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Rabat – The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Alice Jill Edwards, will carry out an official visit to Morocco from March 23 to April 2.
The visit, at the invitation of Morocco’s government, will cover two of the country’s destinations: Rabat and Laayoune.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said the visit will focus on justice, complaints, investigations and interviews as well as recent amendments to the penal code.
The visit also will also cover the criminal justice system, including the legal and procedural safeguards against torture and other ill-treatment during early hours of detention. Edwards will also take part in reviewing the equipment, weapons, and means of restraint available to law enforcement.
The assessment will also cover health and psychiatry, including within prisons.
During the visit, Edwards will hold talks with officials as well as international committees; including UN entities and NGOs.
The rapporteur will also present her preliminary findings to Morocco’s government, as well as cover them in a press conference.
Morocco has been vowing commitment to address torture, with a strategy focusing on prevention and protection of human rights.
President of Morocco’s Human Rights Council (CNDH) Amina Bouayach has been stressing the council’s efforts in strengthening foundations of human rights and protection of freedoms.
Bouayach also frequently points to the the critical role of legislative safeguards in ensuring justice and protecting human rights.
In 2024, she renewed Morocco’s commitment to combatting torture and ill-treatment within detention centers and throughout the country.
Bouayach made her remarks at a regional workshop in Casablanca in partnership with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa.
“Establishing strong legislative guarantees to prevent torture and protect against it is a cornerstone of building a state of law and justice. Discussing it goes beyond compliance with human rights standards; it is about ensuring human dignity and justice for all,” she stated.
The CNDH head acknowledged progress in this area, but also persistent challenges in achieving universal adherence to anti-torture frameworks.
“Unfortunately, not all societies have reached this level of commitment. International human rights law prohibits torture absolutely, reinforced by a peremptory norm that allows no exceptions or restrictions,” she explained.
She also called on human rights activists and all stakeholders to mobilize for campaigns to achieve universal ratification of the convention against torture.
In January this year, she echoed the same remarks in a session where she emphasized the need to develop precise indicators to evaluate human rights in Morocco.
“Significant efforts have been made. The Council recognizes that since 2019, it has effectively implemented human rights measures, covering both the legal and non-legal aspects. Today, we consider these efforts important—through significant programs in public policy and initiatives of notable relevance,” Bouayach told Morocco World News (MWN) in a press briefing.
She stressed that the current reality shows no clear impact on locals, pleading for the development of an approach in the field of monitoring in human rights and protection interventions.
