The Moroccan National Human Rights Council (CNDH), represented by Mr. Mourad Errarhib, Director of the CNDH President’s Cabinet, participated, on Tuesday 28 June 2021, in the Panel on the Tenth Anniversary of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (BHR), as part of the 47th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC).
In his statement, Mr. Errarhib underlined that the CNDH worked on the implementation and monitoring of the UN Guiding Principles on BHR by conducting several actions, individually or as Chair and then Vice-Chair of the Working Group on BHR of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI). He also noted that the CNDH played a leading role in consultations organized last March on the implementation of these principles, with the participation of around 90 representatives of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and United Nations bodies
Mr. Errarhib added that the CNDH contributed to discussions on the development of a binding international instrument and in the elaboration of the general comment of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) in this regard. The CNDH also contributed to the African Union draft policy framework on BHR.
At the national level, Mr. Errarhib indicated that the CNDH has been engaged on capacity building for relevant actors, mainly businesses. It also strengthened remedies by adapting complaints and contributing to handling cases received by the national focal point established under the engagements with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, of which the CNDH is a member.
In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Errarhib pointed out that the CNDH called the government and enterprises to adhere to respecting human rights at the work place for the post-quarantine period, and urged them to adopt the principle of due diligence for a resilient society.
In this event, the CNDH stressed the importance of adopting its recommendations related to the ratification of Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize, adopted by the General Conference of the International Labor Organization (ILO). It also reiterated its call to adopt a national action plan on BHR.
