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Rabat – Amina Bouayach, President of Morocco’s National Human Rights Council (CNDH), held a bilateral meeting with Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, at the UN headquarters in Geneva on Wednesday.
The meeting, held in the Moroccan Hall at the UN, addressed shared concerns about the state of human rights worldwide. Both officials discussed the challenges facing the international human rights system, especially the weakening of multilateral cooperation and limited funding for human rights efforts.
A key part of the talks centered on strengthening the role of national human rights institutions (NHRIs). Bouayach, who is also the head of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), emphasized the need to encourage more countries to establish such bodies.
Only 115 UN member states currently have national human rights institutions, and not all of them meet the highest international standards known as “A status,” which ensures compliance with the Paris Principles.
This means many institutions still lack full independence, adequate funding, or the authority needed to operate effectively.
The broader human rights landscape is also facing growing pressure. Reports from the UN show that funding gaps continue to limit the work of human rights mechanisms.
Rising geopolitical tensions and conflicts have also made international cooperation more difficult, which weakens collective responses to rights violations.
Türk described NHRIs as “essential” and called GANHRI a strong partner in advancing human rights globally. He said these institutions play a crucial role in protecting and promoting rights at both national and international levels.
The meeting saw the participation of members of the Moroccan delegation and the UN Human Rights Office, as well as representatives of GANHRI, including its Secretary-General, Alyson Kilpatrick.
At the end of the discussions, both sides agreed to launch joint advocacy initiatives aimed at encouraging countries to create and strengthen national human rights institutions.
Strengthening national human rights institutions is increasingly seen as a practical way to improve rights protections on the ground. These bodies can investigate violations, advise governments, and support victims, often acting as a bridge between citizens and the state.
