Forum calls for consolidation of human rights national institutions
Morocco, Politics, 4/17/2000

The 5th international forum of national institutions in charge of human rights promotion and protection held in Rabat April 13-15 has called in the Rabat Declaration for the consolidation of the role of national human rights institutions.

Participants underlined the need to endow these institutions with prerogatives likely to upgrade the efficiency of their role in protecting victims of discrimination, racism and intolerance.

Participants also called for a new approach to struggle against exclusion and xenophobia, highlighting the key role that national institutions can play in mobilizing the public opinion against the plagues.

The declaration called human rights institutions from several countries to actively participate in the world conference on racism, discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance, to be held in South Africa in the course of 2001, under the aegis of the United Nations.

The document urged national institutions to carry on their action in favor of the promotion and protection of the rights of women and children, in line with the international treaties and conventions.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson,who attended the closing session of the forum, Saturday called national human rights institutions to keep a certain degree of independence vis-a-vis governments.

She said she will urge governments and international institutions to extend material backing to the national institutions.

The forum debates focused on human rights and culture, culture and children's rights, national institutions and struggle against racism, and the moral horizon of the universal declaration of human rights.

Previous Stories:
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  Fifth international human rights workshop opens in Rabat   (4/13/2000)
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