Mrs. Amina Bouayach, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), expressed her satisfaction with the interaction of the Ministry of Justice and the implementation of several recommendations of the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture (NMP), including ensuring the nutrition of persons deprived of their liberty during custody.

This was part of Mrs. Bouayach statement delivered at the opening session of the meeting organized to launch officially the implementation of the decree on the nutrition of persons deprived of their liberty during custody.

This meeting was organized by the Ministry of Justice on Monday 2 January 2023, in Rabat, Morocco.

CNDH Chairperson underlined that the nutrition of persons deprived of their liberty during custody is not only a technical issue or an ordinary procedure. It reflects the extent to which States translate their most humanitarian and human rights obligations. Besides being a fundamental human right, nutrition is a condition for respecting human dignity, whatever the circumstances.

The CNDH welcomed the Moroccan Government approval of the draft decree on the nutrition of persons deprived of their liberty during custody.

CNDH Chairperson stressed the importance of this decree that completes the harmonization of the criminal procedure with the provisions of the Moroccan Constitution in terms of human rights.

Within the same context, Mrs. Bouayach stated that the CNDH has taken into consideration, for years, the difficulties faced by persons deprived of their liberty in enjoying this right. The CNDH 2020 and 2021 reports recommended protecting the fundamental rights of persons in custody. These recommendations were made following the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture (NPM) visits to National Security and Royal Gendarmerie centers.

For his part, Mr. El Hassan Daki, King's Attorney General at the Court of Cassation and President of the Public Prosecutor's Office, stated that the implementation of the decree requirements is a great leap and a significant human rights breakthrough in consolidating different rights stipulated in the criminal procedure for persons in custody.

Mr. Abdelatif Ouahbi, Minister of Justice, welcomed the publication of this decree and stressed the importance of this step. He said that Morocco is proud of caring for persons deprived of their liberty and providing them with nutrition.

Moroccan government had previously approved, in April last year, the draft Decree No. 2-22-222 related to defining the rules for the nutrition of persons deprived of their liberty during custody, in line with the provisions of Law No. 22.01 on criminal procedure and its Articles 66 and 460.