Latest news with #CNDH
Morocco World
3 days ago
- Politics
- 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
4 days ago
- Business
- 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
17-06-2025
- Health
- Morocco World
Moroccan Children Raise Their Voices for Education, Health, and Protection
Rabat – Children from across Morocco gathered in Rabat last week to call for stronger protection of their rights and for their concerns to be taken seriously. The call came during a national consultation at the initiative of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), with support from UNICEF Morocco, on June 13-14. The event marked the final stage of a year-long journey that began in February 2023, when the CNDH launched a series of regional consultations in all 12 regions of the country. Over a year, hundreds of children participated in these sessions to share their views on the challenges they face and the changes they hope to see. The national consultation brought together representatives from each region to summarize their experiences and make their voices heard at the national level. 'Today, we raise our voices to deliver this call, firmly believing in and holding on to our right to be heard, and for our dignity and best interests to be respected,' the children said. In their appeal, children stressed their right to participate in all matters that concern them. They asked for their voices to be heard regularly, not just during special events, and for laws to guarantee their right to take part in decisions that affect their lives. Education was another major concern. The children noted the need for quality education that is accessible to all, regardless of their circumstances. Health was also at the top of their list, as they called for better care for mothers before birth and proper medical support to help children grow up healthy and strong. They also spoke of the importance of being safe from violence and neglect, both at home and in public. In addition, the children explained that play is a basic part of their lives and asked for safer and welcoming spaces where they can play, laugh, and interact with others. They also expressed the importance of freedom of expression, saying that every child should be able to speak up and be heard. They called for better support for children with disabilities, including more use of sign language and the presence of interpreters when needed. Children taking part in the consultation also drew attention to the need for equality. They asked that children in difficult situations, such as those with disabilities, migrant children, and victims of violence, receive special care and support, without discrimination. They proposed the creation of childhood networks across all Moroccan regions to give children a structured and safe way to meet, share their opinions, and participate in shaping their communities. Throughout their call, the children expressed a strong desire for CNDH to remain a supportive partner as they continue to fight for their rights. They ended their message by reminding everyone that children's rights are human rights, and that these rights must be made real, not just through words, but through action.
Morocco World
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
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
Morocco World
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
CNDH Elevates Children's Voices as Central in Government Legislation
Rabat – The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) in Rabat has brought together children from across Morocco for a two‑day national consultation on June 13 and 14 to strengthen child rights. The event marked the culmination of a year‑long journey of 12 regional consultations held between February 2023 and February 2024. Supported by UNICEF Morocco, the initiative aims to firmly embed the principle of children's participation into Moroccan laws and administrative procedures. CNDH President Amina Bouayach opened the session alongside children's representatives from each region. 'We are holding the national consultation today as a culmination of the regional consultations that we have conducted over the past year in the 12 regions of Morocco,' she told Morocco World News in an interview on the sidelines. CNDH two-day consultation in Rabat These consultations had two main objectives, Bouayach said. 'The first was to engage and discuss with children about implementing and establishing the principle of participation in the legal texts and administrative procedures in Morocco,' she explained. The second objective was to work with these children on identifying the major issues related to their rights, guarantees, and programs, in order to present their report next September. Over the two days, children will lead all discussion sessions, with a focus on how to apply the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in national policy and how to prepare their own parallel report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. In September, two elected child delegates from this consultation will travel to Geneva to present Morocco's children's perspectives directly to the committee. CNDH two-day consultation in Rabat 'Participation is key,' said Laura Bill, UNICEF Representative in Morocco, on the sidelines of the event. 'Most of the work of UNICEF around the world, and including in Morocco, is to ensure that children's participation is part of any government initiative,' she told MWN. Bill noted that the children's views will be included in the government's annual report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva. Laura Bill, UNICEF Representative in Morocco Bouayach described the initiative as a pioneering effort recognized both in Africa and around the world. She added that this national consultation not only gathers children's voices on legal and social issues, but also empowers them through practical workshops. Among these is an interactive drawing workshop on digital spaces and safe internet use. The event will close with the launch of a 'Children's Call,' a statement reflecting their vision and top priorities for rights and protections. CNDH and UNICEF will sign a partnership during the closing session to reinforce their joint commitment to 'Listen. Act. Participate.' CNDH President Amina Bouayach Tags: childrenCNDHconsultation
