Ms. Amina Bouayach, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), and Mr. Mohamed Benalilou, the Mediator of the Kingdom (Ombudsman), signed a cooperation and partnership agreement aiming at defining a frame of reference for strengthening cooperation and partnership between the two institutions in the field of human rights protection and promotion.

This event was organized on Monday 18 October 2021, at the headquarters of the CNDH Regional Commission in Dakhla-Oued Eddahab Region, Morocco.

This agreement is part of launching a process of cooperation and partnership between the CNDH and the Ombudsman.

Besides, this agreement intends to consolidate joint action to promote the culture of rights and obligations, education on human rights and citizenship and sharing experiences and expertise in handling complaints and training, etc.

On this occasion, Ms. Bouayach highlighted the importance of this agreement as part of the CNDH mandate related to promoting the culture of human rights and its action strategy for the second part of its mandate which was adopted at the Sixth Regular Session of the General Assembly. CNDH Chairperson also shed light on the importance of involving all institutional actors and finding convergence points in the implementation of the CNDH action strategy. Moreover, she stressed that this significant agreement is an occasion to enhance and promote human rights culture through interactions between the two institutions for the benefit of citizens.

For his part, the Ombudsman indicated that this agreement is not only supporting the joint efforts to implement the effectiveness of rights but  is also a practical embodiment of a constitutional will that classifies both institutions in the category of bodies defending rights and governance. Mr. Benalilou also considered this agreement as an interpretation of the two institutions committing to major reforms. It is grounding a societal project model based on guaranteeing human rights and freedoms protection.

Ms. Maimouna Essayed, President of the CNDH Regional Commission in Dakhla-Oued Eddahab Region, said that this agreement is an additional value to enhance completing governance institutions structures in Morocco. It is also a response to the claims of the Region’s inhabitants by advancing the process of handling complaints related to the relationship between citizens and the administration.

This ceremony culminated in the inauguration of the Mediator’s Contact Point Office at the headquarters of the CRDH in the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab Region.