A delegation from Human Right Watch visits the CCDH
Mrs Najat M'jid, Messrs Abderrazak Rouwane, Hamid Benhaddou and Miss. Fadoua Maroub, respectively a CCDH member, heads at the External Relations Department and Head of the Communication Department, received on May 9, 2008 a delegation from Human Rights Watch (HRW), an NGO, composed of Mrs Clarisa Bencomo (Children’s Rights Division) and Cassandra Mikicic.Having published a report on the situation of unaccompanied migrants in the Canary Islands (Unwelcome Responsibilities: Spain's Failure to Protect the Rights of Migrant Unaccompanied Children in the Canary Islands->http://hrw.org/reports/2007/spain0707/]), [HRW would like to have additional information on programmes of structures and resources intended for children candidates for immigration to Spain and for children repatriated to Morocco from Spain, and in general, on the policy of protection of unaccompanied children.
Mrs M'jid highlighted the importance of this issue for Morocco, which is a hosting, an immigration and a transit country. She explained that Morocco does not have specific programmes on the issue, especially concerning the return of children. Therefore, it should make a diagnosis to coordinate the various actions undertaken by both civil society and the Government.
Mrs M'jid underlined the existence of four child reception centres established by the Ministry of Social Affairs. Two were created in Tangier and Tetouan with the contribution of Spanish cooperation, and two were created in Marrakech and Casablanca, within the scope of the action plan of the abovementioned ministry. However, these centres suffer from a lack of resources and a methodological approach to management. Also, Mrs M'jid drew attention to the danger of the security approach adopted by the hosting countries, and highlighted the crucial role of the CCDH and NGOs in following up the issue of illegal immigration, as well as their role in the cooperation with the Government.
The CCDH made several recommendations in its thematic report on the establishment of facts concerning the events of illegal immigration and in its annual reports. Also, within the scope of drawing up the National Action Plan for Human Rights and Democracy, the CCDH places the immigration issue among its priorities.