The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) continues its active participation in the second edition of the International Children's and Youth Book Fair (SILEJ 2024) in Casablanca, Morocco, under the theme “Participation as Means for Enhancing the Effectiveness of Children's and Youth Rights.”

As part of its activities outside SILEJ venue, the CNDH organized an interactive workshop on "Volunteering, Citizenship, and Human Rights" on Friday 20 December 2024, at the "Parity Space" of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities in Ben M'Sik, Casablanca. 

In his opening statement, Mr. Mustapha Najmi, Director of Human Rights Promotion at the CNDH, emphasized that youth participation is a central focus of the CNDH actions, particularly in light of the challenges that limit young people’s effective enjoyment of fundamental rights. He further highlighted the extensive and diverse partnerships the CNDH has establish with Moroccan universities, underscoring the institution’s recognition of the crucial role of knowledge, universities, and scientific research in the realization of the effectiveness of human rights.
 

Mrs. Samira Raquibi, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Ben M'Sik, noted that this initiative seeks to foster dialogue and collaborative reflection on issues related to youth, and their active and effective participation in building an equitable and solidarity-driven society. She added that it also aims to provide a platform for discussion and interaction, leading to conclusions and recommendations that will form the foundation of future joint programs.

Mr. Khalid Ouassou, Professor of Contemporary History, Mr. Ahmed Azri, Coordinator of Social Engineering Master Program, and Mr. Ahmed Sadiki, Coordinator of Morocco and International Migration Master Program, facilitated the workshops. They highlighted the university's commitment to fostering partnerships with constitutional institutions and reiterated the importance of youth participation in public life, as enshrined in the Moroccan Constitution.
 

Participants explored four thematic areas during the workshops, including “Identity and Social/Value Transformations,” “Youth and Civil Participation in the Context of New Means of Expressions,” “Youth and Transitional Justice” and “Migration, Integration, and Diversity.”

The workshops concluded with recommendations, mainly focusing on promoting youth participation and ensuring adequate resources to support these initiatives; redefining identity as a complex concept; implementing awareness-raising programs to create a generation that understands the meaning of identity and tolerates diversity; stressing the importance of the partnership between the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Ben M'Sik, and the CNDH, and continuing to open avenues for youth participation, including establishing a communication channel between university students and the CNDH.

The event culminated in the announcement of the upcoming establishment of a Citizenship and Human Rights Education Club at the faculty.