CNDH President Calls Morocco’s UN Death Penalty Vote a Milestone for Justice

Rabat – Amina Bouayach, president of Morocco’s National Human Rights Council (CNDH), has described Morocco’s endorsement of the United Nations calling for a global moratorium on executions as a “historic milestone,” noting that justice must “restore dignity, not destroy it.”

The CNDH chief’s remarks came as Morocco broke a 17-year abstention streak, voting for the resolution at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, December 17.

“We are halfway toward abolishing the death penalty,” Bouayach said in a speech reflecting on the importance of the vote. She described the decision as a “sovereign and enlightened choice,” reaffirming Morocco’s commitment to the protection of life and human dignity.

Rooted in Justice and Reconciliation

In her address, Bouayach linked this breakthrough to Morocco’s broader human rights journey, particularly the legacy of the Equity and Reconciliation Commission (IER), established two decades ago. “This experience, unique in the world, laid the foundation for a Moroccan model of human rights that firmly advocated for the abolition of capital punishment,” she said.

Bouayach recalled a pivotal moment in 2014, when King Mohammed VI, during the World Forum on Human Rights in Marrakech, called for a national dialogue on the death penalty.

This royal appeal for “collective and thoughtful reflection” galvanized Morocco’s abolitionist movement, pushing it closer to adopting the global moratorium, Bouayach argued.

“These efforts have paved the way for deep and irreversible change,” she added. “The vote is a crucial step, but it must lead to bold legislative reforms that permanently anchor this progress within our national legal framework.”

A Justice System Beyond Punishment

For Bouayach, abolishing the death penalty is not merely a legal issue but an ethical imperative. Instead, she asserted, “the death penalty is not a solution; it is an admission of collective failure—a legitimization of the violence it seeks to eliminate.”

The CNDH has long championed a vision of justice that goes beyond retribution. “We aim to build a Moroccan society where justice transcends mere punishment, becoming a pathway to restoring dignity, freedom, and humanity for all,” Bouayach said.

A justice system rooted in retribution perpetuates cycles of violence, she added, stressing: “Execution is not justice; it is vengeance.” As she sees it, capital punishment deprives society of the opportunity to rehabilitate and reform.

The Path Forward

While the UN vote represents a major victory, Bouayach was clear that this is only the beginning. She called for Morocco to ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which aims for the total abolition of the death penalty.

“The moratorium is a transitional step,” Bouayach emphasized. “What remains is to enshrine the right to life as an irreversible principle within our legal framework.”

Morocco currently has 88 death row inmates, including one woman, although no executions have taken place since 1993.

Bouayach mentioned this as evidence of the country’s readiness to embrace abolition, describing the death penalty as “a relic of a past that no longer aligns with Morocco’s sovereign, voluntary, and irreversible choice to uphold human rights.”

Morocco and the Global Movement

The vote aligns Morocco with a growing international trend. As Bouayach noted, two-thirds of countries worldwide have abolished the death penalty in law or practice.

Within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, 33 of 57 member states have either abolished capital punishment or observed a de facto moratorium.

“By supporting this resolution, Morocco confirms its commitment to human rights on the global stage,” Bouayach remarked. “It is a proud moment for our country, but also a profound responsibility.”

The final words of her speech encapsulated CNDH’s vision for justice: “The right to life is the foundation of all rights. Justice must inspire and repair—it must never destroy.”