Morocco, yesterday, Tuesday, renewed its call for an “immediate and lasting” ceasefire in the Gaza Strip during the 57th regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council chaired by Morocco in Geneva.
Abdellah Boutadghart, Deputy Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Morocco in Geneva, emphasized during the general discussion on the annual report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, devoted to the human rights situation worldwide, that the Kingdom of Morocco reiterates its call for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the unconditional access of humanitarian aid, and the protection of civilians, paving the way for establishing permanent peace based on the two-state solution.
In his report, Mr. Türk presented an alarming assessment of the state of human rights globally, still vulnerable to conflicts, including “the war in Gaza as the most evident example,” warning that this regional conflict may have consequences in many countries.
In his statement on behalf of the Moroccan delegation, Mr. Boutadghart thanked the UN High Commissioner for his report, praising his tireless efforts “despite limited resources and a global context marked by escalating crises on multiple fronts.”
He pointed out that Morocco shares Mr. Volker Türk’s concerns about the denial of migrants’ rights, the rise of systemic racism and xenophobia, climate change and its impact on food and health security, as well as the exacerbation of the digital divide leading to increased inequality.
The Deputy Permanent Representative of Morocco in Geneva stated, “We need, more than ever, to address the structural and direct causes of these societal ills and prevent their impact on the enjoyment of human rights by focusing on global and coordinated measures that can ensure us a more sustainable future.” He also expressed Morocco’s readiness to share its experience in promoting human rights, notably through a side event scheduled for September 25 during this session on the topic “The Interconnection between Justice, Reform, and Memory.”
He explained that this event coincides with the 20th anniversary of the creation of Morocco’s Equity and Reconciliation Commission, a landmark moment in consolidating the rule of law and a modern democratic society. He said, “It is a pioneering experience in extrapolating past experiences to create dynamics capable of building a better future in the field of human rights.”
According to him, it is also a unique experiment given its approach based on “creating consensus to close the file of human rights violations, far from revenge and confrontation justice,” “a working methodology based on participatory and inclusive dialogue,” and “concerning tangible outcomes in terms of collective and individual reparations, memory preservation, and establishing constitutional guarantees of non-repetition.”
The annual report on the state of human rights worldwide is the subject of general debate on Tuesday and Wednesday during the 57th regular session of the Human Rights Council, which runs until October 11 under the chairmanship of Omar Zniber, Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva and current President of the Human Rights Council for the year 2024.
The Council in its September session will review more than 80 reports, including those presented by experts and inquiry bodies on the human rights situation in nearly fifty countries. Twenty interactive discussions will also be held with mandate holders under special procedures.
