Morocco's upper house adopts laws on creation of social agency and prisons

The chamber of advisors (upper chamber of the parliament) adopted on Tuesday two draft laws on the creation of a social development agency and the organization and management of penitentiary institutions.

The first draft provides for the creation of a social development agency that will be supporting programs to fight poverty in poor social layers.

The agency, a public institution, will contribute to financing social development activities, supporting collective or individual projects and improving the living standards of poorest populations, said Khalid Alioua, minister of social development, solidarity, employment and vocational training.

The second draft is meant to improve detention conditions through education and training programs for prisoners.

Justice minister, Omar Azziman, explained that the draft law was inspired from the principles contained in the government's declaration, mainly a strong commitment to improve living conditions in Moroccan jails.