Opening ceremony of World Human Rights Forum (Marrakesh 2014) tackles international issues and world human rights challenges
Thousands of people and human rights activists, gathered on Friday 27 Nov. 2014 in Marrakesh to attend the opening ceremony of the 2nd World Human Rights Forum, held from 27 to 30 Nov., and inaugurated by a Royal Speech that highlighted the important human rights achievements and challenges in Morocco and the world and announced officially Morocco’s full adherence to the 2nd protocol to the international torture convention, paving the road for the soon –to-established National Preventive Mechanism.
Speeches of international renowned personalities and human rights stakeholders, including the Chairman of the UN Human Rights Council, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, the Brazilian Human Rights minister, the Chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Chairman of the International Federation of Journalists, former Spanish prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, etc. shed light, on the opening ceremony, on the main universal human rights issues and stressed that the protection and promotion of human rights are, and should be, a commitment of all national and international stakeholders.
The World Human Rights Forum (Marrakesh 2014) was an opportunity for the participants to bring attention to some urgent international human rights challenges. The opening ceremony urged States to double their efforts to promote and protect human rights and to respect their international commitments, and tackled different issues like the rule of law, the rights of individuals and communities, equality between men and women, violence against women across the globe, growth of extremism and hatred in the world, transparency and good governance and how can they strengthen the values of democracy, the universality of human rights, etc.
This major international meeting also highlighted recent developments concerning the death penalty, torture, war crimes and grave human rights violations, impunity and accountability at the international level, the protection of journalists especially in areas of armed conflicts and hotbeds of tension...
The participants at the podium considered that Marrakech 2014 Forum was an important international platform that can contribute to addressing these issues and the new human rights challenges and concerns. It was also an opportunity for stakeholders from all over the world, including representatives of states, human rights defenders, different civil society actors, etc., to dialogue and debate and exchange experiences and best practices in the area.
WHRF in figures
More than 8000 participants from over 100 countries, 300 national and international partners, over 155 activities: 50 thematic forums (12 on women’s rights), 41 self-organized activities, 18 internal activities, 15 specific events, 11 workshops, 6 exhibits, a web TV, a radio channel; celebrating the universality of human rights.