Doha – King Mohammed VI reappointed Amina Bouayach as president of Morocco’s National Human Rights Council (CNDH) on Friday, marking a continuation of her leadership role that began in December 2018.
The reappointment comes as part of the Royal commitment to strengthening constitutional institutions and their missions in human rights protection.
Born on December 10, 1957 – symbolically sharing her birthday with World Human Rights Day – Bouayach comes from a family with deep roots in civil rights advocacy.
Originally from Tetouan, her father, Hammadi Bouayach, was not only a resistance activist but also acted as dean of the Law Faculty in Rabat. Her grandfather fought alongside Abdelkrim El Khattabi during the heroic resistance against Spanish colonial forces in the Rif region.
Bouayach’s journey in human rights activism began in 1976 following the arrest of her former husband for political activities. This experience during Morocco’s Years of Lead led her to work closely with families of political prisoners, deepening her understanding of civil rights issues and institutional reform needs.
Her professional path has been marked by diversity and achievement. After obtaining her degree in economics from Mohammed V University, she worked as a research assistant to the late Fatema Mernissi, focusing on Muslim women’s rights.
She later served as a journalist and institutional communication consultant, including a role as communication chief for former Head of Government Abderrahmane El Youssoufi.
Bouayach made history as the first woman to chair a human rights organization in Morocco, leading the Moroccan Organization for Human Rights (OMDH) for two consecutive terms.
Meanwhile, her diplomatic career included serving as Morocco’s Ambassador to Sweden and Latvia from 2016 to 2018.
Read also: Amina Bouayach: Morocco Has Come to Terms with Its Complex History
Earlier this month, Bouayach was unanimously elected as President of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), becoming the second African leader to hold this position. She previously served as the organization’s Secretary General.
Bouayach has championed various human rights causes throughout her career, including the abolition of the death penalty, prevention of torture, and protection of refugees’ rights. In 2019, she led a successful national campaign against child marriage in Morocco.
Her contributions have earned her numerous distinctions, including the Order of the Throne (Commander) from King Mohammed VI and the French Legion of Honor (Officer) in 2014.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights recognized her in 2021 as one of five women leaders advocating for a more egalitarian post-COVID world.
She likewise received the North-South Prize from the Council of Europe for her work in advancing human rights, gender equality, and torture prevention.
Multilingual in Arabic, Amazigh, French, English, and Spanish, Bouayach has also served on various national and international bodies, including the National Commission on International Humanitarian Law and the Scientific Committee of the World Congress against the Death Penalty.
She was also a member of the Advisory Commission for the Revision of Morocco’s 2011 Constitution.
