Ms. Amina Bouayach, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), launched the Rabat World Human Rights Pre-Forum proceedings on 17 February 2023.

More than 300 participants from 50 countries will take part in this event which will last for two days. They will discuss transitional justice, migration and climate change issues.

Ms. Amina Bouayach, CNDH Chairperson, Mr. Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Expatriates, Mr. Santiago Cafiero, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship of Argentina, and Ms. Fernanda Gil Lazano, Executive Director of the CIPDH-UNESCO, Argentina launched the proceedings of the Rabat Pre-Forum.

In her opening statement, Ms. Amina Bouayach said that the Rabat Forum is a space for discussion and dialogue. She added that “Our meeting- a gathering of hearts and minds- serves as a retreat for human rights defenders to renew their commitment to our shared values in light of the rapid mutations the world is going through.”

With these words, CNDH Chairperson described this high-level event organized by the CNDH and the International Center for the Promotion of Human Rights-UNESCO on 17 and 18 February 2023 as a prelude to the World Human Rights Forum to be organized in the Argentine Capital, Buenos.

Ms. Bouayach stressed that the various trajectories meet in terms of consolidating the rule of law. “Many of the “emerging democracies”, as called by some, share a similar dynamic: a heavy past of serious human rights violations, a unique experience of transitional justice, a remarkable contribution to international case law in terms of reparation and guarantees of non-repetition, and an unmatched dynamic of their civil society”, she stated.

CNDH Chairperson considered that the "emerging democracies", particularly from Africa and South America, have much to add to this debate, as shown by the contributions during the preparation of the Global Compact on Migration or its adoption in Marrakech.

She also noted that no "Western" country has ratified the international convention on the protection of rights of migrant workers and members of their families, while our countries voluntarily undergo universal examination and evaluation as if a certain skin color or a certain religious belief dictated human dignity or predisposed one to some innate injustice.

Within this context, CNDH Chairperson called on all human rights defenders around the world to unite voices, from Rabat to Buenos Aires and beyond, into a single voice: That of no discrimination, dignity and justice.

Download CNDH Chairperson Statement (English)

Download CNDH Chairperson Statement (Arabic) 

Download CNDH Chairperson Statement (Amazigh) 

Download CNDH Chairperson Statement (Spanish)

Rabat World Human Rights Pre-Forum Website:  www.rabatpreforumintldh.cndh.ma