08/03/2013 Political Affairs and Democracy
Strasbourg, 08.03.2013 – The progress of reforms in Morocco and the state of the country’s co-operation with the Council of Europe will be the main focus of parliamentary hearings during a meeting of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Rabat on Wednesday 13 March.
The hearings will form part of the first evaluation of the Moroccan Parliament’s progress in fulfilling a pledge to work towards Council of Europe values – including the holding of free and fair elections, abolition of the death penalty and greater participation of women in political life – made when it became the Assembly’s first ever “Partner for democracy” in June 2011. Progress on these commitments – and other issues listed by the Assembly – is evaluated every two years, and is due to be debated in Strasbourg in June.
The Speakers of both chambers of the Moroccan Parliament will give welcome addresses. Other participants invited to the hearing include Morocco’s Justice and Interior Ministers and the head of the National Council for Human Rights, as well as Council of Europe experts currently running co-operation programmes with the country. There will also be an exchange of views with Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Minister (or his representatives) on current international issues.
A separate hearing will be held on the parliamentary contribution to solving the Western Sahara conflict.
On the following day, Thursday 14 March, the committee is also due to approve a report on “Violence against religious communities” by Luca Volontè (Italy, EPP/CD).
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The meeting, which is open to the press, will be held in Rabat on Wednesday 13 March, (9 am to 5.30 pm) and on Thursday 14 March (9 am to 1 pm), Hotel La Tour Hassan 26, rue de Chellah.