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Gummersbach – Amina Bouayach, President of Morocco’s National Human Rights Council (CNDH), issued today at the Arab-African Forum on Business and Human Rights, that economic development must serve human dignity, not undermine it.
Standing before policymakers, civil society leaders, and international delegates in Marrakech, Bouayach noted that the link between business and human rights is no longer a theoretical issue.
“This is not just an academic or institutional conversation,” she said. “It is a strategic and moral imperative, one that directly affects justice, peace, and the future of our societies.”
The forum brought together representatives from across Africa and the Arab world to discuss how regional economies can grow while respecting universal human rights.
Bouayach described the gathering as a chance to build a shared vision that aligns the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals with the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Fourteen years after the adoption of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, Bouayach reflected on their continued relevance, but also on the deep challenges that remain.
Recent years, she warned, have laid bare the grim reality that the environment is deteriorating at an alarming rate, forced displacement continues to rise, inequality is widening, and the most vulnerable are growing more fragile.
She spoke with particular concern about the persistence of child labor, noting that 72 million children in Africa are still working instead of learning.
“This is not only a failure of economic systems,” she lamented. “It is a failure of conscience.” Such numbers point to a larger issue, the lack of adequate protection for economic and social rights in too many countries.
A commitment to dignity, equity and sustainability
Turning to Morocco, Bouayach acknowledged the country’s ongoing economic expansion but cautioned that growth alone is not enough. Development, she said, must include the rights and well-being of workers, communities, and the environment.
“We must ensure that infrastructure projects, major investments, and supply chains reflect a commitment to dignity, equity, and sustainability.”
She also underlined the urgent need for legislative reform. National laws that govern labor relations and investment must be updated to align with international standards for decent work and responsible enterprise.
Implementing human rights due diligence, as required by global frameworks, remains a major challenge.
Bouayach called for integrating human rights into international investment frameworks, making environmental justice a top economic priority, and ensuring that development strategies reflect human rights obligations.
She also pointed to the importance of including marginalized groups in decision-making and urged renewed momentum behind the adoption of the long-awaited international convention on the right to development.
Under her leadership, the CNDH is already working on several fronts. The council monitors complaints related to environmental and social impacts of economic activity and plays a role in shaping national strategies, including Morocco’s preparation for co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
It is also working to ensure that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) incorporates a human rights approach, while continuing to engage with the UN system and address emerging challenges like the impact of artificial intelligence on labor and rights.
Bouayach concluded her remarks with a reminder of the enormous potential within the Arab and African regions.
