Govt. Spokesperson: Government Recognizes Shortcomings in Human Rights Policies

Rabat – Facing recurring criticism from international human rights organizations on the condition of human rights in the county, the Government spokesperson responded yesterday saying that the Government, “does not neglect or deny the presence of certain weaknesses” and continues to remedy these shortcomings.

“Morocco’s willingness is firm in handling responsibly and vigorously the issue of human rights,” said Mustapha El Khalfi during a Rabat press briefing on Thursday following the Government’s cabinet meeting.

Against claims that the government is turning a blind eye to human rights, El Khalfi said that, “on the contrary, the Kingdom’s approach is based on the responsible handling of this issue.” 

He explained that Morocco has adopted a national plan of action for the promotion of human rights to correct anomalies and deficiencies within the government’s human rights policy.

Progress is being made, he said. The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) established, for the first time, a national mechanism for the prevention of torture, reinforcing the Kingdom’s long-standing policy in this area.

Meanwhile, extensive work is underway in partnership with civil society institutions working in this field, as well as at the level of the Justice Ministry and the State Secretariat for Human Rights, in order to promote respect for human rights and put into practice the national plan of action. The plan, first adopted in 2008, includes more than 400 measures which represent the country’s framework for strengthening human rights across the nation, he concluded.

On January 25, the Government categorically denied allegations made in a 2017 Human Rights Watch report that revealed several alleged reversals in the condition of human rights and civil liberties in Morocco.