The National Human Rights Council (CNDH), the European Union (EU) and the Council of Europe (CoE) are jointly organizing, on January 26, 2021, from 10 am, a high-level online event to launch officially the project “Support to the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture (NPM) in Morocco”.

This project is launched by the EU and the CoE and implemented in partnership with the CNDH. It is implemented in the framework of the broader joint program between the EU and the CoE, entitled “Support to the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture and to the development of the key role of Parliament in Morocco” (2020-2023).

The 36-month project aims to support the implementation of Morocco's NPM. It is built on the CoE expertise and good practices identified during the implementation of joint programs between the EU and the CoE to support independent human rights bodies.

The project includes several axes, particularly: capacity building, exchanging experiences, searching for regional and international networking opportunities, and the publication of a prisoner's guide and a Moroccan penitentiary law manual, etc.

Dr. Mohamed Benajiba, Moroccan NPM Coordinator, will present the current context of the Moroccan NPM's operations at this online event.

Mr. Mohammed Ayat, Chairman of the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances, will moderate a panel of experts on the challenges and concrete expectations related to the implementation of the NPM, with the contribution of Mr. Abdallah Ounnir, member of the Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT).

Ms. Amina Bouayach, CNDH Chairperson, Ms. Verena Taylor, Director of the Office of the Directorate General of Programs (CoE), Mr. Alessio Cappellani, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Morocco, Mr. Christos Giakoumopoulos, Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law (CoE, Strasbourg) will take part in the opening session of this event.