Moroccan human rights minister winds up visit to Geneva
Morocco-UN, Politics, 4/10/1999

Moroccan Minister of Human Rights Mohamed Aujjar on Friday wound up a four-day visit to Geneva during which he addressed the U.N Human Rights Commission and signed an accord setting up a human rights documentation, information and training center in Rabat.

During his stay in Geneva, Aujjar also conferred with executives of several international organizations, humanitarian institutions and NGOs on deep changes and developments taking place in Morocco at the constitutional, democratic and political levels.

Aujjar's interlocutors voiced admiration for the progress scored by Morocco at the political and institutional levels and lauded the kingdom's efforts to edify a democratic society.

Head of the United Nations Office in Geneva, Vladimir Petrovsky, has described Morocco's success at the political and institutional levels as "an example, a model and a source of inspiration to the whole region."

In his address before the ongoing 55th session of the U.N Human Rights Commission -- the first one by the Moroccan minister before this U.N body -- Aujjar renewed the Moroccan government's resolve to carry on its earnest and tireless action, meant to consolidate the rule of law and effective respect of Moroccan citizens' political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights.

The official surveyed the phases covered by Morocco to promote the human rights culture and the variety of constitutional, political and legislative reforms introduced to secure all guarantees for the success of the country's democratic option.

He also underscored the moves made to settle once for all the pending human rights issues, recalling in this respect the decision made on Wednesday by King Hassan II to grant free pardon to all prisoners convicted of offenses against state security and to indemnify families of reported "missing" people.

As to the human rights documentation, information and training center that will be set up in Rabat and whose related accord was signed by Aujjar and U.N Human Rights High Commissioner Mary Robinson, it will contribute to the efforts made nationwide to promote human rights, circulate the fundamental principles of human rights, consolidate the human rights culture and foster the backing and participation of the civil society to human rights promotion.

The center will also train judges and law enforcement executives and will endeavor to foster awareness of the problems caused by human rights violations and to consolidate the capacities of the civil society. It will equally collect information and documents related to human rights.

The center, co-financed by the Moroccan government, the human rights high commissioner and the U.N Development Program (UNDP), will be politically autonomous, although it is placed under the tutorship of the Moroccan governmental authority in charge of human rights.

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan human rights council proud over settlement of human rights cases   (4/9/1999)
  King agrees to pardon persons guilty of offense against state security and to indemnify families of missing   (4/9/1999)
  Morocco and UN human rights commissioner sign accord setting up center in Morocco   (4/6/1999)

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