Moroccan Human Rights Association Welcomes Creation of Equity and Reconciliation Commission
Politics, 4/28/2004

The Moroccan human rights association (OMDH) has welcomed the official creation of the equity and reconciliation commission as a project likely to consolidate transition and build a democratic society.

Following the publication in the official gazette of the Dahir (Royal decree) approving the new commission internal statute, the OMDH, reaffirmed its support to the commission actions. It also voiced resolve to follow up and adhere to the process of settling past human rights abuses, and make proposals in order to close once and for all in a fair manner the issue of past human rights violations.

The commission members should be granted immunity and should only be removed by the commission itself, the organization says, asking for sanctions against authorities that fail to cooperate with its inquiries.

It also argued that the commission should publish the hearings of victims and their relatives and provide for a mechanism to motivate and protect witnesses.

The commission's final report should be published so that the Moroccan society and public opinion know the truth and adhere to the reforms process that will avoid the repetition of these practices. It also called for a broad participation of human rights-advocacy organizations in the handling of cases of forced disappearance and arbitrary detention.

The equity and reconciliation commission, which became effectively operational last January, is in charge of pursuing out-of-court settlement of past human rights abuses related to forced disappearances and arbitrary detentions and complete a fair and equitable rehabilitation of victims.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco's Islamic party is far cry from extremism, party leader   (4/22/2004)
  Commission receives 20,000 compensation claims for past human rights abuses   (4/17/2004)
  Moroccan Human Rights association presents annual report for 2003   (4/8/2004)

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