In a statement to the press following his participation in a workshop organized for the benefit of educational executives of the Regional Academy of Education and Training of Rabat-Sale-Kenitra, as part of the national consultations on "Quality School for All", Benmoussa stressed the importance of adopting this participatory approach, especially after the implementation of the roadmap.

This methodology will allow the implementation of practical measures that have an impact on the quality of student learning, and maintain mobilization for the success of this reform, noted Benmoussa.

Regarding the national consultations for a quality school for all, the minister said they saw the participation of the education community, students, families, the civil society and elected officials.

These consultations helped to enrich the roadmap with new ideas, noted Benmoussa, who highlighted the importance attached to this approach by all partners of the Moroccan public school.

According to the Ministry of National Education, Preschool and Sports, over 100,000 participants have contributed to the national consultations for the improvement of the quality of schools, which ended Wednesday in Rabat.

The consultations ended after ten weeks of constructive discussions, the ministry said in a statement. 

Some 1,761 discussion groups were held from May 5 to July 6 as part of these national consultations, with the participation of more than 21,837 teachers.

During an interactive debate with the mission at the HRC, delegations from different countries praised the efforts made by the UN investigators to shed light on the violations of international human rights law by all parties in Libya since 2016. Furthermore, they proposed, unanimously and by consensus, to extend the mission's mandate.

Presenting the 3rd report of the mission, Aujjar noted that the culture of impunity prevailing in the war-torn country is a major obstacle to national reconciliation, truth and justice, and reparation for victims and their families.

The Mission continued to focus its fact-finding efforts on human rights violations and abuses and on international crimes, which pose a challenge to the transition to peace, democracy and the rule of law, he said.

The mission collected additional evidence from 103 interviews with victims and witnesses that supported previous findings of investigations into violations of international humanitarian law. These included direct attacks on civilians, arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, sexual and gender-based violence, torture, violations of fundamental freedoms, persecution of journalists, human rights defenders, the civil society, minorities, and internally displaced persons, in addition to violations of women's and children's rights, he explained.

Aujjar said there was evidence of more than 27 detention facilities in eastern and western Libya housing thousands of detainees, as well as secret and extrajudicial prisons, warning of "a dire human rights situation resulting from violence and conflicts, which have plagued the country over the past decade."

The mission's report also warns of abuses committed against migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.

The Council will decide in the coming days on a resolution presented by Libya, on behalf of the African Group, requesting the renewal of the mandate of the Fact-Finding Mission for a final period of 9 months, and the submission of its latest report to the 52nd session of the HRC (March 2023).

Morocco is now the powerhouse of cooperation between Latin America, Africa and the Arab world, he said in an interview with Moroccan news channel M24 at the end of his visit to Chile and Uruguay (June 20-29).

This bridge-building role played by Morocco is due to the great trust enjoyed by HM the King in these countries, which is reflected in fruitful cooperation between the countries of the South, Mayara added. The policy followed by Morocco is based on transparency, non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and respect for their sovereignty, he noted.

According to Mayara, the royal vision gave a strong impetus to the Moroccan foreign policy and the actions undertaken by the legislative institution within the framework of parliamentary diplomacy.

The Speaker of the Upper House said his stay in Chile, at the head of a parliamentary delegation, was part of the dynamics established by Morocco, under the leadership of HM the King, to strengthen South-South cooperation.

In Chile, fruitful meetings took place with the speakers of both chambers of the Chilean and government officials. They focused on the promotion of bilateral relations, he said.

Mayara added that his visit to this "friendly country" was a success given the quality of exchanges with government officials, parliamentarians and civil society figures, who have all reiterated the commitment to continue joint action at all levels and to strengthen the exceptional ties between Rabat and Santiago.

During this visit, the Speaker of the House of Advisors proposed the establishment of a parliamentary economic forum between the two countries. Chile is an ally of Morocco in the Latin American region that enjoys special attention from the Kingdom, not only at the political level but also at the economical level, he said.

Mayara explained that this Forum would be the ideal framework to explore investment opportunities of both countries in many areas, including agriculture, water management, renewable energy, industry, tourism and technology.

Speaking of his visit to Uruguay, the Moroccan MP noted that he was received by President Luis Lacalle Pou, who expressed his high regard for Morocco and his firm commitment to overcome all obstacles that hamper the development of historical relations between the two countries.

The remarks made by President Lacalle Pou during this meeting outline a promising framework for relations between the two countries which are bound to build close economic ties making Morocco Uruguay's gateway to Africa and the Arab world.

In Montevideo, Mayara and the delegation accompanying him held meetings with government officials, parliamentarians of different political stripes and businessmen, which focused on strengthening cooperation in economy and trade.

The Upper House speaker stressed that the Uruguayan side is aware of the importance of advancing relations with the Kingdom and correcting the errors that have hindered, in the past, the development of fruitful relations between the two countries.

On the sidelines of a symposium on climate change and the role of parliaments in Latin America and the Caribbean, organized in Montevideo by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Parliament of Uruguay, Mayara met with the speaker of the Mercosur Parliament (Parlasur), Tomas Bittar. On this occasion, the Moroccan MP expressed his wish that the Chamber of Advisors become an observer member of Parlasur.

The request of the House of Advisors was very well received by the Parlasur, which is now the second largest bloc in the world, he noted.

An agreement on this matter should be announced as soon as possible before implementing a roadmap on bilateral cooperation in many areas of common interest, he observed, quoting Mr. Bittar.

Parliamentary cooperation is an indispensable gift for strengthening South-South cooperation, Mayara concluded. 

Container traffic has reached a record of 1.3 million TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent) containers in contrast to 2021, according to the report presented by the Director-General of the Agency, Nadia Laraki at the meeting of the Board of Directors of the ANP, held recently at the headquarters of the Ministry of Equipment and Water in Rabat.

The balance sheet shows clear declines of 24.1% and 21.8% respectively in imports of cereals and livestock feed due to the good 2020-2021 agricultural season, and a 4.2% drop in the traffic related to phosphates activity, as well as a recovery of 8.5% of the traffic of hydrocarbons, said a statement from the Ministry of Equipment and Water.

In terms of sectoral regulation, the past year has been marked by the introduction of new port operators, including in the field of shipyards and in the exercise of port activities related, the support of port operators for the realization of their investment projects and the animation of the port ecosystem around community topics, according to the same source.

Regarding the development and modernization of the port tool, the Agency has continued during the year 2021 the achievement of various projects committed, via the implementation of necessary arrangements to face any effects of the health crisis, the ministry noted in the statement, adding that the Agency has finalized the various projects planned under the program 'Wessal Casablanca-Port'.

In terms of financial achievements, the turnover of the Agency for the past year has exceeded, for the first time, the mark of 2 billion dirhams, i.e. a 6.5% increase compared to 5% in 2020.

The self-financing capacity was established at 561.6 million dirhams, Laraki noted, mentioning a growth of 12.8% of value-added, standing at 1.3 billion dirhams, or +1% compared to 2020.

During this meeting, the Board of Directors took note of the consolidation of national ports' resilience amid disruptions in the global supply chain recorded during the past year, the continued implementation of various structural projects underway, as well as the good performance of financial indicators of the Agency.

During this meeting, Latifa Lablih, a member of the Moroccan branch of the APF, emphasized Morocco's active involvement in the promotion of women's rights and the fight against all forms of violence and discrimination against them. The Kingdom has strengthened its legal arsenal and updated its public policies on equality and protection of women's rights, she said.

Law 103.13 on combating violence against women, which came into force in September 2018, has provided Morocco with a solid legal arsenal that has enabled the Kingdom to have a comprehensive legal framework to combat violence against women in all its forms, Lablih stated.

This law, she explained, aims to provide legal protection for women victims of violence through prevention, protection, fighting against impunity and quality care.

Lablih also discussed the various projects set up by the government to amend and supplement the laws relating to the status of women to protect their rights, strengthen their role and bolster their integration in the development process.

During this meeting, Maryse Gaudreault, President of the Network of Women Parliamentarians, gave a presentation on the network's activities for the period of April to July 2022.

The Canadian official welcomed the adoption by the Network of a reference document that includes a set of legislation and initiatives to fight against the phenomenon of harassment.

This meeting saw the presentation of a report on the schooling of girls and the examination of two draft resolutions on the economic empowerment of women and the impact of climate change on women and girls.

Formed in 2002, the Network aims to promote greater participation by women in political, economic, social and cultural life within the French-speaking community. To that end, the Network works to strengthen the role of women in APF member parliaments, promote exchanges of experience and solidarity among women parliamentarians, and defend the rights of women and children.

During its 10th meeting, the Committee announced the approval of 26 files submitted by the services of the Directorate of Heritage, under the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, in order to approve these elements as pure tangible and intangible Moroccan heritage, said a statement from the ministry.

Morocco has inscribed 46 heritage elements on ICESCO lists, in addition to 31 elements in the tentative list at the next meeting, which places the Kingdom at the top of the final list of tangible and intangible heritage in the Islamic world, followed by Libya (22 members), Mauritania (18), Tunisia (17) and Oman (15).

The cultural elements registered as Moroccan heritage with ICESCO are the skills and customs associated with Moroccan couscous, the arts and crafts of the Moroccan caftan, the Moroccan "Melhoun", the knowledge and practices of "Mahadra", the Saharan tent, Moroccan calligraphy, Moroccan culinary arts, the art of "Dekka Marrakchia", the technique of "khettara" from Errachidia, as well as the Moussem of Assa and the Moussem of Moulay Abdellah Amghar, the statement read.

In addition to the art of traditional singing of Tafilalt, the female song of Taroudant, the traditional techniques of water distribution, the "Guedra" dance of the Sahara, the decoration of silver ornaments of Tiznit, the techniques of the djellaba of Ouazzane, the "Laâlaoui" dance of the Oriental, the "Al Aala" music, the "felouque" of Essaouira, the pottery of rural women and the decoration on wood, the hunting with the "Slougui", the beehive of Inzerki in the region of Souss, the "Zahria" of Marrakech and the brocade of Fez, according to the statement.

The Ministry will work to register more heritage elements as part of its policy to preserve Moroccan heritage against the rise of some illegal practices, according to the same source.

The IWHC had announced the inscription of a total of 141 historical sites and cultural elements on the tentative and final lists of tangible and intangible heritage in the Islamic world. In addition, a ceremony to award certificates of inscription on the lists of heritage in the Islamic world of ICESCO to ambassadors and representatives of some member states of the Organization.

With the participation of over 80 parliamentarians from different countries, the Session shall offer the opportunity to discuss a number of issues related to tolerance and peace, and will culminate in a Final Declaration, according to a statement from the Lower House

Before the convention of the Plenary Session, the Board of the International Parliament for Tolerance and Peace shall hold its meeting, in addition to the meetings of the Parliament's Internal Committees, namely the Peace-building Committee, the Women and Youth Committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Sustainable Development Committee, the Legal Affairs Committee and the Counter-Terrorism Committee, it added.

The International Parliament for Tolerance and Peace is one of the most prominent international parliaments competent to disseminate the values of tolerance and peace.

It is also one of the most important bodies of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace, which is an international organization concerned with the establishment of noble human principles and the dissemination of the values of tolerance and peace among peoples and States in accordance with guidelines and principles adopted by the United Nations.

A total of 24,860,671 people have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while the number of fully vaccinated people (1st and 2nd doses) has reached 23,347,094, the ministry pointed out in its daily COVID-19 bulletin, noting that 6,573,721 people have received the third dose of the vaccine while 2,338 people have received the fourth dose.

According to the same source, the number of COVID-19 cases reported since the start of the outbreak of the virus rose to 1,233,138, while recoveries increased to 1,192,229, i.e. a recovery rate of 96.6%.

The new COVID-19 cases were recorded in the regions of Casablanca-Settat (1,245), Rabat-Salé-Kenitra (653), Fez-Meknes (317), Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (218), Marrakech-Safi (181), Souss-Massa (121), Draa-Tafilalet (91), Beni Mellal-Khenifra (83), the Oriental (68), Dakhla-Oued Eddahab (24), Guelmim-Oued Noun (21) and Laayoune -Sakia El Hamra (21).

As for coronavirus-related fatalities, they increased to 16,133, with two new cases reported in the past 24 hours in the regions of Casablanca-Settat and Fez-Meknes. 

The number of active cases has dropped to 24,776, while 26 severe or critical cases have been reported in the past 24 hours, bringing their total number to 153.

The ceremony was attended by the Director General of ICESCO, Salim Mohamed Al-Malik, the Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, the Chairman of the Committee of Heritage in the Islamic World, Walid Al-Seif, and a number of ambassadors and representatives of the Organization's Member States.

The heritage sites as well as the cultural elements inscribed include 19 countries, namely Morocco, Azerbaijan, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Iraq, Cameroon, Kuwait, Ivory Coast, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and Yemen.

During this ceremony, the Director General of ICESCO and the Minister of Culture and Communication paid tribute to the members of the Committee of Heritage in the Islamic World, as it was proceeded to the presentation of the panel bearing the logo of Heritage in the Islamic World.

Speaking on this occasion, Al-Malik stressed that this historic moment reflects the Organization's commitment to the preservation of the heritage of the Islamic world, while calling on Member States to support the Heritage in the Islamic World Fund, dedicated to the protection, preservation and safeguarding of the Islamic heritage.

Recalling that ICESCO has succeeded in inscribing 460 heritage sites and cultural elements in the last two years, he expressed the Organization's ambition to reach 1,000 sites and cultural elements by 2025.

For his part, Bensaid was pleased to participate in this ceremony, praising the efforts of ICESCO in preserving the cultural heritage of Islamic countries. The Minister also congratulated the countries that have inscribed their heritage on the list of heritage in the Islamic world of ICESCO.

In his turn, Al-Seif said that the Committee of Heritage in the Islamic World works for the inscription of the cultural heritage of the Islamic world, with the aim of preserving it against oblivion and destruction.

The Committee for Heritage in the Islamic World under ICESCO had announced the inscription of a total of 141 historical sites and cultural elements on the tentative and final lists of tangible and intangible heritage in the Islamic world.

The 31- and 33-year old suspects were arrested immediately upon their arrival "from a Central African country," said a statement released by National Police (DGSN), revealing that six cocaine wafers weighing 17.7 kilograms were found in their suitcases.

The two suspects were placed in custody at the disposal of the judicial police's investigation aiming to determine this criminal activity's local and international ramifications, adds the same source.

This operation is part of the security services' efforts to strengthen border police's capacity to carry out their surveillance operations and fight against international drug trafficking networks, the statement concludes.