CNDH HIGHLIGHTS IN GENEVA THE IMPORTANCE IT GIVES TO THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) highlights, during an interactive dialogue on the occasion of the full-day discussion on the rights of the child, the importance it gives to the protection and promotion of children’s rights. This interactive dialogue was organized within the framework of the 16th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

The National Council indicated that it deals, as a national institution for the promotion and protection of human rights in Morocco, with various matters relating to the rights of the child, including receiving and handling complaints about various violations of children’s rights, with a large proportion relating to violence and ill-treatment against them. It also assists victims through counseling and legal advice.

Being aware of its strategic position in the promotion and protection of human rights in Morocco, the National Human Rights Council (through the former Advisory Council on Human Rights) has been involved in a solid reflection on the most relevant, the most effective and the most synergistic answer to ensure and protect the rights of children in Morocco, the Council said. It, thus, organized, in close partnership with UNICEF, an international seminar on the "Mechanisms of Redress for Children victims of Violations of their Rights," on December 10, 2009 in Rabat. At its conclusion, CNDH and UNICEF signed a partnership agreement and carried out a study on the establishment of a national mechanism for protection of child rights.

The choice of this theme is a response to several concerns, including:

- Implementation of the recommendations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, particularly general recommendation No. 2 in order to ensure best implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child;

- Response to the observations and recommendations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the second periodic report of Morocco;

- Taking into account the conclusions and recommendations of some studies and researches carried out at national level which highlighted the inadequacy and ignorance of the legal remedies available and the low impact of proposed responses for violations of child rights;

- Taking into consideration the recommendations of the abovementioned seminar.

The objective of the said study is to provide a basis for work to support thought and reflection process for an independent child redress and monitoring mechanism in accordance with the recommendations of aforesaid seminar.

The study highlighted the principles to be absolutely guaranteed so that the redress mechanism can fulfill its mission: full independence, physical and geographical accessibility, broad mandate, confidentiality, intervention upon own volition, proactive role, adequate staffing and financial resources.