Geneva, March 10, 2025 – During the 58th session of the Human Rights Council’s annual interactive debate on the rights of persons with disabilities, Morocco’s National Human Rights Council (CNDH) underscored the transformative potential—and pitfalls—of digital and assistive technologies. The session, themed “Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Digital and Assistive Technologies, Countering Cyberbullying, and Digital Inclusion,” saw Abdelghani Berdi, Head of the CNDH’s Division of Technology, Digital Space, and Human Rights, deliver a compelling statement on behalf of Morocco.

“Digital technologies are central to our mission of protecting human rights,” CNDH declared, emphasizing their power to empower persons with disabilities (PWDs), while cautioning against risks like discrimination, algorithmic biases and threats to freedoms. The CNDH actively engages on these issues through its disability rights mechanism, 12 regional commissions, and partnerships with national and UN agencies.

The CNDH welcomed Morocco’s strides in advancing disability rights, spotlighting normative frameworks, service entitlement cards, and an accessible digital platform as “commendable steps forward.” The Moroccan NHRI also highlighted how digital and assistive technologies can break barriers, boost autonomy, and enhance daily life for PWDs. Yet, it stressed that unequal access—particularly in low-income countries—leaves millions excluded. Joining the global disability rights movement, the CNDH urged affordable, accessible solutions to ensure no one is left behind.

Calling on the Moroccan government, the CNDH pressed for greater investment in these technologies and full accessibility of public digital platforms. “Access alone isn’t enough,” it added. “Safety in the digital space is critical for everyone, including PWDs.”

Beyond access, the CNDH outlined a set of recommendations to safeguard PWDs online. These include stronger legal protections, accountability for online abuse and harassment, awareness campaigns, and platform regulation at both UN and international levels.

True digital inclusion, the CNDH said, demands a human rights and accessibility-centered approach by design—from purpose and development to deployment. “Technologies must not only be accessible but must prioritize rights and freedoms at every stage”.