Presentation of the working programme developed by the Working Group on Human Rights and Societal Evolution

The societal changes occurring in all societies regarding political, economic, social and cultural aspects – although these changes differ from one society to another- have given rise to issues that may appear of secondary importance. However, they raise, in fact, central questions, which are at the hub of universal values and principles of human rights, and whose goal is to seek ways to protect and uphold these values and principles. As a result, the international community has issued relevant instruments in a bid to promote the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Covenant on Political and Civil Rights, and the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Within this general context, new issues, which have increasingly drawn the attention of many actors, have emerged in Morocco as a result of the societal developments, of the repercussions of the economic and social situation on the living of individuals and networks of social solidarity, of the progress process towards upholding the rule of law and human rights, and of the increasing role of human rights activists. Meanwhile, these are central issues which augur well for the evolution of society towards progress and modernity and constitute the milestone for promoting human rights and rising the challenges of development and democracy.

On this basis, Morocco is nowadays urgently required to make steady progress in working out action strategies and taking measures on the basis of an accurate diagnosis of the changes occurring in society and the new issues arising from them or likely to emerge in the future, as well as the new challenges posed by international and regional developments. Hence, the process of monitoring, analysing and foreseeing the trends and aspects of societal evolution is a cornerstone for bringing about and furthering new reforms related to human rights issues. On the one hand, these reforms should take into account the new manifestations of societal evolution, on the other hand, they should further its dynamism and increase its trend, which go hand in hand with the Moroccan project of democratisation, modernisation and human rights. In addition, the legal and institutional set-ups and public policies and measures should be examined to make sure that they are in tandem with the societal developments caused by the international and regional changes. The goal is to continue promoting and protecting human rights, particularly the rights of the populations who are most vulnerable and exposed to discrimination, violence, exclusion, such as children, women, persons with special needs and the poorest populations. Priority should be assigned to the economic, social and cultural rights, environmental issues, scientific and technological developments including means of communication, and the new social and cultural phenomena…

The Working Group’s Goals and Missions

The Working Group aims to promote and enhance human rights as regards the issues of societal evolution. Here follows the Group’s missions:

- To contribute to the issuance of opinions on issues falling within its remit, submitted to the CCDH by His Majesty;

- To study and analyse the status of human rights as regards the issues of societal evolution;

- To make proposals as regards the action strategy, and institutional and legislative measures related to the issues falling within its remit;

- To urge the government to ratify instruments, covenants and protocols on issues falling within its remit;

- To issue an opinion on draft laws submitted to the CCDH and related to the fields falling within its remit.

General Basics

- Monitoring and analysing the most important societal
developments and the problems and requirements they pose in the field of promoting and protecting human rights;

- Defining the human rights-related issues, which are likely to further the evolution, modernisation and democratisation of society; and setting priorities;

- Taking into account the developments in the issues of human rights falling within the Group’s remit (family, childhood, women, rights of the disabled, National Initiative for Human Development (INDH), gender approach, economic, social and cultural rights, digital divide, terrorism…).

Fields Falling within the Working Group’s Remit

- Implementation of women’s rights;

- Implementation of the rights of the child (children without family care, young adult offenders, children illegal immigrants…);

- Rights of the disabled;

- Poverty and marginalisation;

- Challenges posed by scientific and technological progress and caused by societal evolution;

- Fields that will be tackled by way of studying and analysing societal changes in partnership with players and researchers.

Methodology

- Enhancing the participative approach which is based on interaction with different civil society activists, governmental sectors, elected representatives and public institutions by way of consultation meetings and creation of common mechanisms of follow-up and dialogue;

- Interaction with universities, researchers and national and international experts to deepen thinking, and to analyse issues falling within the Group’s remit by way of holding scientific seminars and undertaking studies and investigations;

- Contribution to the promotion of public dialogue on issues of priority to enhance the interaction between the CCDH and society;

- Elaboration of thematic reports on issues of priority;

- Proposing draft recommendations and issuing opinions in the issues falling within the Group’s remit to be submitted to the CCDH;

- Ensuring that the legal and institutional set-ups, and public measures go hand by hand with the developments occurring generally in society, which are posed by international and regional changes;

- Following up the implementation of reforms undertaken in the fields falling within the Group’s remit and making recommendations to apply them effectively in such a way as to meet the goals of the project.