"Respect for human rights by businesses and enterprises is a key entry point to achieving social justice and enhancing human security," said Ms. Amina Bouayach, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), in her opening statement at the Arab-African Forum on Business and Human Rights (BHR), held in Marrakech on 24–25 June 2025 under the theme: "Towards a Regional Dialogue Supporting a Responsible Economy that Respects Human Rights."

In her opening statement delivered remotely, Ms. Bouayach emphasized that Morocco’s current economic dynamism calls for a new development approach that places human rights at the core of projects, infrastructure development, and supply chains. She stressed that the intersection between economic dynamics and human rights commitments is an urgent necessity.

Integrating a human rights perspective into business practices is fundamental to guaranteeing a decent work environment—free from discrimination and respectful of human dignity—in line with international standards. Ms. Bouayach further underscored that the abundant natural and human resources across the Arab and African regions require the development of growth models rooted in local realities and grounded in respect for human rights and dignity. These models should encourage companies to actively engage with local communities, involving them in the assessment of the human rights impacts of their projects.

In the same context, she highlighted that the CNDH, as Vice-Chair of the Working Group on BHR within the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), consistently advocates- through its initiatives, annual and thematic reports- for aligning the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with human rights commitments and ensuring participation of vulnerable groups in policy-making processes. The institution also calls for accelerating the adoption of the International Convention on the Right to Development. Furthermore, the CNDH is actively engaged in promoting both voluntary and mandatory measures to ensure that businesses respect human rights. It monitors complaints related to the environmental and social impacts of economic activities and conducts capacity-building programs to raise awareness in this field.

It is worth noting that the Arab-African Forum on BHR seeks to promote dialogue and the exchange of experiences and best practices in the implementation of international human rights standards among a wide range of stakeholders. The Forum aims to foster a business environment grounded in respect for human rights principles and to enhance engagement in advancing the sustainable development process across the Arab and African regions.