Participants in a consultative meeting called, on Saturday in Laâyoune, for the broadening of the scope of participation in the operation of preparing national reports on human rights and for the promotion of this culture in the region.

The participants formulated a series of proposals relating to economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as to institutional mechanisms at the regional level for the protection of human rights, indicates, on Sunday, the interministerial delegation for human rights in a press release.

Despite "attempts at disruption" at the opening of the proceedings, the meeting took place in an atmosphere of listening, interactivity, and open dialogue, the same source notes, stressing that the set objectives were achieved, namely the presentation of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism and the determination of the consultation methodology on this subject, within the framework of the consolidation of the participatory approach in the matter.

The meeting, which brought together 150 participants representing government departments and concerned institutions, civil society, and local elected officials, is the fifth of its kind within the framework of the consultation process launched by the interministerial delegation, with a view to the preparation of the second national report which will be examined by the UN Human Rights Council, on May 22 in Geneva.

During this meeting, organised in collaboration with the National Human Rights Council, the audience listened to three presentations on the general framework of the UPR mechanism, the role of specialised national institutions in promoting the culture of human rights, and the contribution of civil society organisations to the UPR.

MAP