Education reforms to reinforce rule of law to be discussed by IER dialog session

The reforms needed in education and cultural sectors to reinforce the rule of law is the theme of the 4th dialog session that the Justice and Reconciliation commission (IER) is holding next Tuesday

This session of the commission, set up in January 2004 to shed light on past human rights violations in Morocco in the 1956-1999 period and seek out-of-court settlement to these breaches, will discuss issues on human rights flagrant violations perpetrated in the past in the fields of teaching and culture and their consequences on society and value system.

Debates will also tackle the reforms to be introduced in this sectors to enhance democracy values and human rights so as to foster a generation upholding the principles of tolerance, multiparty system and diversity.

The IER started last February 15 dialog meetings scheduled for every Tuesday up to March 22 in parallel to the public hearings on past violations it started last December and held in Rabat, Figuig, Errachidia and Khenifra.

Last Tuesday, the IER held its third dialogue session on "economic and social reforms" in Morocco.

Experts debated sequels of these past human rights breaches on economic and social aspects and on Morocco's development by exploring the relation between these ill-practices and economic and social problems in some regions as well as between violence and economic performance. The IER says the aim of these dialog sessions is to involve the public opinion in a "mature thought" about the political, intellectual and historical contexts since the kingdom's independence in 1956 and reasons underlying human rights breaches and their impact on political mutations.