A "CULTURE OF HUMAN RIGHTS" IN MOROCCO

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000395 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/MAG, DRL E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2011 TAGS: PHUM PGOV MO SUBJECT: A "CULTURE OF HUMAN RIGHTS" IN MOROCCO REF: A. 06 RABAT 00024 ¶B. 06 RABAT 00918 ¶C. RABAT 00256 Classified By: Political Counselor Craig Karp, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: The Government of Morocco (GOM) wants to become known for its observance of human rights and has mounted what appears to be little more than a public relations campaign. On February 26, Prime Minister Jettou and Driss Benzekri, the president of the Consultative Council on Human Rights (CCDH),and others presented the "National Action Plan for the Promotion of A Culture of Human Rights" to GOM officials, representatives of national and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs),and members of the diplomatic corps. They highlighted improvement in the human rights environment in the past year, including the anti-torture law. Amine Abdelhamid, president of the Moroccan Association of Human Rights (AMDH),also had a key role; he is among the activists boycotting the Mission. Speakers emphasized the importance of developing a culture of human rights, and the legal and political dimensions of human rights. The plan is one of the follow-up measures in the 2005 final report of the Equity and Reconciliation Commission (IER). As such, it has the commitment of the king and the GOM. While the "plan" is still only generalities, the commitment itself is an important step. End Summary. -------------- The Presentation -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On February 26, the Prime Minister, Driss Jettou, the Coordinator of the National Action Plan for the Promotion of a Culture of Human Rights, Amina Lemrini El Ouahabi, Driss Benzekri, president of the official but independent CCDH, and Amine Abedlhamid president of the AMDH introduced the action plan to members of the GOM, national and international NGOs, and members of the diplomatic corps, including Poloff. Participants received the plan in Arabic only; a French translation is to appear later. (Note: The two-hour presentation session was conducted in Arabic with French translation available. End Note.) ¶3. (C) Amina Lemrini El Ouahabi introduced the action plan and provided the history of the commission. She stressed that a diverse group, including representatives of GOM ministries, NGOs, political parties, academic institutions and members of the media, devised the plan incorporating ideas and opinions from the Moroccan public; however, the CCDH guided the process. Lemrini stressed that the purpose of the action plan is to guarantee human rights for all citizens, as stated in the constitution (reftel B),and to create and promote a culture of human rights. The purpose of the educational aspects of the plan are to "change the mentality" of Moroccans and ensure that they have "respect for others." She said that the five-year program will take "patience and perseverance" to implement. ¶4. (C) Prime Minister Jettou said that the action plan creates a culture of human rights and consolidates "our" reform process. The commission and the plan, according to Jettou, "turns the page," referring to the repression under the late King Hassan II. Jettou identified changes the GOM made in the past year, e.g., the anti-torture law (amendment 43.3 to the penal code),progress in enforcing women's rights, and the National Human Development Initiative (INDH). Jettou called for "national institutions" to implement the plan and credited the late King Hassan II with beginning to move the country towards a culture of reform. ¶5. (C) Benzekri highlighted the judicial and institutional mechanisms available to ensure a culture of human rights. Emphasizing that the public has authority, he connected the action plan to socio-economic development, but emphasized political development. He warned against any premature judgments of the plan -- everyone should allow the plan to be implemented. ¶6. (C) The last person to speak was Abdelhamid, president of the AMDH. (Note: Since 2003, AMDH has boycotted any association with the USG because of the Iraq War, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and, most recently, because of the 2006 Israeli war with the Hizballah in Lebanon. End Note.) Abdelhamid believes that the public needs to be better educated about human rights. Unlike the others, however, he emphasized the importance of the law to preserve human rights. He assured the audience that NGOs would be actively involved in the implementation of the plan. -------------- The Plan -------------- ¶7. (C) The overall plan is contained in an eighty (80) page booklet in Arabic, which, unfortunately, provides few details. A sixteen (16) member committee is to be formed, led by the CCDH and comprised of representatives of ministries and civil society to develop a detailed plan. No date was set for the completion of the plan. The overall plan framework targets "poor neighborhoods" and youth. ¶8. (C) The booklet states that there will be human rights training in the public schools, universities, civil society organizations, and, most importantly, training will be given to the Ministry of Justice and security officials. The purpose of the training and a national public awareness campaign is to "ensure the future." The committee will hold conferences, roundtables and use the media for the public awareness campaign. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶9. (C) The four speakers presented a powerful public relations image when news of the presentation appeared on the evening television broadcasts in Arabic and French. One can imagine that many Moroccans, including those in the security services, may have come to understand that there is a real commitment, albeit nascent, to a culture of human rights. ¶10. (C) While the plan follows through on the IER recommendations and may consolidate human rights with laws and within the framework of the constitution, the presentation and the booklet provided only generalities. School curriculum changes alone will take considerable expertise and time to implement. In press statements, Jettou has said that Morocco should be a leader in human rights. In order for Morocco to assume that role, a detailed plan must be made public within a reasonable period of time and Moroccans must follow through on the plan. The "national institutions" to which Jettou referred must also become transparent and cease ignoring violations of human rights throughout Morocco and the Western Sahara (reftel C). A visible commitment is, however, an important step. End Comment. ****************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ****************************************** Riley