In paragraph 5.7, replace the second sentence, by the following:
“It welcomes the efforts made by the parliament to associate more actively the National Council on Human Rights, expert communities and non-governmental organisations with the law-making process, and calls on it to extend this practice so as to make their voices better heard.”
In paragraph 5.9, after the words “the criminalisation of”, add “adultery and”.
After paragraph 5.9, insert the following paragraph:
“remains concerned about the lack of progress concerning the issues of concern mentioned in paragraph 9 of Resolution 1942 (2013), such as the use of torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, poor conditions of detention, violations of the freedom of expression, the independence of the media, and the freedoms of association and of peaceful assembly.”
At the end of paragraph 5.10, replace the words “, including those reported by civil society organisations and the media” by the words “as well as other issues reported by the United Nations, civil society and the media”.
In paragraph 8, at the end of the first sentence, add the following: “, such as torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, violations of the right to a fair trial and violations of the freedoms of expression, assembly and association”.
The amendment aims at underlining the role of the National Council on Human Rights (NCHR) in the process of elaborating legislation in compliance with international human rights standards. As indicated in Mr Klich’s report,Note the role of this institution has increased in the last few years. The Moroccan Parliament has taken on board one third of the comments and proposals from the NCHR. This should be welcomed, but the Moroccan Parliament could be encouraged to take into account the NCHR’s position still more often when drafting legislation.
With reference to the decriminalisation of homosexuality, one should not forget that adultery still constitutes a crime in the Moroccan Criminal Code. A recent case reported by Human Rights Watch (HRW)Note (concerning the ten-month prison sentences for journalist Hicham Mansouri and his co-defendant, a 30-year woman) shows that these provisions are still applied. As noted by HRW, the Ministry of Justice has even proposed to amend the Criminal Code to increase penalties for adultery, by imposing a fine in addition to a prison term.
The criminalisation of adultery is a violation of the right to privacy, as enshrined in Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and also violates women’s rights.Note Therefore, one should recommend the decriminalisation of adultery.
The amendment aims at putting emphasis on the human rights situation in Morocco, which has not improved since I examined this issue as rapporteur for opinion in 2013.
In its Resolution 1818 (2011), the Assembly considered that a number of specific issues, listed in its paragraph 8, were of key importance for strengthening the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Morocco. In its Resolution 1942 (2013), the Assembly expressed its concerns in relation to the reported use of torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, poor conditions of detention, violations of the freedoms of religion and expression, the independence of the media, and the freedoms of association and of peaceful assembly.Note As highlighted by the United Nations and prominent international NGOs advocating respect for human rights, most of these issues remain problematic.
In its Resolution 1818 (2011), the Assembly stressed the necessity of “preventing torture and inhuman or degrading treatment of persons deprived of their liberty; fighting impunity for crimes of torture and ill-treatment” (paragraph 8.13, emphasis added). Despite the fact that in November 2014 Morocco adhered to the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT), there are still serious allegations of abuses in this respect.Note For example, in its report of 19 May 2015, Amnesty International denounces acts of torture in Morocco, maintaining that there is also a culture of impunity.Note Its report draws on 173 alleged cases of torture and other ill-treatment between 2010 and 2014,Note ranging from beatings and stress positions to asphyxiation and drowning techniques as well as psychological and sexual violence. Most of these abuses occurred during custody and most of the victims were persons accused of terrorism or threats against national security, protesters, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. Moreover, the authorities prosecuted and imprisoned individuals who had reported such abuses for “false reports” and “slander of security forces”.Note These findings were also corroborated by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Mr Juan E. Méndez, following his visit to Morocco in September 2012.Note As underlined by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, torture and other ill-treatment are often used to obtain confessions, which are then rarely rejected by the trial courts.Note
As regards conditions of detention (mentioned in paragraph 8.13 of Resolution 1818 (2011)), they still do not seem to be in line with the United Nations prison-related norms and standards. Overcrowding is an issue that needs to be addressed (for instance, in some cells there are no beds and ventilation is very poor), as has been acknowledged by the Moroccan authorities.Note Overcrowding is mainly due to the excessive use of detention on remand;Note according to the FIDH, 50% of inmates are in detention on remand.Note Moreover, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention received allegations that Morocco had served as “a departure point, a transit country and a destination for illegal extraordinary renditions carried out in the context of the international fight against terrorism. … Such extraordinary renditions have allegedly been accompanied by incommunicado detention and/or detention in secret places, as well as acts of torture and ill-treatment, particularly during the questioning of suspects”.Note
As regards freedom of expression and media independence (mentioned in paragraph 8.18 of Resolution 1818 (2011)), journalists and activists often face prosecution and imprisonment for publicly criticising the King, State officials and institutions (especially the police)Note or even other Arab governments.Note NGOs have also reported about the very broad interpretation given to anti-terrorism legislation, which is often applied as a pretext to indict and convict journalists.Note
Freedom of association and of peaceful assembly (mentioned in paragraph 8.19 of Resolution 1818 (2011)) also remains an issue, even though the Constitution guarantees the free enjoyment of these rights. Despite the fact that there are thousands of independent associations, government officials impede the registration of many of them, in particular those defending the rights of Sahrawis, Amazighs (Berbers), sub-Saharan migrants and the unemployed. In the Western Sahara, the authorities refused legal recognition to all local human rights organisations supporting independence for that territory, even though they had been recognised by court decisions.Note The FIDHNote and Amnesty InternationalNote also reported about the authorities’ refusal to register “Freedom Now”, an NGO whose goal is to defend freedom of expression, as well as of some branches of the Moroccan Association of Human Rights (AMDH).Note Moreover, just a few days ago, two researchers from Amnesty International were expelled from Morocco on the grounds of posing a “threat to the public order”.Note As regards freedom of peaceful assembly, the use of excessive force by security forces against protesters (pro-reform or social justice activists, students, workers or unemployed), causing death and injuries, have been reported on several occasions. Some of the protesters were also placed in detention and sentenced to prison terms (like those who took part in a trade union demonstration in Casablanca in April 2014) and some events were banned, especially in Western Sahara.Note
This amendment aims at enumerating some other issues of concern (not mentioned in proposed amendment D), such as violations of the right to a fair trial, ill-treatment of irregular migrants and trafficking in human beings. It also points out that these problems have not only been reported by civil society and the media, but also by United Nations bodies.
The respect for the right to a fair trial remains an issue, as reported by many NGOs, especially in the context of the use of confessions obtained by torture or other ill-treatment (see above). According to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture, many cases are transmitted to courts only on the basis of such confessions.Note There have also been allegations of politically motivated charges in some cases and of courts’ refusals to allow defence lawyers to cross-examine prosecution witnesses or to call defence witnesses.Note
Special attention should also be brought to the human rights of refugees, asylum seekers and irregular migrants. Although since 2013 Morocco has led a more humanitarian policy concerning the legalisation of illegal migrants, cases of abusive use of force by police against them, non-elucidated deaths and unfair trials have been reported.Note As noted by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, Ms Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, following her visit to Morocco in June 2013, there are some 20 000 irregular migrants in Morocco and there has been a significant increase in the number of victims of trafficking in this country in recent years.Note Thus, the Special Rapporteur has made a number of recommendations to the government concerning the creation of a legal and institutional framework to combat this phenomenon.
The amendment aims at enumerating some of the main human rights problems in the Western Sahara, such as the use of torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, poor conditions of detention, violations of the right to a fair trial and violations of freedoms of expression, assembly and association, which have been underlined in Mr Klich’s report (see paragraphs 82-89) and Assembly Resolution 2004 (2014).Note