Mrs. Amina Bouayach, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), and Mr. Hakim Benchamach, President of the House of Councilors, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Thursday morning, June 10, 2021, at the headquarters of the House of Councilors in Rabat Morocco.

This MoU aims at strengthening cooperation and enhancing sharing experiences between the two institutions.

On this occasion, Mrs. Bouayach stressed the importance of signing this memorandum as part of the institutionalization of the existing partnership between the two institutions. In addition, the CNDH Chairperson affirmed that the CNDH established mechanisms to institutionalize this partnership.

Mrs. Bouayach welcomed the positive interaction of the House of Councilors with the CNDH proposals, initiatives and recommendations. She underlined the importance of this cooperation, particularly in the field of harmonization of national legislation with international human rights conventions ratified or adhered to by Morocco.

For his part, Mr. Benchmach stressed that the House of Councilors adopted an ambitious strategy that includes several measures based on the human rights approach directly, such as:
- Strengthening technical and institutional frameworks to examine draft laws and proposals from the perspective of their harmonization with international conventions ratified or adhered to by Morocco;
- Establishing a systematic framework to consider gender approach in the various constitutional roles of the House of Councilors;
- Providing spaces for public dialogue and pluralistic societal debate, particularly in relation to the main issues related to the implementation of the Constitution requirements and the effective enjoyment of economic, social, cultural and environmental rights.

Besides, Mr. Benchmach shed light on the importance of partnership between the House of Councilors and the Rabat Institute for Human Rights – Driss Benzekri, at the level of implementing the requirements of the annual action plan of the two institutions, particularly through training members and staff of the two institutions, and strengthening the capacities of parliamentary councilors in field of human rights.

The MoU is valid for three years and it is subject to auto-renewal for the same period.

It will focus on cooperation and actions based on a human rights approach in the areas of legislation, government monitoring, evaluation of public policies and parliamentary diplomacy.