The Regional Human Rights Commission of Laayoune-Es-Semara held its second meeting on March 17, 2012 in Laayoune.
This meeting was chaired by Mr. Mohamed Salem Cherkaoui, chairman of the Commission.
Attended by the 33 members of the commission, the meeting aimed at the creation of the commission’s three thematic committees (protection of human rights, promotion of human rights and the enrichment of debate and dialogue on democracy and human rights). The commission identified the initial elements of its plan of action and determined its strategic priorities.
Mr. Cherkaoui said that the commission is an outreach mechanism concerned with the protection and promotion of citizens’ rights and freedoms at the region. He called on the members of his commission to be objective, impartial and accurate in dealing with the different human rights issues in the region. He stressed the importance of coherence and harmony within his group.
The commission set-up its thematic committees on the basis a consensus approach that takes into account gender, sharing of skills and competences and experience. The chairman of the commission said that “we can overcome all difficulties and constraints if we have sufficient knowledge of human rights and really understand the realities and particularities of the region”. He added that the Council will spare no effort to equip all its commissions and provide the members with what they need to fulfill their missions. The representative of the regional mediator (or regional ombudsman) shed light on the mission of his institution. The mediator and the regional mediators are members of the Council and its regional commissions, respectively, under the provisions of the Council’s founding law.
Mr. Mohamed Salem Saadoun, executive director of the regional commission, highlighted the achievements of the former regional administrative office of Laayoune. This regional office was affiliated to the former Advisory Council on Human Rights. It’s the cornerstone of the commission, which was appointed in December 2011 in Laayoune.
Under article 28 of CNDH’s founding law, the regional human rights commissions are mandated to monitor the situation of human rights and receive and examine complaints related to human rights violations at the regions.
They implement the National Human Rights Council’s projects and programs at the regions concerned.
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