Rabat: Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Omar Zniber, emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism. Speaking at the opening of a retreat on the UPR under the theme ‘Beyond the 4th UPR Cycle: Strengthening the Process for Transformative Human Rights Impact,’ the diplomat highlighted the Kingdom’s sustained efforts in this area, first as a facilitator for the creation of this mechanism in 2006, and then during the development of related tools.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Morocco has provided financial and technical assistance for the implementation of this review, based on its conviction of the importance of this process for promoting human rights. Ambassador Zniber emphasized that the States under review are required to adopt an effective participatory approach in drafting reports on the human rights situation. This involves engaging government institutions, parliaments, ombudsmen, national anti-corruption bodies, and various other partners.
In this regard, Zniber spoke of establishing a national mechanism responsible for drafting reports and ensuring their follow-up as one of the main recommendations presented by Morocco under the current UPR cycle. He highlighted opportunities for cooperation among national mechanisms within their respective areas of action. He also called for a discussion on how to use new technologies, particularly AI, as a catalyst for promoting human rights, given that these technologies raise pressing issues related to privacy violations, discrimination, and the spread of xenophobic rhetoric.
Juliette de Rivero, the head of the UPR Division at the UN Human Rights Council, affirmed that this mechanism has proven its effectiveness as a vital tool for assessing the human rights situation and as a unique platform for cooperation and the exchange of expertise among States. Mona M’Bikay, Executive Director of the NGO UPR Info, reviewed the findings of a questionnaire prepared by the Interministerial Delegation for Human Rights (DIDH) in collaboration with her organization to gather the views of various stakeholders involved in the UPR.
This two-day retreat dedicated to evaluating the UPR is organized by the DIDH, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the NGO specializing in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR info). The UPR mechanism was established by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 60/251 on March 15, 2006. It is a unique process led by United Nations member states under the auspices of the Human Rights Council.