Political, economic advances in Morocco highlighted at Oxford University
Morocco-UK, Politics, 3/12/2005

The Political, economic and cultural strides made in Morocco in the latest years were highlighted Friday at Oxford University before a group of politicians, university professors and diplomats.

Visiting president of the National Rally for Independents party (RNI), Ahmed Osman, underscored at a meeting in the Middle East Center the different reforms carried out in the country, aiming to establish a democratic and modern society in respect of justice and human rights.

Women's rights are among the top priorities in this vision, said Osman who recalled the determination of king Mohammed VI to spare no effort to promote the situation of women.

He gave as example of the development achieved the Family Law reform which, he said, is perceived both in Morocco and abroad as a revolutionary step to put women on equal foot with men in rights and duties and to protect family. He also recalled the quota system that grants women 10pc of seats in parliament.

On human rights, Osman said king Mohammed VI took the initiative to set up a Commission for Equity and Reconciliation (IER) that looks into cases of human rights violations committed in Morocco between 1956 and 1999. He depicted the initiative as a unique experience in the Arab and Islamic world.

The Sahara conflict was also raised by Osman who shed light on his country's efforts to reach a political solution to this dispute that opposes Morocco to the Algeria-backed Polisario Front which claims the separation of Morocco's southern provinces (the Sahara) from the rest of the country.

The Oxford meeting was held as part of Mohammed VI Chair for Moroccan and Mediterranean studies. It was attended by several Arab ambassadors, members of the Moroccan-British Society (MBS) and researchers in Moroccan and Mediterranean studies.

The chair, set up in October 2004 under an agreement between MBS and Oxford University, is destined to promote understanding and mutual knowledge between Morocco and the United Kingdom.

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