King Mohammed VI has reiterated Morocco’s commitment to promoting human rights, saying this commitment has become a defining element of the country’s public policy and a basic determinant of the strategic decisions made in the economic, social, cultural or environmental sectors.
In a message addressed Thursday to participants in an international symposium held in Rabat to mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Monarch voiced firm commitment to continue bolstering the rule of law and strengthening the nation’s institutions.
“This is a sovereign, proactive policy designed to build on achievements, while continuing to deal constructively with emerging rights issues, whether at domestic level or within the international system of human rights”, said the King in his message read out by president of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), Amina Bouayach.
Despite the accomplishments made in this regard, “we must be more effectively committed to addressing current pressing issues and anticipating what might lie ahead, keeping in mind our particularities as well as our immutable national values”, added the Sovereign, stressing that political and civil rights should go hand in hand with economic, social, cultural and environmental rights.
He cited in this regard the structural reforms launched, including universal health coverage, social protection and support for vulnerable groups, saying this societal project is designed to guarantee effective access to social and health services, while strengthening the pillars of the country national solidarity system.
“I have called for broad-based consultations to revisit the Family Code, two decades after its implementation. The aim is to safeguard the rights of women and children and to uphold the interests of the family, said the King, noting that the review is based on the principles of justice, equality, solidarity and harmony, all of which stem from our pristine Islamic faith. It should also build on constructive ijtihad to make sure human rights developments and the relevant universal values are duly taken into account.
Morocco, like the rest of the world, is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a milestone in the history of mankind, said the King.
This celebration is an opportunity to take stock of what has been achieved in this domain, to pinpoint the inadequacies and shortcomings noted in upholding the accomplishments made, and to identify the challenges the international community is still grappling with to make sure all human rights are fully respected, explained the Monarch.
“Morocco opted for a remarkable and unique approach to human rights. This approach, which is still evolving, has contributed to shaping the experience of the international community in this regard”, added the King.
Due to the tensions affecting the world and the repeated breaches of the lofty principles and values underpinning the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Moroccan Sovereign stressed the need to renew the universal pledge to protecting the rights of individuals and groups, especially those living in precarious conditions.
To address challenges facing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the international community managed to come up with conventions and protocols – some binding and others not – in an effort to find universal common ground to prevent a recurrence of the tragedies of war, strife, aggression and displacement, said the King.
However, resolving current cross-border challenges can hardly be envisaged without the effective participation of the countries of the South in the formulation of approaches to the implementation of the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the provisions of the two international Covenants and any relevant international agreements, underlined the King in his message.
Such an active involvement would make it possible to uphold rights and propose creative solutions to guarantee genuine respect for human rights, said the King.
He affirmed that this is precisely what Morocco seeks to do through advocacy work and actual proposals, be it through conflict-resolution efforts, or its action to find new pathways for the promotion of cooperation and solidarity to preserve peace and enhance worldwide security and stability.