Migration: Royal instructions bring a new vision for a national and humanist migration policy

This vision takes into account "the major mutations occurring in the migration phenomenon at the regional and international levels and the new national realities related to the issue of migrants and refugees", says the release published following a meeting of the ministers of interior, of foreign affairs and cooperation, of justice and freedoms and the delegate interior minister.

The session was held following a working session chaired on Tuesday in Casablanca by HM King Mohammed VI in the presence of the Head of Government and several ministers and senior officials to discuss the issue of immigration in the Kingdom with the view of devising a new comprehensive migration policy.

The release stresses that since Morocco having shifted from a migrant-emitting or transit country to a host country, the new migration policy vision confirms the new African policy, launched by HM King Mohammed VI, to consecrate "Morocco's calling as a host country, its longstanding relations with Africa and its steadfast commitment for human development, particularly human resources training, consolidation of peace and security and promotion of humanitarian action in Africa."

Therefore, "the Moroccan new immigration policy will take the form of an operational work plan revolving around the four main axes of the report submitted by the national human rights council" and will be set forth through "an approach associating this institution and consulting with all the other shareholders"

Regarding asylum, the release notes that "a process of legal and institutional updating will be started immediately, in order to endow the Kingdom with a management system that respects international standards and the country's commitments regarding human rights promotion and protection.

Pending this, the case of persons holding documents delivered by the Rabat office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees will be handled in priority, the release adds.

For foreigners in an illegal administrative situation, instructions were given to the competent authorities to continue to treat persons in the strict respect of the law and secure that their rights and dignity are preserved, says the source. The release further announces that an inter-ministerial commission will define, in the coming days, a procedure framework to examine, case by case, according to precise criteria, the legal situation of some categories of foreigners who are in an illegal administrative situation. The CNDH report recommendations related to foreigners illegally settled in Morocco will also be studied by the competent authorities for adequate implementation, as part of a consultation mechanism with the CNDH and other shareholders, says the release. In parallel, "Moroccan authorities will carry on their relentless fight against networks of migrants trafficking and people trafficking," the text insists, adding that the related legal texts and awareness actions will be consolidated. The concerned ministers also noted that the "Royal vision is a reference of diplomatic action related to migration issue and consecrates the role of Morocco as a real action and proposing force at the regional and multilateral levels. In this regard, the release goes on, "Morocco's partners, particularly the European Union, are also concerned by the new migration reality and should show more concrete commitment in their support to the enforcement of Morocco's new immigration policy, adding that "a responsible attitude is also required from neighboring countries which are equally concerned by the migration problematic at the regional level.