Fadma Ouherfou Reconciliation Caravan Received at CCDH

As part of the follow-up of the recommendations issued by the Equity and Reconciliation Commission (IER) and the project on "the promotion of women’s rights and their role in the process of transitional justice in Morocco" and in partnership with the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the Advisory Council on Human Rights (CCDH) received on March 30, 2009 the Fadma Ouherfou Reconciliation Caravan.

It should be noted that the objective of the project with UNIFEM is to support the process of democratic transition initiated by Morocco through the systematic gender mainstreaming in the process of monitoring the IER recommendations. One of the components of this project is the "preservation of memory and reconciliation with women of Sountate in memory of Fadma Ouherfou”. The project, which was conducted at ksar Sountate, birth place of Fadma Ouherfou, a victim of human rights violations during the years of lead, aims to empower rural women at ksar Sountate (commune of Bouzmou, Imilchil region) and preserve the memory and ensure reconciliation, through the following actions:

- Training and information for rural women;

- The functional literacy of rural women;

- Support for the education of girls;

- The enhancement of the values of reconciliation.

Under this project, several activities were undertaken: a local dynamics was created through the mobilization of three associations and women's cooperatives, a debate on the issue of community reparation was initiated, a process of gender mainstreaming through a program of literacy, awareness and training was launched, the history of Fadma Ouherfou was made known to the population including children, capacities of local players were enhanced, and a home for girls in Imilchil in partnership with the committee on supporting the education of rural girls (CSSF) were enhanced.

Thus, to crown these achievements and open new horizons for girls in Sountate, to better understand the context in which the project is being implemented, and be aware of human rights in general and women's ones in particular, a reconciliation caravan was organized. It took place in two stages: first stage: Errachidia-Rabat, and second one: Agdez-Zagora. During the first stage (29 March to 1 April 2009), the caravan visited the CCDH, the Center for Documentation, Information and Training in Human Rights (CDIFDH), UNIFEM and the committee on supporting the education of rural girls (CSSF).

Speaking on this occasion, the CCDH President , Mr. Ahmed Herzenni stressed the sacrifices made by the population of Imilchil in the fight for freedom and dignity, focusing on the need to preserve national memory.

He stated that this event reflected Morocco’s commitment to reconcile with its past and fell within the scope of ensuring access to the region of Imlchil, calling the girls of the caravan to be proud of their region and contribute to the development of their country.

On this occasion, the girls recited a Tamazight poem symbolizing the break with the vicissitude of the past and paying a posthumous tribute to the former CCDH president, the late Driss Benzekri, for his activism in favor of human rights. They also offered to Mr. Herzenni a typical gift of the regional crafts.