US diplomat: Morocco made "significant positive steps in 2013" in advancing human rights
Rabat - Charge d'Affairs at the US embassy in Rabat Matthew Lussenhop lauded "significant positive steps" made by Morocco in 2013to advance human rights, noting the Moroccan government's "commitment to reforming its immigration system, and the growing role of the National Council on Human Rights as a credible and proactive advocate for the protection of human rights and the redress of complaints".
Source : https://www.emouaten.com/english/US-diplomat-Moroc...
Commenting the US state department's 2013 human rights report released on Thursday in Washington, the US diplomat commended "the Moroccan government's close collaboration and support during the drafting of the 2013 Human Rights Report. A wide range of government ministries and departments answered questions and provided statistics that helped improve the level of detail offered in this year's report" he said.
Lussenhop added that "Morocco's most recent achievement in the human rights arena, the abrogation of Article 475 of the Penal Code -which allowed rapists to avoid charges if they married their victims- is not reflected in this report, but will be addressed in the 2014 report."
"This has only to do with the timing and annual deadlines for submitting our report, and does not in any way discount the importance we accord to Morocco's commitment to protecting women and working toward gender equality", he explained.
The United States and Morocco have a longstanding dialogue on human rights, he went on, recalling that HM King Mohamed VI and President Obama, in the statement following their November 2013 meeting, voiced readiness to "remain committed to deepening the ongoing U.S.-Morocco dialogue on human rights, which has been a productive and valuable mechanism for the exchange of views and information."
The annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices cover internationally recognized individual, civil, political, and worker rights, as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international agreements. The U.S. Department of State submits reports on all United Nations member states to the U.S. Congress in accordance with the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Trade Act of 1974.
Lussenhop added that "Morocco's most recent achievement in the human rights arena, the abrogation of Article 475 of the Penal Code -which allowed rapists to avoid charges if they married their victims- is not reflected in this report, but will be addressed in the 2014 report."
"This has only to do with the timing and annual deadlines for submitting our report, and does not in any way discount the importance we accord to Morocco's commitment to protecting women and working toward gender equality", he explained.
The United States and Morocco have a longstanding dialogue on human rights, he went on, recalling that HM King Mohamed VI and President Obama, in the statement following their November 2013 meeting, voiced readiness to "remain committed to deepening the ongoing U.S.-Morocco dialogue on human rights, which has been a productive and valuable mechanism for the exchange of views and information."
The annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices cover internationally recognized individual, civil, political, and worker rights, as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international agreements. The U.S. Department of State submits reports on all United Nations member states to the U.S. Congress in accordance with the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Trade Act of 1974.
Source : https://www.emouaten.com/english/US-diplomat-Moroc...