Rabat, 20/12/2018 (MAP) - HM King Mohammed VI urged all bodies and institutions concerned to keep up their efforts in order to play their role in protecting and promoting all types of human rights, both as a culture and as concrete action on the ground. "I call on all bodies and institutions concerned to keep up their efforts in order to play their role in protecting and promoting all types of human rights, both as a culture and as concrete action on the ground, making sure there is commitment to civic values and to a sense of responsibility – a commitment which implies that the enjoyment of rights and freedoms goes hand in hand with the honoring of obligations," said HM the King in a message on the occasion of the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In the message, read out by HM the King's advisor Abdeltif Menouni, during a meeting organized, on Thursday in Rabat, at the initiative of the state ministry for human rights and the national council for human rights (CNDH), HM the King urged the Ministerial Delegate, as part of his mandate, to attach special importance to enhancing protection in the area of human rights. "It is gratifying to note that commemorative meetings and events organized by advocates of human rights and supporters of women's rights, children's rights and sustainable development are taking place throughout the Kingdom. These initiatives clearly reflect Morocco's resolute commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights," HM the King said, noting that this commemoration is taking place just after the appointment of the new President of the National Human Rights Council and of the new Inter-ministerial Delegate for Human Rights, thus marking a new stage in the renewal and adjustment of these institutions and in the consolidation of their achievements and means of action has thus been initiated. The sovereign noted that "the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is an opportunity to take stock of the progress made during the last decade and to gauge the challenges facing us as well as the ground still to be covered," adding that "our national commitment to human rights is not just enshrined in our Constitution, it is a determinant of our political, economic and social agenda." The 2011 Constitution, which was drawn up using a participatory and inclusive approach, includes a real charter of basic rights and freedoms, itself based on the universal frame of reference for human rights. It guarantees the judiciary full independence and sets up a system of pluralistic and independent bodies for the protection of rights and freedoms and for the promotion of participatory democracy, human rights and good governance, HM the King underscored. "In this respect, the Kingdom is putting the finishing touches to a national action plan for democracy and human rights. It includes a large number of measures aimed at consolidating democracy and strengthening respect for human rights in all areas," HM the King added, recalling that Morocco, which has continued to interact positively and energetically with the international human rights system, in particular the Human Rights Council and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, has ratified the nine Core International Human Rights Instruments and regularly submits reports to the supervisory bodies provided for by the above-mentioned treaties. The sovereign noted that rapporteurs of many United Nations human rights mechanisms and special procedures have been able to visit Morocco in recent years, to everyone's satisfaction. On migration, HM the King said that, as a nation strongly committed to the elimination of all forms of discrimination against migrants, the Kingdom of Morocco has put the human element at the center of its migration policy and developed a humane, balanced and solidarity-based migration policy which cares about the well-being of migrants and encourages their long-lasting integration into Moroccan society. "We shall continue to work tirelessly to promote the culture of human rights, to ensure respect for all rights and to see that everyone complies fully with his or her obligations towards others, society and the nation," the sovereign stressed, reaffirming the Kingdom's commitment to multilateralism which is rooted in solidarity among peoples, the pursuit of peace and belief in the universal nature of rights. |