Rabat: In her opening address, CNDH President Amina Bouayach stressed the need to breathe new life into the work of national human rights institutions in the Francophone world, at a time when human rights actors are facing financial difficulties.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Bouayach highlighted the importance of strengthening joint action and pooling efforts to enshrine advocacy by States and support the independence and effectiveness of these institutions. As president of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, she emphasized the importance of sharing best practices among these institutions as a lever for influencing public policy and national human rights protection efforts.

Referring to the challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI), Bouayach noted that many algorithms do not comply with fundamental human rights principles. She underlined the importance of vigilance, awareness-raising, and accountability among digital technology producers regarding their impact on human rights. She argued that digitization requires establishing communication and coordination channels between various actors, including national institutions, civil society, experts, and technicians, to develop common approaches that balance technological innovation and the protection of rights and freedoms.

The congress aims to develop a practical roadmap to enhance the working mechanisms of national human rights institutions in the French-speaking world. It seeks to strengthen their capacity to interact with digital change, particularly regarding establishing ethical and legal frameworks for AI use and ensuring respect for human rights in digital public policies.

Morocco’s hosting of this congress through the CNDH reflects the Kingdom’s ongoing commitment to supporting international cooperation in human rights, promoting dialogue between national institutions, and contributing to developing common visions to respond to emerging and accelerating challenges.