Rabat – As Morocco witnesses heightened figures in its refugee and asylum seeker population, there have been calls for reforms in the legal framework regarding their rights in Morocco.
The country’s National Human Rights Council (CNDH) has worked in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees presenting their ideas at a workshop in Rabat on January 31.
Through their collaboration, the groups suggested the adoption of a new law on immigration and asylum in Morocco.
In addition, the leading parties discussed the need for adaptations in the existing framework, such as developing the legislation on a foreigner’s right to receive specialized legal assistance and advice, Morocco’s news agency (MAP) reported.
CNDH recommended that the current framework that dates back to 1966 be updated to align with “current legal and judicial systems, as well as emerging laws.”
Land of asylum
Morocco has “become a land of asylum and long-term settlement for migrants,” CNDH’s report noted. The association recalled how this complex reality of increasing migration can be both an “opportunity and challenge.”
Recent data from Macro Trends showed that there was in fact a decrease in the net migration rate of -1.054 per 1000 population, marking a 6.81% decline from 2022.
Even though there has been a general decrease in the number of migrants, the amount of refugees in Morocco has almost doubled over the past two years according to UNHCR.
Between 2020 and 2022, the number of refugees in Morocco rose by 45% while the amount of asylum seekers tripled. As of August 2022, Morocco was home to 19,278 refugees and asylum seekers from more than 42 countries.
With such a diverse selection of countries, President of the CNDH Amina Bouayach emphasized the need for more certified translators to ensure that migrants have the access they need to legal advice, in their native language.
Bouayach suggested creating a network of sworn translators that specialize in the immigration field, noting there is a shortage of translators with expertise in sub-Saharan languages, Turkish, and some Eastern European language, among others.
Boosting migrants’ access to the justice system necessitates revisions of the law on legal aid as well as training programs for judges, the CNDH highlighted, noting the law governing the status of foreigners needed to be revised.
Time for change
Input from associations such as UNHCR is crucial to the development of migrant and refugee rights as Rabat’s representative from UNHCR Francois Rebeyt-Degat stressed.
One of the frameworks that the CNDH and UNHCR have been trying to implement is the introduction of national legislation and institutional plan of asylum. In addition to “establishing a policy integrating refugees and their families in terms of housing, health, schooling, training, and employment,” the report explains.
In particular, the report called for a review of Moroccan law 02.03 on the procedures and conditions for migrants that are applying for residency, asking for “a unified procedure for the appeal process.”
As Morocco accommodates a large number of migrants, CNDH “invited the Moroccan government” to address a long list of measures to ease their integration in Moroccan society.
The justice system was again prevalent in the issues discussed, and the association asked that the government “ensures the effective access to justice for irregular migrants in the case of arrest.”
Last year reports disclosed that Moroccan authorities arrested 7,000 migrants entering the country irregularly.
The CNDH called for “particular attention” to be paid to the law surrounding minors and migrant women, based on the psychological and medical treatment that the foreigners may require.
For his part, Rebeyt-Degat lauded the ongoing hard work of the CNDH and its partners on their work “so foreigners enjoy their rights.”
Read Also: Arab Barometer: 55% of Moroccans Believe Racial Discrimination is Not a Problem
Read Also: Arab Barometer: 55% of Moroccans Believe Racial Discrimination is Not a Problem
