Rabat – Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, and former US Ambassador to Haiti Michele Sison is scheduled to visit Morocco on January 21-26 to discuss shared multilateral priorities across the UN system.
The American diplomat’s visit comes amid Morocco’s election to the Human Rights Council (HRC) for the 2023-2025 term.
Sison will also visit Algeria during her trip, the US Department of State noted in a press release.
It added that Sison will meet with senior government officials, UN representatives, and civil society leaders during her visit to Morocco and Algeria.
The Assistant Secretary will also discuss the United States’ support for MINURSO and UN Secretary-Personal General’s Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s efforts in leading the UN political process in Western Sahara.
Morocco’s commitment to human rights promotion
In October 2022, Morocco was elected along with 11 other countries to serve on the Human Rights Council for three years, beginning 1 January 2023.
The council is a United Nations body with 47 member states whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world.
According to the UN’s website, the council’s members are “elected via secret ballot by the majority of the UN General Assembly members” and “their selection is based on equitable geographical distribution.”
For African nations elections, South Africa received the most votes (182 ), followed by Morocco and Algeria, which tied for (178) votes, and Sudan, which secured (157 votes).
Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation celebrated Morocco’s election, noting that this is the country’s third term on the Council.
Morocco previously served as a founding member of the council, holding the position of Vice President between 2006 and 2008, and then as a member of the Council between 2014 and 2016.
The ministry highlighted that Morocco’s election is the culmination of the country’s constructive efforts to strengthen the Human Rights Council.
The ministry added that Morocco “will work to strengthen international solidarity in the promotion of human rights, the protection of fundamental freedoms, and raise awareness about climate change.”
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