Zawaya

This appointment is a tribute to Morocco

By: Abdelaziz Karraky

This appointment is a tribute to Morocco on three levels: Firstly, it is an explicit recognition of Moroccan efforts in terms of self-reconciliation and putting an end to human rights violations through the Equity and Reconciliation Commission. Secondly, it is a culmination for the Advisory Council for Human Rights as a national institution promoting human rights and their protection. Thirdly, it honors Dr. Mahjoub El-Haiba, who was constantly present in all human rights events in Morocco, not only on the academic scene as a professor of international law, but also as an actor in civil society and a member of the Equity and Reconciliation Commission, and later on as the General Secretary of the Advisory Council for Human Rights. El-Haiba’s background had probably played a crucial role in choosing him unanimously as the representative of Morocco in this Committee which has a vital importance in human rights promotion and protection on the international scale.

The consensus on the membership of Morocco in the UNHRC will certainly have a significant impact not only on the great Maghreb, but also on the entire Arab world. As a matter of fact, a number of Arab countries today are seeking to benefit from the Moroccan experience in the field of human rights, especially that Morocco is currently developing a national plan of action for democracy and human rights, as recommended by the 1993 Vienna Conference, with the inauguration of a national oversight committee in accordance with a participatory approach which raised a wide debate on human rights around four thematic workshops: democracy and governance, the institutional and legislative framework, factional and thematic rights, and the rights approach to human development. By allowing Ms. Aminatou Haidar to enter its territory based on humanitarian considerations, Morocco proved that human rights have become one of the main determinants of State action, confirming that they have become an irreversible choice.

Mr. Mahjoub El-Haiba, who will represent Morocco in this Committee, is known for being a man of broad consensus, and one who has earned the respect of actors in the rights field universally. His multiple relations as a known academician will facilitate the task of the great Maghreb countries of submitting reports before this Committee, and will make them feel that someone there shares many values and ideas with them, and is very familiar with what these countries suffer from in terms of human rights obstructions. El-Haiba will become a facilitator for the great Maghreb countries, as well as for all Arab and third world countries.

Therefore, Morocco has the responsibility of promoting human rights, and convincing the Maghreb countries of the importance of this challenge, since most of them have a clear deficit in this area. In this region, the right to life is still often violated not only by the State, but also by the community. Moreover, the region is now also threatened by terrorism. Just like they used to chant songs of the Moroccan group Nass El Ghiwane, Maghreb people will chant together from now on a new united anthem about human rights.