Morocco’s Human Rights Council to Address Torture Prevention

Rabat – Morocco’s National Council for Human Rights is set to host a meeting on torture prevention at its headquarters in Rabat on Monday.

The meeting will bring together key players from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to discuss the national mechanism for preventing torture.

Led by the council’s Communication Director, Amina Salehi, the meeting is part of the council’s broader mission to uphold human rights standards, curb violations, and confront challenges head-on.

The meeting will shed light on the work experience, methodology, and findings of the National Mechanism for Preventing Torture, offering insights into its crucial role in safeguarding human dignity, the Council announced in a statement.

It added that the event will feature several sessions, including an opening address by council president, Amina Bouayach, and a detailed presentation by Mohamed Benaajiba, the coordinator of the mechanism.

During the event, attendees will visit a photo exhibition organized by the council to showcase the “Twenties of Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation” initiative.

The establishment of the National Mechanism for Preventing Torture marks a significant milestone in Morocco’s commitment to human rights, the statement explains.

Founded by the General Assembly of the National Council for Human Rights in 2019, the initiative was guided by the provisions of Law 76-15, and aims to ensure compliance with internal regulations and the selection of members based on diverse expertise relevant to torture prevention.

Morocco ratified the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) on June 21, 1993.

It started the ratification process of its Optional Protocol (OPCAT) on November 1, 2012, and deposited its ratification instruments on November 24, 2014, becoming the 76th State Party to the OPCAT.

Under Article 17 of the Optional Protocol, “each State Party shall maintain, designate or establish, at the latest one year after the entry into force of the present Protocol or of its ratification or accession, one or several independent national preventive mechanisms for the prevention of torture at the domestic level.”

The protocol equally dictates that “mechanisms established by decentralized units may be designated as national preventive mechanisms for the purposes of the present Protocol if they are in conformity with its provisions.”