Maroc Hebdo Interview with Mr. Abdellatif Ouahbi Minister of Justice “UN Higher Commissioner for Human Rights has Strongly congratulated Morocco”

Back from Geneva, where he has presented Morocco’s periodic report at the UN Human Rights Council, Mr. Abdellatif Ouahbi has offered an interview on reactions from various interveners.

Q: On the occasion of the presentation by Morocco’s periodic report at the UN human rights council, there was an impression that the Moroccan Kingdom has actually achieved some progress. Can you tell us more?

A: As you know, and you have already published it in your weekly of this week, I have had the honor, as Minister of Justice, to present the Moroccan Kingdom’s periodic report at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. It was on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, which was followed by debates.

The report has presented details of all the achievements being made in this sector, without omitting to recall certain points on which there are some efforts to be made along the course. I have recalled that those points are still subject of debate inside the government as well as in civil society elected institutions.

Q: How was the reaction of representatives of attended countries?

A: There were about 127 representatives who have asked for intervention regarding Morocco’s report; with the exception of Namibia, and of course Algeria, all interventions have welcomed achievements being made in Morocco; from Russia to Turkey, from European, American and Asian countries. There were even some countries which have considered that Morocco is a school case and an example to be followed. As for Algeria’s representative, he has trespassed limits by charging Morocco of all the bad things and insisting on disinformation about what is occurring on in the Moroccan Sahara. We understand that Algiers is making a fixation on the Kingdom. I was under the obligation to “put things back in order”, yet in the most respectful possible manner.

Without going into details, I have noticeably commented that Morocco does not accept to get lessons from another country, without naming Algeria. I have noted that “since 1975 the recuperation of our Southern provinces, we have invested $ 200 billion. That was not aid, but that has come from our responsibility towards our own people. I regret that a part of our people and sub-Saharan nationals are taken hostage inside another country and exploited for the sake of creating a political crisis and an international crisis that threatens peace and security over the world.”

And to end my response, I’ve said that “those who brandish the slogan of human rights should first apply those principles for their own people when a people is obliged to queue up in the streets in front of shops for a liter of oil”. I have to remind you that the Moroccan government and the entire Moroccan political entertain their Algerian counterparts with respect and kindness. During the latest meeting of Arab Ministers of Justice held in Rabat, Algerian Minister has publically thanked Morocco for the quality of hospitality and reception reserved for his behalf. That was not the case for the Moroccan Kingdom’s delegation at the Arab summit in Algiers.

“Morocco is closely scrutinized by UN monitoring system of human rights”

Q: But there were some criticism during the UN Human Rights Council debate about Moroccan report..?

A: I have to say as a Moroccan, that I was agreeably surprised by different interventions by a number of representatives of states members. They have welcomed progress being made by Morocco, and Mr. Volker Turk, UN Higher Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed a great deal of praise towards Morocco for efforts achieved by our country for its best respect of human rights. He has strongly congratulated Morocco and that has disturbed Algerians.

You should know one thing: Since ten years, Morocco has been closely scrutinized by a UN monitoring system in terms of human rights this is because progress has been done and commitments have been made and this is not the case in other countries.. We, in the government, have a strong willingness to go ahead in advancing with human right issue.

“Our commitment for human rights consolidation is constant and irreversible”

Q: What’s about the issue question about women’s rights and violence against them and death penalty which were raised during the debate?

A: First, at the global level, Morocco has reaffirmed its own commitment, during the closing debate on its periodic report, to take into account all remarks being raised by several sides. Our commitment for the consolidation of human rights in our country is constant and irreversible.

Morocco, I should remind you, has continued to take legislative and institutional measures within the framework of implementing the constitution and also its international commitments. Therefore, the adoption by Human Rights National Council of a new organic bill has allowed reinforcement of competencies of this national institution and the consolidation of its preventive roles, through the creation of three national mechanisms which are national mechanism of prevention of torture, national mechanism of recourse for children victims of violence of their own rights, and national mechanism of the protection for the rights of persons in handicapped situation. As regard to death penalty, members of the Human Rights Council should know that Morocco has practically suspended the implementation of death penalty about three decades; and that national legislation has been reinforced by reduction of passible of capital sentence by means of law on military justice, which has reduced the figure to 5 instead of 16. Regarding women situation, we have also explained that advanced achievements have been made and also that some proposals are in due course for a genuine men-women equality.