Morocco’s election to the presidency of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is the acknowledgement by the international community that the Kingdom is indeed a model of reconciliation and human rights promotion, South Africa’s mass-circulation newspaper “The Star” reported on Thursday.
“Morocco was able to crown its achievements in human rights by winning the election for the presidency of the UN’s Human Rights Council through dynamic activism and a steadfast will to showcase its model of human rights development,” writes the paper.
Morocco’s election comes as no surprise as, over the past few decades, the country has undergone phases of human rights consolidation, the same source points out.
‘Morocco has demonstrated a shining progressive model of human rights on the continent. The country had implemented a major constitutional reform after adopting, in a referendum, a new constitution in 2011’ which enhances protections for fundamental freedoms and gives prominence to the promotion of human rights, notes
The Star.
Equally, steps have been taken to strengthen gender equality and woman’s rights, with HM King Mohammed VI being in favour of further empowering Moroccan women in all sectors, added the paper.
Turning to the issue of migration, another topic where Morocco has shown a real commitment to strengthening human rights, the South African media outlet recalls that the Kingdom has launched several operations to regularize illegal migrants on its soil, enabling migrants to enjoy rights and social benefits.
“The Star” also cites Morocco’s advances in the field of human rights, including progress in the fight against torture and improvements in detention conditions.
It affirms that these and other achievements reflect Morocco’s commitment to advancing human rights in all its political and social decisions.
The score Morocco obtained in the voting process ‘shows that the trust and credibility’ inspired by Morocco’s diplomacy, especially in Africa, another area where the Sovereign is actively involved, as wel
l as on the international stage and in the multilateral system, notes the paper, recalling that Morocco won the election to head the UN Human Rights Council with 30 votes, against 17 votes for South Africa.
The South African newspaper adds that Morocco is widely recognized as a constructive player on key issues, including inter-religious dialogue, tolerance and the fight against racial hatred, the right to a sustainable environment, migrants’ rights and the impact of new technologies.
Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse