AU PSC: Morocco insists on sharing successful experiences in transitional justice in African countries

by times news cr

2024-05-11 10:02:17

During a videoconference meeting of the AU PSC on “Transitional justice and post-conflict peacebuilding”, chaired by the Ambassador Permanent Representative of the Kingdom to the AU and the UNECA, Mohamed Arrouchi, the Moroccan delegation stressed the need to adjust transitional justice approaches to the specificities of local contexts, while emphasizing the imperative of continued support from stakeholders at the national, continental and international levels.

The Moroccan delegation also advocated for reparation programs that address the physical, psychological and economic harm suffered by victims by focusing more on issues related to structural and systemic socio-economic injustices that are often the root causes of conflicts.

The Moroccan delegation noted that transitional justice in Africa is of capital importance due to the numerous conflicts experienced by the continent, noting that several African countries have had to resort to transitional justice, opting for approaches and mechanisms most appropriate to the specific contexts of each country.

It is clear that transitional justice and post-conflict reconstruction are two closely linked and often interdependent processes. Indeed, the reconstruction of societies torn apart by violence cannot be achieved without the restoration of trust between divided communities. Strengthened confidence is therefore essential for the success of post-conflict reconstruction efforts, argued the Moroccan delegation.

Transitional justice mechanisms, such as truth commissions and courts, as well as victim reparations programs, contribute to the healing of individual and collective trauma. Psychologically and socially stable populations are more able to actively participate in post-conflict reconstruction, underlined the Moroccan delegation

Furthermore, and despite the absence of a pre-established model, it is undeniable that any transitional justice strategy would be in vain if it is not accompanied by comprehensive political, institutional, constitutional and legal reforms, involving all parties Aware of this reality, noted the Moroccan delegation.

The Moroccan delegation recalled that Morocco has engaged in a transitional justice process since the 1990s, reaffirming that the accession to the Throne of His Majesty King Mohammed VI in 1999 accelerated this process.

This commitment, at the highest level of the State, has enabled Morocco to establish a model of transitional justice of its own, anchored in the framework of the sustainability of its democratic and constitutional system, underlined the Moroccan delegation, noting that the underlying philosophy of the Moroccan experience has highlighted the importance of the links between justice, reconciliation and reparation.

Thus, choices were made and the Moroccan experience in transitional justice was deployed through the establishment of the Equity and Reconciliation Authority (IER), recalled the Moroccan delegation.

The creation of the IER notably represented a culmination of debates between various actors in Morocco, including civil society, victims of past violations and their families.

Furthermore, in 2006, His Majesty King Mohammed VI instructed the Human Rights Advisory Council, currently the National Human Rights Council, to monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the Equity and Reconciliation Authority. . A mission that the CNDH continues to deploy, recalled the Moroccan delegation.

The Moroccan delegation affirmed that Morocco has always sought to share its experience in transitional justice with all those who want to engage in a similar approach.

Within the framework of the AU, Morocco hosted, last September, the 7th African Forum on Transitional Justice, recalled the Moroccan delegation, noting that the declaration sanctioning this 7th edition, in particular, focused on the The interconnection between transitional justice, gender equality, mental health, psychosocial support and socio-economic justice in Africa as well as the importance of adopting concerted approaches, programs and policies in this regard.

Also taking part in the public meeting before the closed session of the PSC were the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, the President of the African Commission on Human Rights and Peoples, a Representative of the National Human Rights Council of Morocco and the Representative of the EU delegation to the African Union.
In their intervention, several member countries of the PSC congratulated Morocco on its presidency of the Council for the month of February.

2024-05-11 10:02:17

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