Human Rights
The Rooting of a Cuture

During the last decades, Morocco signed ratified and adhered to many conventions related to the promotion and consolidation of human rights. Still, it is the 90's that marked unequivocally its commitment to the respect of human rights, fondamental liberties and the consolidation of the rule of law. The setting of the Consultative Counsel for Human Rights (CCDH) in 1990, of the ministry in charge of human rights in 1993, the setting of Diwan Al Madalim in December 2001, and "the Equity and Conciliation Commission" set in 2003, in addition to the reinforcement of the role of justice do all translate the will to anchor and promote the culture and values of human rights.

CCDH: the first step

Since its creation in 1990, the CCDH proved to be indispensable tool for boosting change and convey the wind of freedom that was blowing on Moroccan institutions. Being the actual instigator of the Royal acts of grace, and having favored the return of many political exiles, this institution started paving the ground for human rights. The arbitration authority, which was created upon the recommendations of the CCDH, had to tackle the heavy task of examining several cases of enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrestations. Set only one month after the enthronement of King Mohammed VI, the arbitration authority compensated more than 4000 people. The sum total of these financial compensations exceededed DH l bn. The CCDH also tackled cases of wrongful dismissals that were perpetrated for political or trade unions reasons. Thanks to the celerity and vigilance of the Council's members, 700 cases were resolved, and compensations were allocated to victims.

The royal will to make of the respect of human rights one of the main pillars of the King's reign, injected a new blood in the Council, for in April 2001 its attributions and representativeness were extended.

The promotion of the Moroccan citizens' socioeconomic rights, and the protection of Moroccan citizens living abroad were particularly priviledged. Renovated and reformed, the CCDH, the perfect illustration of the deep changes affecting Moroccan society, took an active part in regional and international events held for the promotion of human rights. In 2001, the CCDH was elected for the presidency of the International Coordination Community between national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (ICC). This institution (which comprises political parties, trade unions, Moroccan Jews, theologians (Oulemas) and NGOs) was assigned to the task of drafting a national chant for the citizens' rights and obligations. This chants is supposed to fill the legislative void in the field of eradicating al] forms of hatred and violence.

The Mohammed VI prize for human rights created in 2001, is another illustration of this will to give consistency and life to human rights which must moue from the conceptuel state to the Moroccan citizens' daily life, This distinction awarded every year on the l0th of December is meant to prize individuals or institutions which distinguished themselves by means of their activities, scientific studies, or projects meant for the protection, the promotion and the enjoyment of human rights,

E.R.I or the Moment of Truth,

Files dealing with. cases of enforced disappearance, exile for political reasons or arbitray detention, and which remained pending, are going to be entrusted with the equity and. reconciliation commission. This commission takes on the search for truth and the redefinition of the human rights concept in a country where solidarity and conciliation with the self reign supreme. The ad hoc "equity and reconciliation" commission, nominated on December 15, 2003 by the King, took upon itself the study in depth and in an exhaustive way of all cases of the enforced disappearance and arbitrary arrestations. Gathering only highly competent and honest members, this entity does play the yole of a "truth commission" as recognized by international norms.

"Diwan Al Madalim" is another institution set in the midst of ail the actions and amendments which are meant to establish and consolidate the ride of law. Placed under the supervision of the King , this institution aims at playing the yole of the intermediary between the citizens and administration in order to achieve reconciliation between them.

In this way, the attachment to the ride of law, to the safeguarding of human rights, the protection of individual and collective liberties, the maintenance of security and stability for all goes hand in hand with a relentless action aiming at giving more consistency to these rights. To reach this goal of training and information seminars are organized for both officials and citizens. Such is the cost for propagating the culture of respecting human dignity.