Press Release
The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) welcomes the publication of the pledges it submitted to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). They were published on the United Nations (UN) website as part of its Human Rights Initiative launched on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
In his statement at the high-level session held within the framework of the 55th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC), the High Commissioner noted the adoption of 770 concrete pledges by 153 member states, including the Kingdom of Morocco as well as 15 National Human Rights Institution (NHRI), among them CNDH.
The CNDH’s five pledges submitted to the UN focus on continuing to encourage the state to ratify all major human rights conventions and ensure their implementation at the national level. These pledges also emphasize the commitment to ongoing participation in developing new human rights instruments and international standards to contribute to strengthening human rights protection, taking into account emerging issues related to human rights.
The CNDH is also committed to strengthening the African Network of National Preventive Mechanisms against Torture (NPMs), particularly by mobilizing financial and human resources and establishing a secretariat, which will be in Morocco. This network will facilitate exchanging best practices and support addressing challenges facing NPMs in Africa. It will also encourage other African countries to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) and establish NPMs. The CNDH chairs this network, which was set up following the Marrakech Conference in June 2023.
The CNDH is also committed to addressing emerging issues in the field of human rights, such as the impacts of artificial intelligence and climate change on the enjoyment of human rights, as well as strengthening capacities, developing the necessary tools, and preparing thematic reports in the coming years on these issues.
As an NHRI and NPM, the CNDH is committed to conducting preventive and protective visits to all places of deprivation of liberty throughout Morocco over the next ten years. The CNDH is also committed to preparing visit reports and follow up on the implementation of recommendations with the relevant authorities.
The CNDH also pledges to encourage dialogue between all stakeholders to develop an action plan on Business and Human Rights (BHR) in line with the UN guidelines in this regard. It is noteworthy that the CNDH has been recommending the adoption of this plan in its various annual reports and had organized an academic visit at the beginning of this year for the President of the UN working group on BHR.