The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) maintains ongoing cooperation, coordination and interaction with the United Nations (UN) system. This includes treaty bodies, the Human Rights Council (HRC), the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism, UN Special Procedures mandate holders, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and the UN agencies accredited in Morocco.
Accreditation with “A” status by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), entitles the CNDH to participate in UN mechanisms in its capacity as an independent institution that complies with international standards, mainly the Paris Principles.
Morocco has ratified 15 out of 18 international human rights instruments. In light of this progress, the CNDH urges the government to continue to ratify the remaining instruments.
The CNDH also regularly submits its parallel reports to the international human rights system including UPR mecanism and Treaty Bodies (TB): Committee against Torture (CAT), Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), Human Rights Committee, Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Committee on Migrant Workers and Committee on Enforced Disappearances.
Furthermore, the CNDH contributes to the development of national reports submitted to various treaty bodies and the UPR mechanisms. The CNDH engagement involves comments on draft reports and participation in consultative meetings held by the government in this regard.
The CNDH engages also with special procedures mandate-holders, especially by holding working meetings with them when they conduct visits to Morocco and submitting inputs when their thematic reports are presented to the UN HRC.
It is noteworthy that former or current CNDH members represent Morocco in the UN system as experts and members of treaty bodies.
The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) attaches a great importance to the engagement with the African human rights system. The CNDH sees this collaboration as a strategic priority due to its crucial role in protecting and promoting human rights.
In this context, the CNDH seeks to strengthen its interaction and exchange experiences and best practices with various mechanisms within the African Union (AU), mainly with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). This involves active participation in various sessions and meetings to foster dialogue and collaboration on regional and continental matters.
Moreover, the CNDH facilitates visits for AU mechanisms and provide supports and capacity building for NGOs from Morocco and North Africa to engage with such mechanisms.
The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) maintains steady cooperation with European institutions, including the European Union (EU), the Council of Europe (CoE) and the European Parliament (EP). The CNDH participates in interactive discussions and debates organized by these institutions.
The CNDH maintains regular dialogues with the CoE and implements joint programs, including those outlined in the South Programs. The CNDH also conducts regular capacity building programs with the CoE.
Furthermore, the CNDH participates in sessions of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and has been consulted by this institution on multiple occasions on various human rights-related issues.
As a national institution accredited with “A” status, the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) actively reinforces its roles within international and regional networks of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs). Currently, CNDH Chairperson holds the position of Secretary and Vice-President of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), which comprises 120 member institutions, including 88 NHRIs accredited with “A status”.
CNDH is a member of the GANHRI Working Group on Business and Human Rights (GTBHR) and the GANHRI Caucus on Human Rights and Climate Change. The CNDH is also an observer member of the Working Group on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
CNDH holds several significant positions within the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI). It is representative of NANHRI at the GANHRI Bureau, a member of the Steering Committee representing the northern sub-region of Africa, President of the Working Group on Migration and a member of the Working Group on the Rights of the Child.
Furthermore, the CNDH is a founding member of the Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions (ANNHRI). As a member of this network, CNDH participated in and hosted several ANNHRI annual General Assemblies, activities and training sessions.
The CNDH is a Board member of the French speaking NHRIs Association (Association francophone des commissions nationales des droits de l’Homme - AFCNDH), chaired by the NHRI of Côte d’Ivoire. It also chairs the AFCNDH Commission for Reflection on Migration.
As part its bilateral relations, the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) formalizes its cooperation with several institutions and organizations, including the National Human Rights Institutions of Libya, Mauritania, Mali, and South Africa.
This cooperation extends to UN agencies accredited in Morocco, such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations Information Centre (UNIC). Focus areas of cooperation includes capacity building studies, visits, exchange of good practices, etc.
Additionally, the CNDH consistently shares information and reports on human rights issues with its various partners and international bodies.
The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) continues to strengthen its cooperation and interaction with several international NGOs, accredited diplomatic bodies in Morocco and foreign delegations.
Entities include the international association “Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM),” the Danish Institute Against Torture (Dignity), and the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT). The CNDH also engages with diplomatic bodies in Morocco.