Rabat – Monir Ben Salah, the Secretary-General of the National Human Rights Council of Morocco (CNDH), emphasized the crucial role of memory and history in promoting human rights and social unity, as well as shaping a just and integrated society in Morocco.
He made the statement in an address at a roundtable discussion on “History and Citizenship Values” at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities in Mohammedia on Thursday.
During his address, Ben Salah underlined CNDH’s multifaceted approach to addressing historical contexts, promoting collective memory, and evaluating public policies through the lens of human rights.
“The National Human Rights Council emphasizes its interest in promoting and protecting all civil, political, economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights, including the right to development, recalling Morocco’s commitment as an active member in international organizations and its adherence to human rights as universally recognized,” he said.
He stressed the importance of memory and history in the work of national human rights institutions, particularly in the context of implementing transitional justice recommendations in Morocco.
Ben Salah emphasized that while the primary focus may be on transitional justice, attention to memory and history is equally crucial for protecting rights, ensuring social cohesion, and achieving community justice.
He further highlighted the Council’s commitment to addressing territorial and spatial disparities in Morocco, which he identified as remnants of colonialism and historical mismanagement.
In addition, he emphasized the need to confront tendencies associated with closed identities, fueled by fragmented facts and myths, which undermine social cohesion and contribute to distorted collective memory.
“The inflation and exaggeration of facts and events have become a distorted collective memory and a false refuge for some,” Ben Salah said.
He added that it is imperative that Moroccans restore equitable collective memory to safeguard human rights and enhance social cohesion.
Ben Salah also outlined the Council’s approach to evaluating public policies from a human rights perspective. He notably stressed the need to build policies on the foundation of rights and freedoms across all sectors, especially in light of evolving global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
