Brussels, 02/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - After a delegation from the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) visited Rabat from 24 to 26 May, the organisation stressed “the need for Morocco, the first EU partner to negotiate an advanced status, to play a leading role at the regional level by adopting human rights reforms in conformity with the proclaimed ambitions”. EMHRN welcomed the “democratic progress” Morocco has been achieving “for a decade”. However, it “regrets the lack of clarity on and the absence of a schedule for projects of major reforms proclaimed several months ago”.
Thus, EMHRN “emphasised its concern regarding the impairment to the exercise of fundamental freedoms, as illustrated by the difficulty of registration of certain associations and the violation of freedom of expression”. It “urged” Moroccan authorities to “put into effect the essential reforms to endorse the rule of law in Morocco”. Ahead of negotiations of the next EU-Morocco Plan of Action, EMHRN in partnership with its member organizations in Morocco, namely, the Democratic Association of Women in Morocco (ADFM), the Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH), the Moroccan Organisation for Human Rights (OMDH), and the Associative Space, has drafted “thematic recommendations” on democratic reform and fundamental freedoms, justice, women's rights and gender equality, rights of migrants and refugees, and economic, social and cultural rights. Meetings have taken place with members of the government, the parliament, human rights associations and the EU ambassador to Morocco. (F.B./transl.rt)