The associative and human rights movement has decided to take action. Following the recent decisions by the authorities to ban a certain number of activities, the Moroccan Forum of Alternatives (FMAS) and the Moroccan Observatory of Public Liberties (OMLP) are organising an international seminar on 14 and 15 November 2014 in Bouznika, under the theme: "Social movements and the freedoms of assembly and demonstration in Morocco". On the sidelines, a meeting of the Rabat Call dynamic will also take place to discuss the future challenges of the associative movement.

According to the organisers, this international seminar comes in a context of changes that Morocco has experienced in terms of peaceful gatherings and demonstrations, particularly at the beginning of the 90s, passing through the movements in 2011 which led to the adoption of the 2011 Constitution, which enshrined several guarantees of public liberties, including the freedom of assembly and demonstration.

This seminar will also present the results of the study: "Social movements, from riot to demonstration" carried out by Prof. Abderrahmane Rachik. It aims to contribute to a better analysis and appropriation of the legal frameworks, constitutional provisions, and mechanisms governing the field of public liberties and security systems in Morocco in light of international experiences and benchmarks.

And since the scheduled panels will give the floor to international speakers, this seminar aims to foster the emergence of proposals and measures formulated by Moroccan civil society, based on international experiences, for the improvement of the legislative framework and practices regarding public liberties and security governance, their harmonisation with the 2011 Constitution, and their compliance with international charters and pacts.

The organisers indicate that this meeting will see the participation of more than 200 researchers, experts, and associative members, representing civil society organisations from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Spain, Quebec, Europe, and representatives of legislative institutions, ministries, and relevant national bodies.

Speakers will notably include: the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN), the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy Studies (CEDHD), the National Human Rights Council (Morocco), the experience of the 20 February Movement (Morocco), the 15M Movement - Coalition "Defender a quien defiende" (Spain), the Red Squares Movement (Quebec), representatives of social movements from Tunisia, Algeria, sociologists, constitutionalists, parliamentarians, and representatives of the Ministries of Justice and the Interior (Morocco).