CNDH calls on the government to establish urgent amendments that guarantee the effectiveness of children's rights to protect them from violence

Ms. Amina Bouayach, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), called on the government to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Morocco’s ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which coincide with 21 June this year, by establishing urgent reforms that guarantee the effectiveness of children’s rights and protect them from violence in all its forms (as stipulated in Article 19), particularly sexual violence (Article 34 of the CRC).

This came within the framework of the interactive meeting on sexual violence against children organized by the CNDH, on Tuesday 11 April 2023, at its headquarters in Rabat, Morocco.

In her opening statement, Ms. Bouayach called on the Moroccan lawmakers to end the political hesitancy that affects their decisions on pressing societal issues.

With the recurrence of cases of sexual violence, the CNDH Chairperson reiterated her call to reform the punitive policy model and reclassify rape and assault as sexual violence in line with international standards. She also indicated that regional consultation meetings with children, launched last February by the CNDH, will culminate in a parallel report to be submitted to the International Committee on the Rights of the Child. Ms.Bouayach announced that she has asked the group coordinating these consultations to organize a particular workshop on sexual violence.

Within the same context, CNDH Chairperson questioned the extent to which the Principle of The best interest of the child is implemented as the normative foundation for the CRC. She also noted that Morocco needs to consolidate this approach to implement the best interest of the child since it is the basis of every administrative procedure or judicial ruling related to the child in line with the provisions of Article 3 of the CRC.

At the end of this meeting, she invited the institutional actors to take the human rights initiative that Moroccan society awaits and which expressed its clear and widespread rejection of the normalization of sexual abuse and injustice for the victims.

She also considered that the case of sexual violence against the girl of Tiflet caused three victims: the girl, the infant resulting from the sexual violence, and society.

Mr. Abdelkerim Elaazani, Coordinator of the National Child Redress Mechanism, moderated this event.

Researchers, academics and NGOs’ representatives took part in this interactive meeting. They focused on examining several axes, mainly related to the Representation of sexual violence against children in Moroccan society, the Psychological impact of sexual violence on children, Legal protection and judicial action, Civil society and the protection of children from sexual violence, and the role of the child within the national protective system.

Download the CNDH Chairperson statement (Available in Arabic) 

Download the article in Amazigh