UN committee hails human rights promotion initiatives in Morocco
The Geneva-based UN Committee for economic, social and cultural rights hailed on Friday "initiatives taken by king Mohammed VI and by the Moroccan government to promote the development of human rights culture in Morocco."
In its final remarks and recommendations on Morocco's 2nd periodical report at the end of its 24th session (Nov.13-Dec.1), the committee also welcomed
the state's efforts to honor commitments made under international human rights conventions.
The committee cited in particular the creation of a human rights ministry, the Human Rights Advisory Council and plans to launch the Ombudsman institution in Morocco. Listing other positive steps, the committee went on the enforcement in 1997 of a national women emancipation strategy and the crafting of an action plan for women integration in development, the dissemination of provisions of the international human rights conventions in the judiciary system and ongoing efforts to alleviate indebtedness.
Among major areas of concern, the committee notes that Morocco has not yet crafted a global action plan for human rights and by the persistence of cases of discrimination against women, particularly in the law regulating marriage and divorce.
The committee also deplores the delay in adopting a new labor code and the fact that the existing one is not conform to the International Labor Office conventions, mainly those related to the minimum work age and children working conditions.
Health was also singled out as another cause of concern by the committee which regrets the small coverage (20%) of the state health services, limited access to basic medical care services in rural areas and the high rate of maternal and child mortality.
The committee encourages Morocco to formulate and implement a global action plan for the protection and promotion of human rights and to secure that the projected ombudsman institution operate in total independence and autonomy.
Regarding the situation of women, the committee encourages Morocco to adopt the action plan for women integration in development and to amend some discriminative laws. It also calls Morocco to ensure free and compulsory access to basic education, particularly to girls in rural areas and to urgently address the alarming rate of illiteracy.