fields of human rights protection and promotion and in the enrichment of debate on democracy.

He also highlighted the Moroccan experience in the field of transitional justice. He indicated that Morocco adopted this philosophy to peacefully settle the conflicts of the past. There was a need to understand and clarify what happened, put an end to all illegal practices and build a democratic society compatible with the universally recognized values and principles of human rights, he said.

For Mr. Essabbar, the Moroccan experience in the field of transitional justice reflects the dynamics of debates Morocco has known since the late 90s and in particular before and after the creation of the Equity and Reconciliation Commission. This commission aimed to settle issues related to past human rights violations and to discuss issues of democratic transition and integration of various segments of society in the process of reform, transformation and modernization.

This two-day seminar was an opportunity to discuss issues related to the democratic transition in the Arab region and Africa in light of international experiences in the field of democratic transition in Europe, Latin America and Eastern Europe. It aims to better understand and identify the constraints and challenges of democratic transition experiences and the conditions necessary for their success. It also aims to enrich the national debate and discuss regional and international experiences to help consolidate democracy.