Agadir – The President of Morocco’s Public Prosecutor’s Office has issued a new circular aimed at strengthening legal protections for vulnerable groups and improving their access to justice.
The directive was addressed to the First Advocate General at the Court of Cassation, the King’s Attorneys General at the Courts of Appeal, and the King’s Prosecutors at the Courts of First Instance.
The circular underlines the priority of ensuring that individuals from these groups are treated with dignity, their complaints are handled carefully, and their access to the judicial system is facilitated.
Judicial authorities are tasked with closely supervising investigations conducted by the police in cases involving vulnerable populations, with particular attention to the safety and rights of victims.
It also recommends involving qualified social workers and conducting comprehensive social assessments when these individuals are crime victims.
In addition, the Public Prosecutor’s Office called for strengthening the function of women’s and children’s support units and commissions within courts across the country.
These bodies are urged to work closely with relevant government ministries to coordinate services effectively, and to dedicate sessions of local and regional coordination committees specifically to address issues affecting vulnerable groups.
The circular stresses that legal requisitions must reflect the legislature’s intention to protect these categories, and officials are urged to report any obstacles that could prevent full implementation.
The President of the Public Prosecutor’s Office underlined their role in advancing the implementation of national criminal policy and reinforcing respect for the rights of vulnerable groups in Morocco.
The circular highlights the constitutional protections provided under Article 34, which calls for addressing the needs of persons with specific vulnerabilities, promoting their social and civic integration, and guaranteeing their rights and freedoms.
Morocco’s international commitments are also highlighted in the circular, reflecting the country’s ongoing alignment with global human rights standards.
These include the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, both of which establish fundamental obligations for the protection of individual rights, equality before the law, and access to justice.
