PRESS RELEASE TO THE PUBLIC RELATED TO THE STORMING OF CNDH’S HEADQUARTERS

The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) informs the national and international public that a group of unemployed young people from the National Association of Unemployed Graduates, estimated at around 400 people, stormed, on Tuesday 12 April 2011, at 15:00, the headquarters of the Council, breaking its front door. They occupied the hall of public sessions and the corridors leading to the administrative offices, thus hindering the normal functioning of the Council and creating a climate of terror among the Council’s staff, without any consideration to the symbolism of the institution.

After more than an hour and a half, the Council officials urged the protesters to designate representatives to communicate their demands. After consultation, the protestors presented the following demands:

- “Legal recognition of their association;

- immediate integration into civil service;

- unemployment benefits for not less than the minimum wage, which should be revised upwards;

- release of the association’s political prisoners;

- identification of the tomb of the martyr Hamzawi and punishment of the perpetrators."

The Council asked the representatives of the association to engage in a dialogue, after evacuation of its premises. This request was denied by protesters who refused to evacuate the Council’s headquarters.

The Council contacted, immediately, a number of Moroccan human rights associations to witness this act of occupation, disappearance of some equipments and obstruction of the Council’s services. The Moroccan Organization of Human Rights (OMDH), the Forum for Truth and Justice, the Mediator for Democracy and Human Rights and the Moroccan Centre for Human Rights responded to the request of the Council.

The Council reiterated its disposition to play its role, in accordance with its founding Dahir. It confirmed its commitment to respect the law, demanding the immediate evacuation of its premises before taking any action.

The National Human Rights Council emphasized on the following four points:

First: the Council’s officials have never received any meeting requests from the said association.

Second: the requests of the association are not directly related to the Council’s mandate. However, the Council will refer these demands to the relevant authorities.

Third: the Council confirms its continued availability to receive complaints and requests from individuals and groups related to human rights and freedom issues, within its mandate and the available means. It will, in this sense, inform the parties concerned of the results of its efforts.

Forth: the Council expresses its absolute refusal to submit to any form of extortion or illegal acts that are against the exercise of freedoms and the enjoyment of rights.

The protesters evacuated the headquarters of the Council at around 09:50 p.m.