Morocco pledged to promote and protect migrants’ rights, focusing more on human rights and combating human trafficking networks. Rules concerning refugees, asylum seekers and, more in general, foreigners living in the Kingdom whose administrative position has not been legalized will change. Mohamed VI pushed for the reform on his country’s immigration policies at the recommendation of the National Council of human rights (CNDH) which had demanded public policies to protect migrants’ rights.
The new turn on migration was welcomed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Thursday in New York, hailing the guidelines of HM King Mohammed VI to the government to elaborate and implement a strategy and an action plan on migration.
“As one of the first member States to ratify the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (1993), the Secretary-General welcomes the announcement by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who gave his instructions to the Moroccan government to design and implement an appropriate strategy and action plan with a view to formulating a comprehensive policy on migration”, and “its call for the rights of migrants,” the Office of the Spokesperson of the UN told Moroccan Press Agency.
In this regard, “the Secretary-General urges the Moroccan government to implement the recommendations of the National Council for Human Rights (CNDH), that focus on four major components:
Refugees and asylum seekers — Establish a legal and institutional framework for asylum and legally recognize refugee status as issued by UNHCR, issuing residency documents to statutory refugees. Establish integration policies and support for refugees and their families. Foreigners with irregular administrative status — Ban all forms of violence against undocumented migrants during arrest procedures and respect existing rights of foreigners under the Constitution. Provide registration for new births and death certificates, and guarantee access to labor inspectors without fear of retribution. Human trafficking — Reform the criminal code to prohibit all human trafficking, and expand the legal definition of exploitation and protection of victims and witnesses. Launch a national survey to establish the scope of the problem and develop a collaborative national plan of action, with training programs for law enforcement and better departmental and international cooperation. Documented immigrants — Revise laws to expand the rights of documented immigrants in political participation and trade union association.
The Secretary-General “expressed hope that, once implemented, these measures will improve the situation of migrants regardless of their status in Morocco,” said the UN.
To this end, the Secretary-General “encourages the Moroccan government to work closely with the United Nations, in particular the High Commissioner for Human Rights, to ensure that all migrant access justice, protection against exploitation and violence, and their full human rights,” said the UN.
After the Moroccan Council for Human Rights submitted its report to King Mohammed, He instructed the government to elaborate a strategy and a work plan, in coordination with the CNDH and other concerned institutions, to design a comprehensive immigration policy that will enhance the total respect of the rights of migrants whether Sub-Saharan Africans or Europeans.
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