CNDH President: Child Participation Must Be Written into Moroccan Law
Rabat – Amina Bouayach, President of Morocco's National Human Rights Council (CNDH), said children are not just beneficiaries of rights but active participants in shaping the laws and policies that affect them.
Bouayach made remarks during the national consultation with children, held in Rabat on June 13 and 14. The national event brought together children from all 12 regions of Morocco, after a year-long series of regional consultations launched in February 2023.
Supported by UNICEF, the consultations aimed to strengthen children's participation in public decisions, and to help prepare a parallel children's report to be submitted to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in September.
This journey started in Guelmim in February 2023 and closed in Es-Semara in February 2024. 'Together with the children, we launched an unprecedented experience that lasted a full year, aiming to reinforce the principle of participation,' Bouayach said.
She added that this initiative shows that children are capable of deep reflection and making realistic recommendations, 'not just on issues that affect them directly, but on issues that concern us all as a society.'
Bouayach commended the children's democratic practice during the election of their national representatives and described their contribution as a model of participatory democracy. She also called for the principle of child participation to be formally included in Morocco's upcoming Child Code.
According to Bouayach, this work marks a shift from consultation to what she calls 'contractual participation,' a method of working with children, not just for them. She stressed that this participatory model should be legally protected and structured through clear laws or administrative rules.
As part of the two-day consultation, children led the discussion sessions and workshops, including a drawing activity focused on safe digital spaces. The event ended with the launch of the 'Rabat Call,' a collective statement expressing children's vision and top priorities.
Two child representatives will travel to Geneva in September to present this report and share the views of Morocco's children directly with the UN. UNICEF Morocco's Representative, Laura Bill, noted the importance of including children's voices in all stages of government policy.
CNDH and UNICEF are set to sign a new cooperation agreement to continue strengthening children's participation in Morocco under the theme: 'Listen. Act. Participate.' Tags: child codechildrenCNDHpolitics
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
4 days ago
- Morocco World
Moroccan Human Rights Leader Amina Bouayach Drives Africa's Zero Torture Mission
Rabat — Morocco's head of the National Council for Human Rights (CNDH) Amina Bouayach brings a bold vision to Cape Verde this week: an Africa completely free of torture. The leader of the African Network of National Preventive Mechanisms Against Torture, she guides representatives from 15 African nations in pursuit of this ambitious goal. 'Zero torture is not just a slogan — it's a practical goal we aim to achieve through prevention mechanisms, transparency, and responsible use of technology,' Bouayach said in her opening speech of the two-day conference in Praia. From Marrakech to around the continent Bouayach launched this continental effort in Marrakech in 2023, where African nations signed the foundational 'Marrakech Declaration.' Cape Town hosted the second conference in 2024, building institutional capacity. Now, Praia marks the third annual gathering, focusing specifically on 'Technology and Torture Prevention.' The network's permanent secretariat operates from Morocco under Bouayach's guidance, chosen by member states to coordinate continental anti-torture efforts. 'After the foundational Marrakech meeting and Cape Town's capacity-building focus, the Praia conference continues our institutional development toward an integrated African vision for torture prevention,' she explained. Technology meets human rights This year's conference breaks new ground by examining how digital tools can strengthen prevention efforts. Sessions will explore using technology during facility visits, report preparation, and capacity building for national mechanisms. Bouayach focused on the need for balance, saying: 'We must use technology responsibly,' pointing out concerns about data protection and individual privacy in human rights work. African solutions philosophy Bouayach's approach centers on homegrown solutions rather than imported models. 'Africa doesn't need to copy anyone — it needs to create its own solutions,' she said. 'Our initiative is African… from Africa for Africa's benefit… by African hands for all Africans.' The conference includes participants from Morocco, Cape Verde, Senegal, South Africa, Niger, Benin, Burkina Faso, Togo, Tunisia, Rwanda, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, and Nigeria. International organizations, including the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, are also participating. During the Cape Verde meeting, the network will adopt internal regulations, select an East Africa representative, and announce next year's host country. 'Organizing our conference this year is another step in our effort to contribute to building a more humane future for Africa together,' Bouayach concluded. Her leadership transforms the fight against torture from individual national efforts into a coordinated continental movement, positioning Africa to lead global human rights innovation through technology and cooperation. Tags: Amina Bouayachhuman rightsZero torture
Morocco World
5 days ago
- Morocco World
CNDH President Calls for Human-Centered Economy at Arab-African Forum on Business and Human Rights
Gummersbach – Amina Bouayach, President of Morocco's National Human Rights Council (CNDH), issued today at the Arab-African Forum on Business and Human Rights, that economic development must serve human dignity, not undermine it. Standing before policymakers, civil society leaders, and international delegates in Marrakech, Bouayach noted that the link between business and human rights is no longer a theoretical issue. 'This is not just an academic or institutional conversation,' she said. 'It is a strategic and moral imperative, one that directly affects justice, peace, and the future of our societies.' The forum brought together representatives from across Africa and the Arab world to discuss how regional economies can grow while respecting universal human rights. Bouayach described the gathering as a chance to build a shared vision that aligns the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Goals with the African Union's Agenda 2063. Fourteen years after the adoption of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, Bouayach reflected on their continued relevance, but also on the deep challenges that remain. Recent years, she warned, have laid bare the grim reality that the environment is deteriorating at an alarming rate, forced displacement continues to rise, inequality is widening, and the most vulnerable are growing more fragile. She spoke with particular concern about the persistence of child labor, noting that 72 million children in Africa are still working instead of learning. 'This is not only a failure of economic systems,' she lamented. 'It is a failure of conscience.' Such numbers point to a larger issue, the lack of adequate protection for economic and social rights in too many countries. A commitment to dignity, equity and sustainability Turning to Morocco, Bouayach acknowledged the country's ongoing economic expansion but cautioned that growth alone is not enough. Development, she said, must include the rights and well-being of workers, communities, and the environment. 'We must ensure that infrastructure projects, major investments, and supply chains reflect a commitment to dignity, equity, and sustainability.' She also underlined the urgent need for legislative reform. National laws that govern labor relations and investment must be updated to align with international standards for decent work and responsible enterprise. Implementing human rights due diligence , as required by global frameworks, remains a major challenge. Bouayach called for integrating human rights into international investment frameworks, making environmental justice a top economic priority, and ensuring that development strategies reflect human rights obligations. She also pointed to the importance of including marginalized groups in decision-making and urged renewed momentum behind the adoption of the long-awaited international convention on the right to development. Under her leadership, the CNDH is already working on several fronts. The council monitors complaints related to environmental and social impacts of economic activity and plays a role in shaping national strategies, including Morocco's preparation for co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup. It is also working to ensure that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) incorporates a human rights approach, while continuing to engage with the UN system and address emerging challenges like the impact of artificial intelligence on labor and rights. Bouayach concluded her remarks with a reminder of the enormous potential within the Arab and African regions. Tags: Amina BouayachCNDHeconomyhuman rights
Morocco World
20-06-2025
- Morocco World
Morocco's Bouayach Meets UN Chief to Call for Rights-Based Global Reform
Rabat – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met with Amina Bouayach, head of Morocco's National Human Rights Council (CNDH) and current president of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), to discuss how national institutions could claim a stronger voice in shaping the global agenda. The meeting, held yesterday at the UN headquarters in New York, reflects a growing push from Bouayach and the GANHRI network to ensure that institutions rooted in local realities help guide international decisions, especially as the world confronts overlapping crises. Bouayach spoke on behalf of more than 120 national institutions across the globe. She thanked Guterres for placing rights at the core of the UN's work and called his 'Call to Action' and the 'Pact for the Future' crucial reference points for those working to defend dignity on the ground. 'Human rights are not a decorative element of global diplomacy,' she said. 'They form the very core of justice. National institutions speak with the voices of those who often go unheard, victims, citizens, activists, and carry their realities from the field to decision-making halls.' During the meeting, Bouayach laid out two key proposals to Guterres. First, she called for national institutions to be granted formal participation in key UN platforms held in New York, such as the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), and the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). These forums shape the UN's long-term goals, and Bouayach argued that national institutions, with their direct knowledge of conditions on the ground, would bring valuable contributions. Second, she urged for a greater role for GANHRI in the upcoming 'UN80' initiative, a UN-wide reflection ahead of its 80th anniversary. With growing mistrust in global systems and widening gaps between people and power, Bouayach urged the UN to restore the balance between its three founding pillars: peace and security, development, and human rights. 'This moment calls for courage,' she said. 'Rights must return to the center of international reform.' Bouayach also pointed to the existing partnership between GANHRI, the UN Human Rights Office, and UNDP as a model of collaboration that supports national institutions in bolstering their work and independence. This tripartite effort held its annual gathering in New York earlier this week, just before she met with Guterres. 'The challenges we face today are not abstract. They touch lives,' Bouayach lamented. 'GANHRI will remain fully engaged in defending rights across borders. We ask the United Nations to stand with us, so that every country has an institution that protects the dignity of its people, with independence and real impact,' she added. Bouayach was elected president of GANHRI by unanimous vote in March. The election followed strong backing from the African regional group, NANHRI, which officially nominated Bouayach in January 2025. Tags: Amina BouayachCNDHGuterreshuman rightsMorocco
