Morocco’s Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi inaugurated, on Friday in Fes, the Human Trafficking Victim Support Center, under the Ministry of Justice for the National Coordination Committee on Anti-Human Trafficking Measures and Prevention.
The Ministry of Justice and the “Bab Al Moustakbal” association signed a partnership agreement to manage the center and provide emergency and temporary accommodation for human trafficking victims.
Hicham Mellati, Director of Criminal Affairs and Pardons at the Ministry of Justice and Supervisor of the National Coordination Committee on Anti-Human Trafficking Measures and Prevention, said that the center will host women and children. It also demonstrates Morocco’s commitment to its international obligations and the enforcement of human trafficking laws.
Mellati noted that the center can accommodate victims who do not wish to pursue legal action while awaiting travel documents and those engaged in legal proceedings.
Fatima El Mernissi, President of the “Bab Al Moustakbal” association, noted that the center’s goal is to provide psychological support to human trafficking victims, protect them and their families, and facilitate their integration into the job market and society.
The initiative aligns with the National Referral Mechanism for Trafficking Victims approved on March 23, 2023, focusing on rehabilitating model emergency and temporary shelters for victims.
It is also part of the strategic plan for implementing the National Anti-Human Trafficking and Prevention Plan for 2023-2026, to ensure victims’ rights to housing and provide a range of emergency services, including medical, psychological, social, and legal support. The center reflects Morocco’s commitment to human rights and the fight against exploitation and human trafficking, in line with international conventions and Law 14-27 on combating human trafficking.
The establishment of the center also seeks to strengthen cooperation among stakeholders to combat human trafficking, provide effective protection to victims, and ensure justice for the affected individuals.