A/HRC/8/52 page 127 302. The Union de l’action féminine encouraged Morocco to continue its efforts to implement the recommendations made during the review. It believed that the Government should lift its reservations to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Optional Protocol thereto. It urged Morocco to create a higher council for women to guarantee these and believes that Morocco should establish and institutionalize a consultative committee that would bring together all stakeholders on an equal level. The Council was urged to adopt the outcome of the review to help assist Morocco in meeting those goals. 303. The International Federation of Business and Professional Women noted that Morocco deployed many efforts in the field of human rights, including the rights of women, and should be cited as an example and a model. It welcomed the new Family Code and stated that some of the Moroccan experiences should be referred to as best practices, especially in the field of reconciliation and the overhauling of the Family Code, which is the framework of enhancing women’s rights and gender equality. Morocco has ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child to promote and protect children’s rights and measures have been undertaken, including in the fields of civic and human rights education and child participation. It stated that there was still a long path ahead and Morocco was encouraged to continue its efforts. 304. Amnesty International welcomed the recommendations made by several States, including on continuing to implement the recommendations of the Instance Equité et Réconciliation, to ensure respect for the rights of migrants, to harmonize domestic law with international standards, and to ratify international human rights treaties. Amnesty International identified as a key human rights concern the apparent lack of accountability of the security forces for their alleged abuses, including torture and excessive use of force in the case of a person suspected of terrorist offences, of Sahrawi persons advocating against Moroccan rule in Western Sahara, and for the killings or arrest and detention of migrants attempting to reach European shores. There were also concerns about the freedom of the press and journalists. The fact that the death penalty has not yet been abolished and the Rome Statute not yet ratified as recommended by the Instance Equité et Réconciliation put into question the political will of the authorities to implement these reforms. Amnesty International urged the Government to take swift action on these issues. 4. Views expressed by the State under review on the outcome and concluding remarks 305. The representative of Morocco thanked the delegations for their positive assessment of the reforms being undertaken in his country and in particular the efforts being made to promote and protect human rights. That effort was reflected not only in the action taken at the national level but also in local initiatives. What was taking place was the result not of an official policy but of concerted efforts undertaken with civil society. The Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Morocco said that he had refrained from taking the floor during statements by NGOs that did not in his view have anything to do with the universal periodic review. He nevertheless cautioned against letting the universal periodic review become a weakened exercise devoid of any meaning. He reaffirmed Morocco’s intention of informing the Council of all human rights initiatives undertaken in the country and emphasized that his country’s commitment to human rights was deep and irreversible.