The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) is organizing a Briefing on the establishment of the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture (NPM) on 12 April 2019 at its headquarters in Rabat, Morocco.
This Briefing will bring together relevant stakeholders at national and international level (experts, institutions, civil society, etc.). It will also present an opportunity to shed light on the progress made in establishing the NPM, to identify best practices related to this subject and further to share them.
Morocco ratified the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) on 21 June 1993 and its Optional Protocol (OPCAT) on 24 November 2014. The OPCAT aims at strengthening the protection of persons deprived of their liberty from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in places of detention. Each State Party of the OPACAT shall set up, designate or maintain at the domestic level one or several visiting bodies for the prevention of torture.
Law 76-15 on the reorganization of the CNDH mandated the Council to establish the NPM. A chapter (from Article 13 to Article 17) of this law is devoted to the mandate of the NPM. It examines the conditions and treatment of persons deprived of their liberty through regular visits in places of detention. The NPM members should also have free access to these places and make relevant recommendations and proposals regarding laws and practice.
It should be noted that the CNDH has strengthened the capacities of its staff, civil society and law enforcement officers through seminars and workshops on this question at the CNDH’s National Human Rights Training Institute- Driss Benzekri (INFDH-DB). These efforts were made to prepare the ground for an effective operationalization of the NPM.
Ms. Amina Bouayach, CNDH President, Mr. Ahmed Chaouki Benyoub, the Interministerial Delegate for Human Rights, Mr. Mohamed Abdennabaoui , President of the Public Ministry and Ms. Catherine Paulet, member of the United Nations Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT) will take part in the opening session of this event.
