The Second World Human Rights Forum will kick off in Marrakesh on November 27 through November 30. After Brazil, the convention is moving to the pink city for its 2014 edition in a key event for human rights, democracy and pluralism.
Participation is significant: last year over 5,000 representatives from 30 countries were in Brasilia to discuss the issue, particularly significant in the world’s southern hemisphere.
Focusing on children’s rights, the Forum in Marrakesh, which boasts the participation of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has created a permanent scientific committee.
International and Moroccan NGOs and the Kingdom’s institutions are ready to inaugurate the event that will host 40 thematic forums on sensitive issues involving justice, women, migrants, religions and development. Also on the agenda are 15 special events and 50 conferences and cultural meetings.
Forum organizers hope to double participants from the last edition with events organized in three locations across the city – in a new area between boulevard Mohammed VI and the two doors Bab Jdid and Bab Ighly.
The closing conference will outline the Forum’s recommendations to the five continents.
Weekend-long events will reflect on the role of institutions, the internalization of rights and active citizenship, corruption and the importance of education and information.
A first preparatory seminar was held in Casablanca over the past few weeks with over 100 representatives of Moroccan and international civil society. Italian NGOs involved include Rome’s Un Ponte Per and Padua’s Ya Basta.
Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and ex-premier Romano Prodi have been invited, along with Ban Ki Moon and Kofi Anna, respectively Un secretary general and former secretary general, along with a dozen Nobel laureates including Muhamad Yunus, Shirin Ebadi, Le Clézio, and Bill Gates representing the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation. After Marrakesh, the Forum will be held in Argentina in 2015.
(ANSAmed)
