Morocco is one of the countries committed to dialogue on human rights regionally and internationally, the Head of the Human Rights Treaties Unit at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Ibrahim Salama told MAP during a workshop on “the work of national mechanisms for the prevention of torture” held in Kenitra on Friday.
The workshop was part of a regional symposium on the role of security institutions in the prevention of torture held at the Royal Police Institute.
Salama stressed the crucial importance of the Moroccan experience in promoting a culture of human rights, pointing out that the Moroccan mechanism for the prevention of torture is carrying out “ambitious, diversified and fruitful” work.
The UN official added that the quality of the presentations and the breadth of debate at the various sessions had resulted in the symposium being extremely well attended, and that it was no coincidence that Morocco, one of the first MENA countries to have ratified the Convention against Torture, had been chosen to host the event.
The National Police and United Nations Development Programme organized the three-day regional symposium, attended by Morocco’s government, judicial and security officials as well as experts from Morocco and abroad.
Its aim is to encourage security institutions in the MENA region to continue implementing their international commitments and national legislation on the prevention of torture.
Initiated in collaboration with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the symposium also provided an opportunity for security institutions to share their experiences and expertise in the prevention of torture, and to examine ways of developing practices in this area and establishing joint cooperation to support their activities and implement their international commitments.