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Morocco World
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Bouayach: Morocco's Transitional Justice Offers Lessons in Reconciliation, Reform
Rabat – Amina Bouayach, President of Morocco's National Human Rights Council and Chair of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, delivered an address during a regional human rights conference focused on transitional justice in Beirut. Speaking in the opening of a session dedicated to Morocco's experience, Bouayach described transitional justice as a necessary step toward rebuilding trust between the state and society, and laying the foundations for a future based on dignity, justice, and human rights. In her speech, Bouayach said that transitional justice is more than a process of looking into the past; it is about learning from it to build a better future. She called it a 'collective' vision of truth, justice, reparations, and reconciliation, and described Morocco's journey as a national choice made willingly to confront a painful history of human rights violations. 'National choice' She spoke of the importance of addressing the suffering of victims, especially those who endured torture and other grave abuses. She called for bold, transparent, and independent action in the region to rehabilitate victims and uphold justice. Bouayach stated clearly that the goal of zero torture is not only legitimate but achievable, and that Morocco is committed to promoting this vision in the broader regional and African context. The Moroccan experience began in 2004 with the creation of the Equity and Reconciliation Commission, known as the IER. This was the first such initiative in the Arab world, and it was born from years of civil society efforts to bring recognition and justice to victims of past state violence, Bouayach said. She added that the process was entirely Moroccan, led by national actors and supported by public participation, dialogue, and political will. Victims were given space to speak publicly, including on national TV and radio, and their testimonies were documented, published, and distributed without censorship. This process led to a number of legal and institutional reforms. The IER's final report included recommendations that were adopted at various levels, including changes to the constitution, new laws criminalizing torture, and the creation of mechanisms to prevent future violations, such as the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture. Bouayach said these steps represent a shift from dealing with past abuses to actively working to prevent new ones. Victims received financial compensation, support for psychological care, medical treatment, social reintegration, and retirement benefits for affected civil servants. Bouayach noted that a special budget is still allocated for ongoing medical support to victims. The process also paid attention to women's specific experiences to ensure that female victims received compensation that respected their dignity and provided for gender equality in accessing services. Throughout her remarks, Bouayach stated that Morocco's transitional justice path was not about copying other models or applying ready-made solutions. It was about building a new path step by step, rooted in national needs and realities. She said the process reflected a careful design that combined truth-seeking, reparations, and institutional reform in order to create a new and fair social contract. She explained that Morocco's effort did not take place in the aftermath of armed conflict. Instead, it was a political choice made by the state itself, acknowledging its responsibility for past abuses and seeking to restore trust. Bouayach concluded her address by summarizing the key takeaways from Morocco's journey. She notably said the process provided a model for how truth, justice, and reform can come together to break with the past and create lasting change. 'We at the National Human Rights Council remain fully committed and ready to share the lessons, practices, and methods of this experience with all our partners,' she said. Tags: CNDHreconciliationtransitional justice
Ya Biladi
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Morocco House of Councillors approves bill amending criminal procedure code
The House of Councillors passed Bill 03.23 by a majority vote on Tuesday in Rabat during a legislative session. The bill amends and supplements Law 22.01 related to criminal procedure. The measure was approved by 24 councillors, with 4 voting against and 2 abstaining. Presenting the bill, Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi emphasized its significance within Morocco's legal framework, describing it as a key pillar of the country's criminal justice system. He explained that the bill seeks to strike a balance between ensuring the prosecution of criminal offenses and guaranteeing the right to a fair trial, including the presumption of innocence. Ouahbi added that the legislation was the result of a participatory process, developed through broad discussions and consultations with various stakeholders, including constitutional bodies such as the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) and the Economic, Social, and Environmental Council (CESE). He concluded by stating that the reform marks an important step toward modernizing the national legal system and responding to public expectations and demands for justice.
Morocco World
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Morocco Pushes Forward Reform of Criminal Procedure Code
Rabat – Morocco's House of Councillors passed a draft law seeking to amend the country's Criminal Procedure Code. The House of Councillors adopted Draft Law No. 03.23 with 24 votes in favor, and four against. Two councillors abstained from the vote. Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi presented the reform, seeing it as a historic step in Morocco's legal, institutional, and human rights landscape. Ouahbi said the Code of Criminal Procedure holds 'great importance, within the legal system as the main driver of criminal and punitive laws, and as one of the framework laws that touches on two distinct domains, requiring a clear and precise legislative text and professional practice.' He also said the law seeks to ensure that crimes are properly investigated, hold perpetrators accountable, and ensure prosecution. Meanwhile, the law also seeks to safeguard the search for innocence and guarantee the conditions of a fair trial. Ouahbi added that the draft law is in line with Morocco's developments that cover strengthening rights of freedoms, full adherence to international human rights commitments, and the fight against crime. The draft law was adopted based on consultations and discussions that involved institutions and bodies like the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) and the Economic, Social, and Environmental Council (CESE). Ouhabi concluded his presentation, pledging that the legislative initiative 'undoubtedly represents a key step toward modernizing the national legal framework and meeting public expectations.' Since 2024, Ouahbi has been calling for modernizing Morocco's criminal procedure law among other legislative reforms. In March this year, Ouahbi urged Moroccan institutions to ensure the country's new alternative sentencing law achieves its full impact. He stressed the importance of Law No. 43.22, which introduces non-custodial penalties into Morocco's justice system, describing the legislation as a turning point in the country's approach to criminal justice. In May, the Moroccan government approved a draft decree of the law, setting the framework for implementing alternative sentencing measures. Tags: Article 218-2 of the criminal codecriminal code
Morocco World
24-06-2025
- 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
20-06-2025
- Politics
- 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
