The National Human Rights Council (CNDH), represented by Ms. Malika Benradi, CNDH member, participated in the annual debate on children’s rights on Thursday 14 March 2024 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, as part of the 55th Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC).

In this context, the CNDH emphasized the importance of taking into account the principle of children’s participation by facilitating their expression of opinions through consultative meetings, as well as involving them in the development of social protection strategies.

In implementation of the principle of children’s participation, the CNDH and its National Redress Mechanism for Children, established in 2019, conducted consultation meetings across Morocco’s twelve regions from February 2023 to February 2024. Children from diverse social and economic backgrounds participated in these meetings with the view to developing a report on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). This report will be submitted to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child in parallel with the national report.

The CNDH welcomed Morocco's adoption of the Direct Social Assistance Program in 2023, aiming to protect children from violations and provide support to orphans and children in social protection institutions. Emphasizing the importance of extending social protection for children in times of natural disasters, the CNDH commended Morocco’s establishment of a special mechanism to monitor violations of the rights of child victims following the Al Haouz earthquake in September 2023. The CDNH also welcomed the prompt provision of care to orphaned children who lost their families in the tragedy, granting them the status of wards of the nation.

In its statement, the CNDH highlighted the importance of implementing its recommendation to ensure adequate protection measures for supporting children with disabilities and those in vulnerable situations. It also underscored the necessity of assessing their needs and integrating them into social protection programs.