CNDH takes part in UN interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
The CNDH took part in the twenty-sixth session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, held from 10 to 27 June 2014 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The CNDH delegation was chaired by CNDH Secretary General, Mohamed Essabbar, who addressed the Council on Friday, June 13th, during the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children.
In his statement, Mr. Essabbar welcomed the efforts that have been made by Morocco, so far. He urged the Moroccan government, however, to “expedite institutional and legislative reform to fight human trafficking and provide, in the Penal Procedure Code, for effective protection for the victims, witnesses and informants of such heinous human rights violations”.
He also called for a positive and quick interaction with the recommendations of the report of the Special Rapporteur, after her visit to Morocco. He meant particularly her recommendations on the legislative and institutional framework, the protection of and assistance to victims, awareness-raising, training and capacity-building, preventive and punitive measures, and the close cooperation with the international and national stakeholders concerned. He invited all stakeholders concerned to further discuss this phenomenon in the Second World Forum on Human Rights, to be held in Marrakech in November 2014.
Mr. Essabbar and Ms Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, UN Special Rapporteur, held discussions, on the sidelines of the UNHRC’s Session, mainly on the efforts that have been made in Morocco since her visit to the country, following her preliminary recommendations and conclusions. CNDH Secretary General shed light on the new policy on migration asylum, adopted following the recommendations of CNDH’s report on foreigners and human rights in Morocco. The report recommended a radically new asylum and migration policy, taking a humane and human rights-based approach.
He told the UN independent expert that the CNDH is drafting its opinion on a bill on trafficking in persons, taking into account international human rights law and her recommendations: criminalizing trafficking in persons, considering trafficking in minors a crime that requires tougher sanctions.
The Council’s opinion, he said, will provide for the protection of victims, witnesses and informants. The definition of exploitation, he added, must include, at least, exploitation for prostitution purposes or any other form of sexual exploitation. He concluded by saying that the Moroccan government is drafting new bills on migration and asylum.