Morocco to submit report to UN committee on measures against torture

Morocco will submit on November 12-13 its third periodic report to the UN committee against torture to shed light on measures adopted by the kingdom to implement provisions of the international Convention against torture.

The convention sets out a number of obligations designed to strengthen the sphere of protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. It stipulates that member countries should ban torture and other inhuman treatments in their legislation and that no pretext can be given to justify such acts.

The presentation of the report will allow the UN committee to examine Morocco's performance in human rights.

After Morocco presented its second report last year, the committee expressed "great satisfaction" as regards measures undertaken by the kingdom to achieve the rule of the law.

The committee hailed the compensations Morocco allocated to former political prisoners, the drawing up of an important human rights education and awareness program and the reform of the prison system in the country.

The committee recommended Morocco to introduce in its legislation a definition of torture that complies with the convention against torture.

The UN committee against torture was created in 1987 to monitor the respect of the international convention against torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.