The approach “meeting needs” did not make the most vulnerable categories benefit from educational and health opportunities and countering vulnerability… this was how Ms. Amina Bouayach, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) started her campaign for the effectivity of rights and freedoms within the framework of the regional workshop on the promotion of human rights culture as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). 

This workshop is held from 4 to 5 February 2020 and organized by CNDH and the Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions (ANNHRI). 

In her opening statement, CNDH Chairperson focused on the position of citizens in the process of achieving sustainable development. Within this context, Ms. Bouayach stressed three main approaches to guarantee the effectiveness of rights and freedoms in their relation to the rights to development: Human Rights, Democracy and Development. 

These approaches, added Ms. Bouayach, are based on ensuring that the citizen is: 

• The subject of rights and freedoms; 

• Participant and active in elaborating development plans;

• and the first beneficiary of development through the effectivity of his/her accessibility to fundamental public services. 

Furthermore, Ms. Bouayach said that National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) are key player in all efforts aiming at achieving the SDGs, starting from their roles as mechanisms to protect and promote human rights, monitoring the implementation of these rights, elaborating reports on national commitments and their role as a fundamental connection between the citizen and society on human rights issues. 

Ms. Bouayach also underlined that promoting human rights culture is a preventive work in the first place. Persons concerned should not be limited to simplistic approaches, but they should focus on establishing a gradual conceptual evolution that would guarantee the sustainability of results obtained in the long term. 

To be noted that the ANNHRI is meeting during two days to debate on strengthening the roles of NHRIs in achieving the SDGs and sharing experiences and best practices on promoting human rights culture as part of the SDGs. This event is also an occasion for stakeholders to study ways to face challenges related to human rights issues.