Morocco to celebrate 5th anniversary of Throne Day
Morocco, Politics, 7/30/2004

Morocco is celebrating, July 30, the 5th anniversary of the Throne Day marking the enthronement of King Mohammed VI.

Since his accession to the throne, July 3O, 1999, after the demise of his father King Hassan II, the young monarch laid down the foundations of a democratic society and set the country's priorities including economic liberalism, edification of a state of law, respect of Human rights and of individual and collective freedom.

The king first changed the concept of law that enabled authorities to participate- in addition to their traditional task of maintaining order- in providing the suitable environment for an economic development. The government was asked to simplify investment and administrative procedures to boost employment, and to accelerate the adoption of the new labour code that defines clearly both investors and workers' duties and responsibilities.

On the social level, King Mohammed VI focused his attention and efforts on the eradication of unhealthy housing, guaranteeing integrated human development through education and creating job opportunities.

In his speech of August 20, 2001, the king had warned against the proliferation of shantytowns and unhealthy housing, which he described as "an attack on the citizen's dignity and a threat for the cohesion of social fabric."

"The responsibility for this situation falls on everyone without exception," he said.

In order to eradicate this phenomenon, the government worked out, in accordance with the King's directives, a vast program to fight unhealthy habitat. The king personally visited several parts of the Kingdom to launch projects within this framework, namely, Casablanca, Agadir, Tangier, Rabat and Sale.

Education has also been one of Morocco's major projects since the monarch's enthronement, as it is considered as the Kingdom's second priority after the territorial integrity. The sovereign had criticized the "education system that generates unemployment and ostracism" and called for the establishment of a national education and training charter.

In the cultural realm, King Mohammed VI encouraged cultural diversity by creating the Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture (IRCAM) (language spoken by Moroccan Berbers) and called for the respect of regional culture differences and diversity, which makes of Morocco such a homogeneous and united country.

The King also cared about the rehabilitation of the political action inviting the political class and the government to vote a law that helps parties accomplish their mission, a law that seeks to strengthen the parties' duty towards the citizens, and forbids those formed on religious, ethnical, linguistic or regional grounds.

As far as Human Rights are concerned, the monarch reshaped the Human Rights Consultative Council (CCDH) and ordered the creation of the "equity and reconciliation" committee to help Moroccans "reconcile with themselves and their history, to free their energy and become a full part in the building of a democratic and modern society, to avoid any backsliding."

The family code knew important changes too thanks to the King's intervention. Perceived outside Morocco as a social, political and cultural revolution, the new Moudawana (applied by courts since February 2004) aims to improve women's situation in Morocco, protect children' rights and preserve men's dignity, by giving them all new rights and duties.

Last but not least, King Mohamed VI announced the implementation of a new strategy to give impetus to the religious field, by appointing members of the Oulemas (religious scholars) Provincial Councils and Higher Councils to preserve Morocco's spiritual security and save it from terrorism and extremism.

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