Amnesty International-morocco, granted status of AI section
Morocco, Culture, 4/23/2001

Amnesty International-Morocco has been granted at a ceremony in Rabat Saturday the status of Amnesty International section to mark the achievement made by its members in the field of promotion and protection of human rights.

The ceremony was attended by a high-level delegation of Amnesty International, led by Secretary General, Pierre Sane, arrived in Rabat Friday on a four day visit to Morocco.

Secretary general of the AI-Morocco, Mohamed Sektaoui, said for almost one decade, AI-Morocco has endeavored, in cooperation with the AI secretariat general, to lay the bases of an action in favor of human rights in Morocco. Groups of action were thus set up throughout the country and despite the difficulties encountered at the beginning, the AI-Morocco group conducted sensitization campaigns and implemented a sound program meant to consecrate human rights principles, he said.

Sektaoui recalled that part of partnership with the government and NGOs, AI-Morocco signed in 2000 an accord with the Moroccan ministry of human rights, and elaborated programs on struggle against human rights violations and on the consolidation of human rights culture through education.

Program Director of the Middle East/North Africa Program at the International Secretariat, June Ray, said human rights movement in Morocco can serve as a model in view of the gains and winds of freedom blowing in the region.

A release issued Thursday in London on the eve of the AI delegation visit to Morocco said the main purpose of the mission is to mark the achievement made by Amnesty International's members in Morocco in the field of promotion and protection of human rights.

Their dedication over the years, as well as their contribution to the international movement campaigning against human rights violations all over the world, has been acknowledged by the whole movement, meriting the status of an Amnesty International section, the release said.

The delegation will meet Moroccan government officials, NGO's and the media, to discuss the evolution of the situation of human rights in Morocco and issues related to human rights education and promotion of a culture of human rights.

The visit will also highlight by the signing of a cooperation accord by the Moroccan minister of human rights, Mohamed Aujjar, and Amnesty International Secretary General, Pierre San?.

The accord is meant to back Morocco's programs related to human rights education and support the efforts made by the government and the civil society to promote human rights culture.

Besides Pierre San? and June Ray, the Amnesty international mission includes Philip Luther, a researcher in the Middle East/North Africa Program, and Kamal Samari, senior press officer in the International Secretariat.

The visit will wind up on April 24.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco elected president of world human rights body   (4/20/2001)
  Amnesty International delegation in Morocco today, cooperation accord to be signed Monday   (4/20/2001)
  Moroccan official calls for more efforts to promote Arab women situation   (4/4/2001)

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