The Kingdom is preparing to take a new step regarding the death penalty, this time on an international level by providing support for a UN moratorium. The details.
This is a first. Death penalty abolitionists can rejoice. Indeed, Morocco will for the first time support the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly relating to the moratorium on the death penalty. In any case, this is the announcement made on Monday by the Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Ouahbi, affirming that it is a “historic step in terms of human rights”.
In his response to a question on “the abolition of the death penalty” posed by parliamentary groups, the minister noted that “in consecration of its achievements in the area of human rights, the Kingdom of Morocco will respond positively by voting for the first time in favor of the General Assembly resolution on the suspension of the application of the death penalty.
“This major historic step comes as a continuation of the great progress accumulated by Morocco in the field of protection and promotion of the culture of human rights at the national and international levels,” he added. Mr. Ouahbi also noted that this vote scheduled for December 15 is none other than the expression of a commitment not to apply the death penalty for a period of two years, recalling that the Kingdom has not had use of this penalty since 1993.
The vote in favor of this resolution, he said, should illustrate Morocco’s positive interaction with the recommendations of UN human rights mechanisms, particularly those from the Committee in charge of the International Covenant on Human Rights. Human Rights and the Committee against Torture, as well as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism.
He further affirmed that this position testifies to the dynamics underway in the Kingdom on both the constitutional and legal levels as well as in terms of practice in this area. “Support for this resolution; although it marks a step forward, it hardly means the automatic abolition of capital punishment,” he observed, recalling that many States in favor of this text have laws stipulating the death penalty.
In the same context, the minister underlined that 88 individuals are sentenced to capital punishment in Moroccan prisons, including a woman, specifying that since 2020, a total of 161 people have been pardoned and have seen their capital punishment commuted to a sentence life imprisonment or imprisonment for a fixed period.
A significant development
The minister’s response to Parliament was detailed in a press release published by his department.
In a significant development reflecting a change in Morocco’s position on the death penalty, the Minister of Justice announced that the Kingdom plans, for the first time, to vote in favor of this tenth resolution, the adoption of which is planned during of the next United Nations General Assembly in December 2024, said the press release from the Ministry of Justice, recalling that Morocco had abstained from voting on the nine previous resolutions.
This decision, noted the minister, reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening the protection of the right to life, in accordance with article 20 of the Constitution, according to which “the right to life is the first of the rights of every being human. The law protects this right. He also recalled that this declaration constitutes a historic change in the position of the Kingdom, which had until then abstained from voting on previous resolutions concerning the moratorium.
This upcoming vote demonstrates Morocco’s desire to promote a policy supporting human rights and to consolidate its place as an advanced country in terms of human justice, while respecting national specificities and the societal debate, continued Mr. Wow.
He, in this context, recalled that the Kingdom has applied a de facto moratorium on executions since 1993, illustrating its constant commitment to protecting the right to life, noting that support for the upcoming resolution is part of the strengthening this orientation.
According to the press release, this change marks an important step in Morocco’s journey towards more humane justice and adherence to the universal values of human rights, while reaffirming its active role on the international scene.
Human dignity
A few days ago and within the framework of the 14th International Conference of Ministers of Justice organized by the Sant’Egidio Foundation under the theme “A world without the death penalty”, the Kingdom of Morocco, represented by Rima Lablaili, director of international cooperation and communication, reiterated, on behalf of Abdellatif Ouahbi, Minister of Justice, his unwavering commitment to the preservation of human life and the promotion of legal reforms aligned with the universal principles of human rights. Man.
Speaking on behalf of the minister, Ms. Lablaili highlighted Morocco’s efforts to combine justice, human dignity and public security. She highlighted the significant progress made by the Kingdom, notably the implementation of a de facto moratorium on capital punishment since 1993. In 2011, Morocco marked a historic turning point by enshrining the right to life as a fundamental principle in its Constitution. Article 20 states: “The right to life is the primary right of every human being. The law protects this right. This constitutional commitment illustrates the Kingdom’s determination to harmonize its national laws with universal values, by considerably limiting the use of capital punishment and strengthening procedural guarantees.
Morocco also plays an active role on the international scene, notably through its alignment with United Nations Resolution 77/2002. It is firmly committed not to extradite any person to countries where they would risk execution, thus affirming its commitment to justice respectful of human rights on a global scale. Aware of the complex challenges raised by the abolition of the death penalty, Ms. Lablaili underlined the importance of a progressive and inclusive approach, based on dialogue with civil society and political actors. This approach aims to establish a social consensus reflecting the aspirations of the Moroccan people.
In her speech, Rima Lablaili concluded that this conference represents a unique opportunity to share experiences and strengthen collective commitment to build a future where justice and respect for human life are inseparable. Morocco, through its actions and commitment, positions itself as a key player in building a world where justice serves human dignity.
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CNDH
Human Rights
Last October and on the occasion of the celebration of the World Day against the Death Penalty which is being held this year under the theme “The death penalty does not protect anyone”, the National Human Rights Council, the Coalition Moroccan Society for the Abolition of the Death Penalty and the Moroccan Prison Observatory, in collaboration with national networks for the abolition of the death penalty (parliamentarians, lawyers, teachers, journalists, entrepreneur (e) s) and in partnership with the association “Together against the death penalty”, organized a press conference. “We renew the call to abolish this unfair punishment in a particular context this year. Indeed, ten years have passed since the message of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God help him, addressed to the participants of the World Human Rights Forum, which Marrakech hosted in 2014. His Majesty had “welcomed on this occasion the ongoing debate on the death penalty, at the initiative of civil society and numerous parliamentarians and jurists,” announced a press release. “Twenty years have passed since the publication of the final report of the Equity and Reconciliation Commission (IER), which recommended ratifying the second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which aims to abolish the death penalty, and more than three decades have passed since the de facto suspension of executions in our country,” added the same source. And to conclude: “The renewal of our call for abolition this year also coincides with the vote next December of the UN resolution aimed at establishing a universal moratorium against the application of the death penalty, in addition to the future approval by Parliament of the draft Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure. This, while Morocco currently chairs the Human Rights Council.
