Just two hours from Mexico City, in the historic town of Jantetelco, a site of memory known for its enduring fight for human rights, Mexican officials, local authorities, human rights defenders, academics, community leaders, and residents gathered to pay tribute to Ms. Amina Bouayach, Chairperson of Morocco’s National Human Rights Council (CNDH). The municipal president, Mr. Ángel Augusto Domínguez Sánchez, presented her with the key to the town in recognition of her “long-standing and unwavering defense of human rights, in Morocco, across the region, and internationally.”

The tribute ceremony in Jantetelco celebrated decades of commitment to dignity, justice, and equality.

In her address, Ms. Bouayach conveyed her gratitude for the “deeply meaningful and moving” tribute, stressing that the gesture transcends mere protocol. She characterized it as “a symbol of trust, friendship, and shared values” between Morocco and Mexico, and among human rights defenders in both countries and across the world.

The CNDH Chairperson underscored that the fight for human rights, in both Morocco and Mexico, springs from local communities and their histories. “Dignity, justice, and equality are not distant ideals,” she remarked, “but foundations built through collective effort.”

She further highlighted Jantetelco’s enduring history and its role in Mexico’s independence, emphasizing the agrarian movements and community activism it witnessed. She described the town as “a site of memory, resistance, and courage” that reflects humanity’s universal quest for freedom and dignity.
 

These values, she added, align with the universal principles of human rights she advocates, particularly participation, solidarity, and equality.

Ms. Bouayach underlined the profound significance of the town’s key, noting that it symbolizes both a gesture of welcome and a call to responsibility “which calls on us to open doors to dialogue, inclusion, justice, and peace.” She also expressed her appreciation for the local traditions that shaped the ceremony held in her honor, highlighting how they link human dignity with community, land, and heritage.

The CNDH Chairperson reaffirmed her commitment to advancing human rights at the national, regional, and international levels, emphasizing that this recognition is an impetus to defend the rights of all people without exception.

It is worth noting that Jantetelco is a historic town shaped by a long tradition of civic activism and collective resilience. In honoring Ms. Bouayach with the town’s key, Jantetelco affirms its ethos of commitment to human dignity while building connections between its local memory and the global fight for human rights, the municipal president noted.

During her visit to Mexico, Ms. Bouayach met with senior Mexican officials, including regional court presidents and the president of the federal court. She also delivered an address at Mexico’s Supreme Court, where she highlighted Morocco’s experience in protecting and promoting human rights, reviewed the major axes of Morocco’s approach to reform, and shared best practices, emphasizing the processes of truth, justice, and reconciliation and the transformative reforms they have brought about.