CNDH HIGHLIGHTS IN GENEVA THE MAIN ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES OF CHILDREN’S ACCESS TO HEALTH IN MOROCCO

The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) participated in the Annual Full-Day Meeting on the Rights of the Child, organized by the Human Rights Council on Wednesday March 7, 2013. “The right of the child to the highest attainable standard of health” was the theme of this event, held as part of the 22nd session of the Human Rights Council convened between February 25 and March 22, 2013.

In this context, Ms. Zineb El Adaoui, CNDH member, gave an address on behalf of the Council in which she highlighted that children’s right to health is enshrined in several international human rights, especially the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), ratified by Morocco in 1993.

In addition to the ratification of the CRC, Morocco has undertaken numerous legislative reforms, most importantly the adoption of a new Constitution in 2011 that enshrines equal human rights for all, including the right to health, in order to ensure access of the most vulnerable groups, including children, to health. Morocco is also committed to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, some of which are related to mother and child health.

Ms. El Adaoui underlined the important role of social protection services, through the Mandatory Health Insurance (AMO) and the Medical Assistance Regime for the Economically Disadvantaged (RAMED), which allow most vulnerable populations to have access to health care and therefore enjoy their right to health.

However, some challenges still persist, she said, preventing full access to health care for the population in general and children in particular. These include the continued inequalities in health supply between rural and urban areas and also among urban districts, in addition to the inadequate access to health care for children in institutions, children with disabilities, street children and working children. Other setbacks comprise the ineffective adolescent mental health policy, the low government health spending, and the shortage of health personnel despite efforts made in the field of medical and paramedical staff training.

To ensure better access of children to health care, the CNDH emphasized the need to adapt health policies to the specific needs of children, while assessing them regularly to measure their impact on children health and their access to health care.

It should be noted that as part of monitoring the implementation of rights, particularly for vulnerable groups, including children, the Council has prepared two thematic reports, the first on children held in child protection centers, to be released soon, and the second on the situation of psychiatric institutions, with a special chapter to vulnerable groups, including children.