MOROCCO PRESIDENT OF AFCNDH

UNCLAS RABAT 000286 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/MAG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV MO SUBJECT: MOROCCO PRESIDENT OF AFCNDH ¶1. This cable is sensitive but unclassified, please protect accordingly. ¶2. (U) On February 7, Morocco was elected to the presidency of the Francophone Association of National Human Rights Institutions (AFCNDH). Niger was elected to the vice-presidency; France was elected to the position of secretary-general; and, Mauritania was elected to be SIPDIS treasurer. Twenty countries attended the February 5-7 congress held in Rabat which focused on cultural diversity and cultural rights promotion. Morocco is a 2002 founding member of AFCNDH, which is organized in conjunction with the International Organization of Francophone Countries (OIF). A Moroccan member of the Consultative Council on Human Rights (CCDH),M. Abderrazzak Guennoun, was the first AFCNDH treasurer. The first congress was held in Montreal in September 2005 and focused on economic, social and cultural rights. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: Morocco is assuming a leadership position among Francophone countries as well as Arab countries in human rights viewed from an expansive perspective including economic and social, as well as political rights. In addition to reflecting its diplomatic prowess, the vote probably also reflects the perception that Morocco really is ahead of the curve regionally on human rights. While issues of concern remain, for example, the relative freedom of the press, the passing of an anti-torture law in March 2006, and the 2004 family law, concessions to language minorities, and the informal moratorium and developing consensus on the halting of capital punishment are examples of the kinds of changes for which Morocco is being recognized. End Comment. ****************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ****************************************** Bush