Rabat – Morocco’s National Council for Human Rights (CNDH) convened a high-profile conference in Rabat today to address the pressing legal challenges surrounding the guardianship of neglected children.
CNDH hosted the event through its mechanism dedicated to complaints concerning children victims of rights violations. The topic of the event was “Guardianship of Neglected Children: Legal Challenges and Reform Prospects.”
Speaking to Morocco World News on the sidelines of the event, the coordinator of the mechanism emphasized the need to address the shortcomings identified in the application of Law No. 15/01, especially considering that over two decades have passed since its enactment.
Implemented in June 2002, Law 15.01 outlines the conditions and procedures for providing care and protection for neglected children.
The law defines guardianship as the commitment to care for, raise, and protect a neglected child, similar to a parent’s responsibilities towards their own biological child, without conferring any rights to inheritance or lineage.
The conditions for guardianship typically involve demonstrating the ability to provide for the child’s welfare, including financial stability, a suitable living environment, and a commitment to the child’s well-being.
Highlighting “practical deficiencies” in the law’s implementation and the need for reforms to address them, Al Aazani stressed that the conference serves as a platform to “discuss practical issues, explore alternatives, assess future challenges, and advocate for reforms.”
These challenges include delays in the guardianship process, insufficient care and protection for neglected children, and the need for effective monitoring mechanisms to ensure the fulfillment of children’s basic rights.
He expressed confidence that the discussions would yield important recommendations and proposals.
“Undoubtedly, this gathering will result in important recommendations and proposals, primarily aimed at amending the neglected children’s guardianship law, given the practical shortcomings identified,” he said.
The conference brought together different stakeholders, including government ministries, the judiciary, civil society organizations, and firsthand accounts from the field.
CNDH said in a statement that the event aims to address the subject in a manner conducive to establishing an alternative care system that meets the “educational, social, and material needs of neglected children.”
It added that the initiative is part of a broader call for the amendment of the law regulating the guardianship of neglected children, ensuring that each child under care enjoys all internationally recognized rights, particularly those outlined in the International Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Participants delved into various key areas, including the situation of neglected children who are victims of natural disasters, the reception of Moroccan guardianship law by foreign legal systems, and the guardianship of neglected children by residents abroad, among other topics.
Testimonials from relevant stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Solidarity, Social Integration, and Family, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Interior, and the civil society sector, were also presented at the event.
