MOROCCAN EXPERIENCE IN TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE "EXEMPLARY” (AN ARGENTINIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL)

The experience of the Advisory Council on Human Rights (CCDH) in the settlement of past human rights violations may serve as a “model” for other countries, Argentinian Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Ms Norma Nascimbene De Dumont said.

During a meeting with a CCDH delegation, Ms De Dumont indicated that the Equity and Reconciliation Commission made an outstanding and “typical work”. In visit to Argentina from 29 December to 1 December, the Moroccan delegation was composed of Ahmed Herzenni, CCDH President, Mustapha Iznasni, CCDH member, and Ghizlan Kabaj, Head of the Division of National Institutions at the Council.

This visit aimed to promote the achievements and progress made by Morocco in the field of human rights and to exchange experiences in the field of transitional justice. The Moroccan delegation held during this visit several meetings with the representatives of several governmental institutions and human rights non-governmental organizations: Center of Legal and Social Studies, former clandestine detention center “Escuela Mecánica de la Armada”, the cultural center of memory “Haroldo Conti”, the National Archives of Memory, Human Rights Secretary’s National Delegation of Standard Development in the field of Human Rights, affiliated to the Ministry of Human Rights, the Park of Memory (Parque de la Memoria), in which stand memorials of victims of the past human rights violations in Argentina, and the Mothers of May Square and Grandmothers of May Square associations.

Mr. Herzenni praised the Argentinian experience in the field of human rights promotion and protection and underlined the importance of strengthening relations and cooperation between Morocco and Argentina. Among other things, the two countries share the experience of transitional justice, he added. Mr. Herzenni briefed the Argentinian officials on the Advisory Council on Human Rights, the context of its creation, its missions, its achievements, its objectives and the phases of the Moroccan experience in the field of transitional justice. He underlined the importance of Arab Ibero-American Dialogue, in which participated the Argentinian Ombudsman, started in October 2010 in Casablanca, upon the initiative of the Advisory Council.

All Argentinian stakeholders the delegation met praised the Moroccan experience in the field of transitional justice and expressed their willingness to strengthen and diverse fields of cooperation with the Council.