Morocco’s Nadia Amal Bernoussi to Lead UN Human Rights Advisory Committee

Doha – Morocco strengthened its presence in international human rights bodies as Nadia Amal Bernoussi was elected president of the UN Human Rights Council’s Advisory Committee at its 33rd session in Geneva on Monday.

Bernoussi, who has served on the committee since 2020 and gained re-election in 2023 for the 2023-2026 term, brings substantial experience in human rights advocacy.

She currently serves on the Venice Commission and previously participated in Morocco’s 2011 Constitutional Review Advisory Commission, while maintaining an active role in academic research.

The Advisory Committee, comprising 18 experts, functions as a think tank focused on protecting and promoting human rights.

During its current session running until February 21, the committee will address several critical issues, including gender considerations, democratic international order, and disability rights.

Key agenda items also include examining human rights implications of emerging military technologies, disinformation’s impact on human rights, technology-facilitated gender-based violence, and plastic pollution’s effects on human rights.

This election builds on Morocco’s expanding role in UN human rights mechanisms. In January 2024, Morocco’s Ambassador Omar Zniber won the presidency of the UN Human Rights Council with 30 votes against South Africa’s 17 votes in a rare contested African Group election.

Under Zniber’s leadership, the Council has launched initiatives examining the impact of artificial intelligence on human rights and addressing interconnected challenges like climate change, as well as food security, and health security.

Morocco recently demonstrated its diplomatic influence by hosting the first-ever UN Human Rights Council retreat in the MENA region in November 2024. The two-day event in Rabat gathered global stakeholders to discuss the Council’s challenges and reform strategies.

The appointment adds to Morocco’s growing diplomatic presence in UN bodies. Morocco was recently elected as vice-chair of the UN Peacebuilding Commission for 2025, with Ambassador Omar Hilale representing the country.

Hilale also maintains his position as chair of the Central African Republic Configuration for Peacebuilding, where Morocco has deployed over 12,000 peacekeeping troops since 2014.

Morocco is currently party to nine out of ten major human rights conventions and completed its fourth Universal Periodic Review in 2022 with participation from all 193 UN member states.

The Human Rights Council Advisory Committee, as a subsidiary body of the 47-member Human Rights Council, provides expertise and research-based advice on various human rights themes as requested by the Council.