The Regional Human Rights Commission (CRDH) in the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region organized a round table on Legal and Social Protection of Children on Wednesday 31 January 2024, in Dakhla, Morocco.

Participants addressed aspects of intervention of institutional/civil actors and ways of coordinating/enhancing cooperation to protect and promote children’s rights.

In her opening statement, Mrs. Maimouna Essayed, CRDH President, noted that this meeting follows the regional consultation with children held in November 2023. She highlighted the commitment of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) to accompany children in developing their own report as an outcome of the regional consultations launched by Ms. Amina Bouayach, CNDH Chairperson, from Guelmim, Morocco, in February 2023.

Mr. Mohamed El Aghdaf Semlali, CRDH member, emphasized the United Nations framework of reference for the protection of children’s rights. He shed light on the international conventions that invoked the rights of the child, including the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (ICRC) and its protocols.

Stakeholders emphasized the importance of establishing a cooperation and coordination mechanism that includes representatives of various institutional bodies and civil actors, who will ensure the development of a joint program for training, sharing experiences and best practices besides the organization of a regional event focusing on ways to promote children’s rights.

Public Prosecutor attached to the court of the First Instance in Oued Eddahab, Morocco, took part in this event. Representatives of Regional Academy of Education, Regional Directorate for Youth, Regional Entraide Nationale, the two units for combating violence against women and children in the Regional Directorate of National Security and the Royal Gendarmerie, associations working in the field of childhood, and CRDH members participated in this round table.