NORWEGIAN CIVIL SOCIETY OPPOSE RABAT CANDIDACY TO PRESIDE OVER UNHRC

CITING MOROCCO’S DIRE HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD, NORWEGIAN CIVIL SOCIETY OPPOSE RABAT CANDIDACY TO PRESIDE OVER UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

The undersigned organizations of the Norwegian civil society strongly believe that Morocco falls short of meeting the required standards to preside over the Human Rights Council and urges States to object to its 2024 candidacy. With this statement, we join the call already issued by International Service for Human Rights and Saharawi Civil Society opposing the Moroccan bid for the presidency of the UN Human Rights Council.

Since Morocco joined the Council, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International has continued to report on how Moroccan authorities have stepped up their harassment of journalists and dissidents while detaining and subjecting dissidents, journalists, bloggers, and human rights defenders to unfair trials.

Morocco’s failure to meet the standards required of Council members was denounced in 2022 by the Geneva-based International Service for Human Rights when Rabat successfully sought to become a member of the Council. Despite being a member, Morocco has continued to commit gross and systematic human rights violations, and is regularly included in the report of the UN Secretary General on reprisals (A/HRC/51/47).

In the non-self-governing territory of Western Sahara, Moroccan authorities continue to harass activists supporting self-determination, prevent gatherings, and obstruct the work of local non-governmental human rights organizations, as reported by Human Rights Watch. Saharawi journalists are also subject to unfair trials and according to Reporters Without Borders, “journalism is one of the many victims of this conflict, which has been forgotten by the media spotlight and left as a virtual news “black hole””.

On 8th December 2023, the Council announced that a vote is expected in January 2024 to elect the Council’s President for the 18th cycle in 2024 among the members of the Africa Group. The State representatives who have put forward their candidacies are Morocco and South Africa. Morocco remains the only country in Africa who continues to refuse to ratify the African Charter on Human Rights.

The presidency of the Human Rights Council holds important symbolic and practical power, including a role in proposing candidates for Special Procedures and expert mechanisms, appointing experts to serve on investigative bodies and building awareness and trust in the UN Human Rights Council.

Knowing Morocco´s trend and downward spiral of refusing to engage with UN bodies, denying serious violations and subjecting victims and their families to reprisals and even punishing human rights defenders attending the sessions of the Council, Morocco´s current bid is alarming. Such a presidency would seriously threaten the legitimacy and credibility of the UN Human Rights Council.

Signing organizations:

1. Norwegian Human Rights Fund
2. Rafto Foundation
3. Norwegian Council for Africa
4. Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara
5. Legal counselling for women (JURK)
6. Jussbuss
7. Changemaker
8. Norwegian Tibet Committee
9. Norwegian Association of the Disabled
10. Industri Energi Forbundet for Ledelse og Teknikk