On Wednesday 3 November 2021, at its headquarters in Rabat, Morocco, the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) organized a round table on: “Mandatory vaccine pass: what approach?”.

This event interpreted the CNDH’s interest in public debate and deliberations following the Government Decision on the mandatory vaccine pass to understand related issues and improve their outcomes.

The Government announced, on 18 October 2021, the mandatory vaccine pass to access public, semi-public and private spaces.

This internal debate was organized within the context of the CNDH letter sent to the Prime Minister on 25 October 2021 following the Government’s Decision on the adoption of a new precautionary approach based on vaccine pass as a document approved by the health authorities.

In this letter, the CNDH recommended, among others, to initiate a debate on the vaccine pass and ways to replace it with a health pass to overcome constraints related to the management of this stage.
Mr. Mounir Bensalah, CNDH Secretary-General, opened the proceedings of this round table.

Around 50 stakeholders representing several ministerial departments, including the national scientific and technical committee, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry Delegated to the Head of Government in charge of digital transition and administration reform, Parliament, Ombudsman, National Commission for Personal Data Protection (CNDP), unions and human rights NGOs took part in this event.

The round table was an opportunity to openly interact and address scientific data related to the implementation of the human rights approach, optional vaccination, adoption of the vaccine pass, and its legality.

Participants also discussed the extent to which this vaccine pass protects the right to life and public health, protection of personal data and measures ensuring the enjoyment of citizens of their fundamental rights and freedoms.

The CNDH will continue following up on this issue in light of the results of the actions of the Committee established by the Prime Minister. This Committee interpreted his interaction with the CNDH letter submitted to the Government on 25 October 2021.