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El Chorouk
11-05-2025
- Politics
- El Chorouk
UN Mandela Prize 2025: Makhzen's Nomination, A Moral and Political Farce
Moroccan human rights activists and journalists considered their country's nomination for the 2025 United Nations Nelson Mandela Human Rights Prize a 'moral and political scandal and an official whitewash of its dark criminal record.' They called for the nomination to be withdrawn to preserve the credibility of the UN international institution. In an article titled 'Morocco's Nomination for the Mandela Prize… When the Executioner Demands the Victim's Medal,' Moroccan blogger and human rights activist Mohamed Kandil said, 'Morocco's nomination for this prize is yet another farce added to the archive of official impudence of the Makhzen regime.' He added, 'When Morocco nominates itself for the Nelson Mandela Prize, it's as if the Makhzen is asking the world to believe that mass graves, secret prisons, and torture chambers are merely transient human rights violations.' He emphasised in this context that 'the National Council for Human Rights in Morocco, whose president, Amina Bouayach, was nominated for this prize, has become nothing more than a human rights polishing arm for the repressive apparatus. How can it now be presented to the world as the face of human rights in Morocco after all that it has done to the Rif movement, journalists, and political prisoners?' He emphasized that 'the Makhzen regime does not represent the people or the victims, but rather is merely a security institution adept at public relations at international forums.' He explained in this context that 'Amina Bouayach is neither an activist nor an independent woman, but rather a mere intelligence agent, recruited within the official propaganda network, called upon when necessary to endorse the crimes of the Makhzen state, distort the reports of international organizations, and cover up the various forms of torture in the country.' He asked sarcastically, 'Who's the Mandela that Morocco wants to emulate? Is he Mandela, who spent 27 years in prison for defending dignity and freedom? Or the Mandela of the Makhzen, who imprisons activists on 27 fabricated charges in a 27-minute sham trial?' The Moroccan human rights activist believes that Morocco's nomination for this prize is a 'moral and political scandal,' adding, 'Awarding Morocco this prize is an official whitewash of a dark record and a slap in the face of every prisoner of conscience, every mother who lost her son under torture, and every Moroccan who was displaced or persecuted for daring to say no to injustice, tyranny, and corruption.' For his part, Moroccan writer and journalist Ali Lahrouchi wrote in an article that 'Morocco's nomination for this prize is an insult to United Nations institutions, as the Nelson Mandela Prize is a global recognition of human commitment to principles, values, and ethics, the prioritization of the public interest over personal interest, transcending vengeful thinking, and remaining patient and steadfast in adhering to principles…' Ali Lahrouchi asserted that Morocco 'is still living in the Middle Ages,' asking, 'What has changed in Morocco for Amina Bouayach to be nominated for the prize of Nelson Mandela, the courageous fighter?' In this regard, he emphasized that 'everyone who criticized, opposed, or commented on the backward practices in Morocco was subjected to assassination, kidnapping, torture, arrest, marginalization, and retaliation through the use and subjugation of all relevant institutions, starting with the intelligence, security, gendarmerie, judiciary, and prisons, to silence all voices opposing or criticizing the dictatorial policies pursued in Morocco.' Hence, he confirmed, 'Morocco's history is replete with all forms of human rights violations and abuses, and its mere nominating it for this prize is an insult to the freedom fighter Nelson Mandela.' He warns that Morocco's victory 'will be the last nail in the coffin of the United Nations and its institutions, which will never receive any respect.' In turn, human rights activist and former prisoner Saida el-Alami wondered, 'Morocco is submitting its nomination for the Nelson Mandela Human Rights Prize? What rights exactly, when Moroccan citizens enjoy no political, civil, or economic rights?' In her remarks, el-Alami addressed the suffering of the Moroccan people due to the Makhzen's policies in various sectors and their lack of the most basic rights that guarantee a decent life. She highlighted the worsening deterioration of human rights in the Kingdom, in light of the judiciary's use of retaliation against opponents, fabricating charges against human rights activists, and violating the rights of detainees in police stations and prison cells. The Moroccan human rights activist concluded her remarks by saying, 'I don't understand the basis on which Morocco was nominated for this prize. If Nelson Mandela were alive, he would have cancelled this award as long as the enemies of humanity continue to nominate it.'
Morocco World
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
35 Years of CNDH: Morocco Reaffirms Commitment to Human Rights
Rabat – 35 years ago, Morocco took a bold step. Long before global standards emerged, the country established its first national human rights institution on May 8, 1990, laying the groundwork for what would become a key pillar in its governance landscape. This week, the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) marks that turning point. The anniversary speaks not only to the passage of time, but to the country's steady shift toward greater accountability, justice, and rights protection. The Council's president, Amina Bouayach, sees this moment as more than symbolic. 'We are looking back on a path of transformation, but also of construction. Morocco changes constantly, so must we,' she said. What began as a modest advisory body has grown into a constitutional institution with regional branches and a far-reaching mandate. Since 2018, the Council has operated with expanded powers to address violations, support victims, and defend freedoms. Morocco had already taken this path in the early 1990s, three years before the UN adopted the Paris Principles that define how human rights institutions should function. That early move, Bouayach said, reflected a national decision to address past abuses and build a system based on truth, justice, and reconciliation. The country marked the 20th anniversary of that process earlier this year. Over the years, the Council has played a role in major reforms: from restructuring the justice system and revising the Constitution to observing elections and launching discussions around Morocco's Family Code. 'We are not outside of national dynamics, we stand in the middle of them,' Bouayach explained. Under the slogan '35 Years: Rights. Freedoms. Effectiveness', the Council plans to mark the anniversary throughout 2025. The goal is to reinforce the rule of law, support victims where needed, and ensure that rights do not remain theoretical but become real and enforceable. Morocco's human rights body asserts that it stands on principles of independence and accountability. But it also carries a story, one of political will, institutional learning, and the belief that no reform holds weight unless it protects human dignity. Tags: CNDHCNDH Morocochuman rightsmorocco human rights
Morocco World
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Bouayach: Reparative Justice Must Address Africa's Past and Present Wounds
Rabat – In a renewed call for dignity and justice, Amina Bouayach, President of Morocco's National Human Rights Council (CNDH), delivered a compelling address on April 30, at the closing session of the African NGO Forum, hosted in Banjul, The Gambia. Speaking via video, Bouayach urged a comprehensive rethinking of 'reparative justice' to address the enduring legacies of slavery, colonialism, and exploitation across the African continent. 'Africa has carried for centuries the burden of an unjust system,' Bouayach said, referring to how human exploitation — through slavery and colonial rule — fueled global wealth at the expense of Africa's suffering and impoverishment. She stressed that historical injustices — such as slavery, human trafficking, and colonial domination — stripped entire generations of their fundamental rights and left deep, lasting wounds. These injustices, Bouayach noted, continue to affect African societies and the diaspora, which she described as 'a living memory of historical suffering' and ongoing victims of global injustice. Highlighting the complexity of reparations, Bouayach pointed to three key challenges: defining responsibility, ensuring feasibility, and clarifying the ultimate goal. She warned that financial or symbolic reparations alone are insufficient to heal historical trauma or address systemic inequality. Instead, she advocated for a long-term, inclusive approach rooted in structural reform. Reparative justice, she emphasized, must actively involve affected communities and recognize their agency. Their inclusion is not only essential but also a formal acknowledgment of the rights denied to them for centuries. Drawing from transitional justice experiences in Africa and Latin America, Bouayach noted that reparative justice mechanisms are feasible and effective when designed with intention and inclusivity. She framed reparations as a process of rebuilding societies on the basis of equality, dignity, and shared responsibility. ' Justice today must go beyond symbolic gestures,' Bouayach added, focusing on the need for economic justice at the heart of reparations. She proposed targeted development programs for historically marginalized communities and support for African-led initiatives across the economic, cultural, and social sectors — both on the continent and in the diaspora. In conclusion, Bouayach highlighted the central role of national human rights institutions and civil society organizations. She called them vital actors in documenting the ongoing impact of historical crimes and advancing demands for recognition, redress, and guarantees of non-repetition. Their work, she said, is key to amplifying victims' voices and shaping concrete reparative frameworks. This year's African NGO Forum took place over three days in Banjul, The Gambia, offering a platform for civil society, academics, and policymakers to collaborate on strategies for advancing reparations at all levels. Discussions focused on topics such as modern-day slavery, gender-based approaches to reparations, international advocacy, and the institutionalization of human rights-based reparative mechanisms. Tags: Amina BouayachCNDHhuman rights
Morocco World
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Morocco World
Morocco's CNDH Weaves Culture and Rights at Rabat's International Book Fair 2025
Rabat – At this year's International Publishing and Book Fair (SIEL), the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) offers not only a program, but also a perspective. One that binds books, cultural heritage, and human dignity into a shared national conversation. In their pavilion (A24), visitors find more than shelves and panels. They step into a space where children from across Morocco, rights defenders, artists, and writers meet to present and ponder on topics such as identity, expression, and the right to belong. For CNDH Chairperson Amina Bouayach, this is precisely the point. 'Culture is not a museum piece. It moves. It speaks. It connects generations,' she explains. 'It holds our memory, but also allows us to write ourselves into the future.' Over ten days, the CNDH's pavilion becomes a meeting ground for over 100 Moroccan and international figures. They come to lecture and to share and express, each representing one of Morocco's twelve regions, each carrying a story, a tradition, a local rhythm. Five thematic spaces organize the experience: mornings devoted to children's creativity, literary encounters around human rights, artistic sessions, panels with civil society voices, and a curated selection of books and publications. Every corner of the pavilion speaks of access, dignity, and plurality. At the heart of this year's vision lies a powerful idea: cultural expression is not decorative – it is foundational. The CNDH frames cultural rights as inseparable from social cohesion, the right to memory, and the protection of identity. In Morocco, the bond between human rights activism and literature runs deep, a thread that weaves through generations of writers who used the written word as witness and weapon. From the sharp, clear voices of authors like Fatema Mernissi, who challenged patriarchal norms and reimagined the place of women in Muslim societies, to the novels of Tahar Ben Jelloun, who exposed the silences around torture, injustice, and exile, Moroccan literature has long served as a mirror held up to society. These authors did not write for spectacle; they wrote to disturb comfort, to stir conscience, and to open space for dialogue. Literature here has never stood apart from life, it breathes with it, argues with it, and, at times, reshapes it. In many ways, books have preserved the stories others tried to erase and carried forward the hope that dignity, equality, and freedom remain possible. Culture, our fingerprint Moroccan Actor Kamal Kadimi, who participated in a panel on artistic expression in CNDH's booth on Wednesday, April 23, shared his concerns and hopes with Morocco World News (MWN). 'I see culture as our fingerprint,' he said. 'No two are alike. If we lose it, we lose our name in the world.' Kadimi, known for his dedication to youth outreach, called on young Moroccans to stay close to their cultural roots. 'I tell the youth: wear your culture like your skin. It isn't something to take off. It's part of who you are.' He sees platforms like the CNDH's pavilion as not just a mere set of exhibitions. 'This isn't a booth,' he said. 'This is a statement. That culture belongs to all of us. And that our traditions, our dialects, our music, they deserve the same protection as our civil rights.' The message at this year's SIEL is loud and clear. When rights are spoken in the language of culture, they resonate deeper. And when books, stories, and songs enter public life, they do not merely inform, they affirm. By linking literature with human rights and culture with freedom, the CNDH has turned its presence at SIEL into something rare – a place where the human voice is heard and honored. The Rabat Book Fair, held from April 18 to 27, gathers hundreds of exhibitors from around the globe, presenting a selection of over 100,000 works spanning literary, academic, and cultural fields. Tags: book fair MoroccoCNDHCNDH Moroccohuman rightsSIELSIEL 2025
Morocco World
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
CNDH Recommends Over 100 Reforms to Improve Morocco's Criminal Justice System
Rabat – The Moroccan Human Rights Council (CNDH) has proposed over 100 recommendations to improve Morocco's Criminal Procedure Code and make it fairer and in line with international standards. The memorandum, presented this month, focuses on making justice more accessible to all citizens, especially vulnerable groups like women, children, people with disabilities, and migrants, said CNDH in a press release. It also notes the importance of protecting the rights of people accused of crimes, by ensuring fair trials, and respecting the principle of the rule of law. A human rights approach to justice CNDH President Amina Bouayach said that criminal procedure is not just a technical process but a reflection of a society's values and its vision of justice. 'Every person, no matter their legal situation, deserves dignity and fairness,' she said. 'A person under arrest is not just a file or a number. They have a story, hopes, and a future,' she added. Bouayach added that these changes are necessary for building a justice system that balances public security with real protection of individual rights and freedoms. The recommendations in the CNDH memorandum are organized around four major principles, including applying the rule of law equally to everyone, including the police and courts. Any legal action that limits a person's rights must follow strict rules and be necessary and proportional, CNDH explained. The second recommendation stresses the importance of fair trials, saying that people suspected of crimes should have the right to a lawyer from the moment of arrest. They should be clearly informed of their rights in a language they understand, and all police interrogations should be recorded with audio and video, CNDH says. Time limits for police custody should be reduced to prevent abuse, it added. The third recommendation calls for a balance between parties in the court, explaining that the defense must be treated equally to the prosecution. Lawyers should have access to police files and be present from the start of police procedures, CNDH says. It added that civil society organizations should also be able to participate in legal cases more freely, without needing special government permission. The fourth and last recommendation focuses on the protection of vulnerable groups, saying that the law must take into account the special needs of women, children, migrants, and people with disabilities. For example, women who report violence, CNDH says, should not be forced to confront their attackers in court. In addition, children involved in legal cases should receive psychological support, and migrants should be provided with translation services. Among the more detailed proposals, the CNDH is also advocating for the removal of the death penalty from the legal code, and a new legal procedure to allow people wrongly imprisoned to receive compensation. CNDH finally calls for independent medical checks for people in police custody, and the right to request a second medical opinion, along with stronger rules to protect legal confidentiality when using technology like remote hearings. Within this context, the council is urging the elimination of unnecessary restrictions on civil society groups that want to support victims or take legal action. The CNDH hopes that Parliament will take these recommendations seriously when reviewing Draft Law No. 03.23, which is set to revise Law No. 22.01 governing criminal procedures in Morocco. The Council believes these reforms are essential to ensure justice, protect human dignity, and fulfill Morocco's obligations under international law. Tags: CNDHcriminal justicelaw
