King's human rights commitment goes beyond settling past cases, says chairman of HR council

The solemn commitment taken by King Mohammed VI in the human rights field goes beyond the settlement of cases of a bygone period, said in Rabat on Thursday chairman of the Human Rights Consultative Council (CCDH), Omar Azziman.

Explaining his vision of the Council action in human rights consolidation, Azziman -- a former justice minister who was appointed last December by the sovereign as CCDH chairman -- said "the narrow approach dictated by a span of our history is now outdated, leaving room for a comprehensive human rights approach that Morocco can and must assume."

Azziman who was talking at the opening session of the CCDH 17th meeting of the Council, the first since his appointment and the amendment of the CCDH dahir (royal decree), stressed that the cause of human rights in Morocco, which can't be reduced to "the legacy of a troubled era," is not running out of steam, arguing human rights "extend to political, civil, economic, social and a healthy environment rights."

He recalled the initiative of the sovereign to consolidate the independence of the Council by increasing its prerogatives and members, noting that the Royal decision "has carved the new image of CCDH" and turned it into a structure "perfectly aware of the progress achieved."

In appointing the new CCDH members, the sovereign chose nominees proposed by human rights-advocacy associations, by political parties and trade unions, by the Ulema (Islamic theologians) associations, magistrates, lawyers, medical doctors, university professors and the Hassan II foundation of Moroccans settled abroad.

Azziman further vowed that the Council will "follow on the track and turn the page in order to meet the challenges of the new phase" by adopting a prospective vision in human rights realms.

Participants to this two-day meeting will examine and adopt the Council's statute as well as the re-organization of its internal structures.

The opening ceremony took place in the presence of Mohamed Moatassim, Royal Advisor, Mustapha Sahel, Interior minister, Mohamed Benaissa, Foreign Affairs and Cooperation minister, Mohamed Bouzoubaa, Justice minister, Mohamed Aujjar, Human Rights minister, Ahmed Taoufiq, minister of Habour (Islamic endowment) and Islamic Affairs and of Moulay Slimane Alaoui, Wali of Diwan Al Madhalim, (Ombudsman).