Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06RABAT736
2006-04-21 12:01:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:
HUMAN RIGHTS CLINICS IN MOROCCO -- SPENDING MONEY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0007 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHRB #0736/01 1111201 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 211201Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY RABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3489 INFO RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS 3943 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 2915 RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT 3145 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4168 RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 8825 RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA 1612
UNCLAS RABAT 000736
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/MAG, DRL/PHD, NEA/PI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM MO
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS CLINICS IN MOROCCO -- SPENDING MONEY
WISELY
REF: RABAT 00357
UNCLAS RABAT 000736
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/MAG, DRL/PHD, NEA/PI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM MO
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS CLINICS IN MOROCCO -- SPENDING MONEY
WISELY
REF: RABAT 00357
1. (U) This cable is sensitive but unclassified. Please
treat accordingly.
2. (U) This is an action request. See paragraphs 3 and 4.
3. (SBU) Summary: On April 18, Poloff and Laboff visited
the Human Rights Clinical Legal Education program at Hassan
II University in Mohammedia, located between Casablanca and
Rabat. The program, one of the American Bar Association
(ABA) initiatives, received a DRL grant which ended March 31.
A two-month no-cost extension has meant the program will
continue through May. The continued funding of the program
is still in question (reftel). This successful program is a
"first" in Morocco: law students have "hands-on" clinical
training and experience prior to joining firms. Meeting with
the ABA developers, university administrators, the
supervisory lawyer and primarily the students was an
exhilarating experience. This effort is the only on-going
programmatic link the USG has with a university in Morocco,
and the importance of positive interaction with Moroccan
students cannot be overstated. Continued DRL-funding of this
ABA project is integral to the Mission's reform strategy
relating to the "rule of law." End Summary.
4. (SBU) As noted reftel, the Mission strongly supports
this ABA project and requests, while recognizing that
Department funds are limited, that the program be funded for
at least another year. The program has successfully brought
together Moroccan human rights lawyers and advocates,
university faculty and US legal experts to develop a human
rights clinical legal education program. This program is the
first of its kind in Morocco and is having a direct impact on
shaping how the next generation of lawyers approach human
rights violations in Morocco.
--------------
The Clinic
--------------
3. (U) Poloff and Laboff visited the Human Rights Clinical
Legal Education program at Hassan II University in Mohammedia
on April 18. This initiative is one of the ABA programs
being conducted in Morocco. Twenty-two students participate
in the program -- there are eleven women and eleven men.
Students work in teams of two on each of the cases. At the
time of the visit, there were ten cases with more expected.
While the original plans were to work on women's labor cases,
the Fez Center for People's Rights (reftel) required more
organizational time. The cases are referred to the clinic by
two unions: the Democratic Federation of Workers (FDT) and
the Democratic Confederation of Workers (CDT). The cases
cover the textile and transport sectors. Most of the cases
relate to the change in the Labor Code which shortened the
work week from forty-eight to forty-four hours per week.
Employers are, however, requiring employees to remain on the
old schedule without paying them overtime.
4. (SBU) Students, under the direction of a supervisory
Moroccan lawyer, interview clients, review cases, research
the legal issues and prepare briefs on the cases. The
supervisory lawyer works with students individually, as
teams, and in one large group. The students, however, work
alone with the clients. The ABA is using a system as close
as possible to legal clinics in US law schools. As this
system is new to Morocco, the university law faculty is
watching the students' progress and the relationship they
have with the supervisory lawyer with great interest. The
clinic recently received permission for the Mohammedia labor
delegate to present their cases to local labor inspectors.
Pleading the cases will provide the students with another
important training experience.
--------------
The Students
--------------
5. (SBU) The students eagerly discussed their cases with
Missionoffs. Several of the students live in Casablanca,
others live in villages traveling many hours to get to the
university. All seemed dedicated to the clinic and talked
knowledgeably about human rights in general and labor issues
specifically. One group of students wanted Poloff to know
that labor issues have an impact on all segments of society
and these issues form the core of many of Morocco's problems.
6. (SBU) The program has a policy of accepting qualified
students on the basis of their grades and future interests.
There is no requirement that the students speak both French
and Arabic and in fact there are two students from Cameroon
in the program, neither of whom speak Arabic, to demonstrate
that point. Since most of the current clients speak only
Arabic an outside translator is required but does not seem to
hinder the progress of the teams. Many of the students were
excited that ABA seemed eager to expand the program to
include women and children,s labor issues addressing the
problems of those they deemed most vulnerable. Some related
personal stories of friends and family members in these two
groups who currently feel they have little or no recourse for
their complaints and nowhere to turn.
--------------
The Future
--------------
7. (SBU) In order for the clinic to be an integral part of
the students' training, it must function as close to a "real"
legal office as possible; consequently, year-round activities
are necessary. Applications will be solicited from students
before the end of the current semester (June 20) to work in
the clinic full time (40 hours per week). Three to five
students will be accepted; they will not receive salaries.
The students will work closely with the supervisory lawyer,
carry a significant caseload, and gain invaluable experience.
The summer experience will also allow for unresolved cases
to be completed, and, the development of "know your legal
rights" classes for workers. If the program continues to
receive DRL funding, the summer program will be expanded to
include more students, and, training sessions for students
who have completed the two semester program.
8. (SBU) With additional funding, the clinic will extend
its services to other labor unions, form partnerships with
nongovernmental organizations and conduct extensive training
sessions on labor rights. Because of the success of the
program and the enthusiasm the students have generated, the
university administration expects 500 students to apply for
the program for the next academic year.
--------------
Comment
--------------
8. (SBU) The law faculty and administration remain strongly
supportive of the program. In fact, it appears that the
teaching techniques and the "hands-on" experience may have a
broader impact than originally expected. In discussing the
future of the program, an agreement has been reached that the
clinic will continue to concentrate on labor issues,
including women and child labor. The university will assume
the cost of the program administrator during the summer,
another in-kind financial contribution (reftel). Without
continued funding, however, this exceptional program will not
be able to continue, nor will it be possible for the
university to devise and implement its program for sustaining
the clinic (reftel).
******************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
******************************************
Riley
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/MAG, DRL/PHD, NEA/PI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM MO
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS CLINICS IN MOROCCO -- SPENDING MONEY
WISELY
REF: RABAT 00357
1. (U) This cable is sensitive but unclassified. Please
treat accordingly.
2. (U) This is an action request. See paragraphs 3 and 4.
3. (SBU) Summary: On April 18, Poloff and Laboff visited
the Human Rights Clinical Legal Education program at Hassan
II University in Mohammedia, located between Casablanca and
Rabat. The program, one of the American Bar Association
(ABA) initiatives, received a DRL grant which ended March 31.
A two-month no-cost extension has meant the program will
continue through May. The continued funding of the program
is still in question (reftel). This successful program is a
"first" in Morocco: law students have "hands-on" clinical
training and experience prior to joining firms. Meeting with
the ABA developers, university administrators, the
supervisory lawyer and primarily the students was an
exhilarating experience. This effort is the only on-going
programmatic link the USG has with a university in Morocco,
and the importance of positive interaction with Moroccan
students cannot be overstated. Continued DRL-funding of this
ABA project is integral to the Mission's reform strategy
relating to the "rule of law." End Summary.
4. (SBU) As noted reftel, the Mission strongly supports
this ABA project and requests, while recognizing that
Department funds are limited, that the program be funded for
at least another year. The program has successfully brought
together Moroccan human rights lawyers and advocates,
university faculty and US legal experts to develop a human
rights clinical legal education program. This program is the
first of its kind in Morocco and is having a direct impact on
shaping how the next generation of lawyers approach human
rights violations in Morocco.
--------------
The Clinic
--------------
3. (U) Poloff and Laboff visited the Human Rights Clinical
Legal Education program at Hassan II University in Mohammedia
on April 18. This initiative is one of the ABA programs
being conducted in Morocco. Twenty-two students participate
in the program -- there are eleven women and eleven men.
Students work in teams of two on each of the cases. At the
time of the visit, there were ten cases with more expected.
While the original plans were to work on women's labor cases,
the Fez Center for People's Rights (reftel) required more
organizational time. The cases are referred to the clinic by
two unions: the Democratic Federation of Workers (FDT) and
the Democratic Confederation of Workers (CDT). The cases
cover the textile and transport sectors. Most of the cases
relate to the change in the Labor Code which shortened the
work week from forty-eight to forty-four hours per week.
Employers are, however, requiring employees to remain on the
old schedule without paying them overtime.
4. (SBU) Students, under the direction of a supervisory
Moroccan lawyer, interview clients, review cases, research
the legal issues and prepare briefs on the cases. The
supervisory lawyer works with students individually, as
teams, and in one large group. The students, however, work
alone with the clients. The ABA is using a system as close
as possible to legal clinics in US law schools. As this
system is new to Morocco, the university law faculty is
watching the students' progress and the relationship they
have with the supervisory lawyer with great interest. The
clinic recently received permission for the Mohammedia labor
delegate to present their cases to local labor inspectors.
Pleading the cases will provide the students with another
important training experience.
--------------
The Students
--------------
5. (SBU) The students eagerly discussed their cases with
Missionoffs. Several of the students live in Casablanca,
others live in villages traveling many hours to get to the
university. All seemed dedicated to the clinic and talked
knowledgeably about human rights in general and labor issues
specifically. One group of students wanted Poloff to know
that labor issues have an impact on all segments of society
and these issues form the core of many of Morocco's problems.
6. (SBU) The program has a policy of accepting qualified
students on the basis of their grades and future interests.
There is no requirement that the students speak both French
and Arabic and in fact there are two students from Cameroon
in the program, neither of whom speak Arabic, to demonstrate
that point. Since most of the current clients speak only
Arabic an outside translator is required but does not seem to
hinder the progress of the teams. Many of the students were
excited that ABA seemed eager to expand the program to
include women and children,s labor issues addressing the
problems of those they deemed most vulnerable. Some related
personal stories of friends and family members in these two
groups who currently feel they have little or no recourse for
their complaints and nowhere to turn.
--------------
The Future
--------------
7. (SBU) In order for the clinic to be an integral part of
the students' training, it must function as close to a "real"
legal office as possible; consequently, year-round activities
are necessary. Applications will be solicited from students
before the end of the current semester (June 20) to work in
the clinic full time (40 hours per week). Three to five
students will be accepted; they will not receive salaries.
The students will work closely with the supervisory lawyer,
carry a significant caseload, and gain invaluable experience.
The summer experience will also allow for unresolved cases
to be completed, and, the development of "know your legal
rights" classes for workers. If the program continues to
receive DRL funding, the summer program will be expanded to
include more students, and, training sessions for students
who have completed the two semester program.
8. (SBU) With additional funding, the clinic will extend
its services to other labor unions, form partnerships with
nongovernmental organizations and conduct extensive training
sessions on labor rights. Because of the success of the
program and the enthusiasm the students have generated, the
university administration expects 500 students to apply for
the program for the next academic year.
--------------
Comment
--------------
8. (SBU) The law faculty and administration remain strongly
supportive of the program. In fact, it appears that the
teaching techniques and the "hands-on" experience may have a
broader impact than originally expected. In discussing the
future of the program, an agreement has been reached that the
clinic will continue to concentrate on labor issues,
including women and child labor. The university will assume
the cost of the program administrator during the summer,
another in-kind financial contribution (reftel). Without
continued funding, however, this exceptional program will not
be able to continue, nor will it be possible for the
university to devise and implement its program for sustaining
the clinic (reftel).
******************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
******************************************
Riley