A/HRC/36/6
however, contained provisions limiting the exercise of that right, although restrictions in
terms of yearly financial support could only be decided through the justice system, and
appeals before the judiciary were possible. The emergence of a network of associations had
been facilitated and a significant increase in the number of associations and in their
diversity, as well as an increase in community action at the national level, had been noted.
21.
More than 130,000 associations operated in Morocco, in the different areas of public
life (economic, social and cultural). Over 4,500 associations worked on human rights.
22.
Peaceful gatherings and demonstrations were guaranteed by the Constitution and the
law. The exercise of freedom of assembly and association was regulated by the law
governing public gatherings.
23.
Freedom of assembly and association could be restricted only in case of noncompliance with the relevant legal provisions or of breaches of public order. The relevant
decisions of the administrative authorities could only be appealed before the judiciary.
24.
The right to peaceful assembly had been exercised in quantitatively and qualitatively
different ways throughout the country. More than 11,752 events had been organized in
2016, equal to an average of 32 events per day involving some 824,085 demonstrators.
25.
Many public rallies and demonstrations had been held in the southern provinces. In
2016, for example, more than 755 events involving over 16,162 protesters had been
organized.
26.
Regarding efforts to promote women’s rights, the delegation indicated that Law No.
113 had been adopted by the parliament to combat violence against women. The law
included a definition of violence and criminalized all acts that constituted violence against
women. In addition, 144 centres had been created to provide legal, psychological and
physical aid to women victims of violence.
27.
The delegation pointed out that a law on human trafficking had also been adopted in
2016, based on four pillars: prevention, protection, continuity in the fight against trafficking
networks and partnership with civil society. Measures to protect victims and witnesses had
also been envisaged.
28.
Regarding the right to work, the delegation highlighted that 51,000 jobs had been
created between 2010 and 2015 and the unemployment rate had decreased, reaching 8.6 per
cent in 2016. Moreover, programmes focused on incorporating youths into the labour
market had been carried out, resulting in more than 100,000 posts for young people in the
private sector. Furthermore, Morocco was implementing the “green programme”, which
aimed to achieve an increase in people working in the agricultural sector by 16 per cent.
29.
Concerning the right to health, the delegation indicated that actions were being taken
to improve the medical system and that progress had been made to decrease the maternal
mortality rate, which had fallen by 66 per cent over the past 20 years. The delegation
emphasized the progress made in terms of education-related indicators between 2016 and
2017 in respect of primary and secondary education. In addition, a positive trend had been
noted regarding the education of girls in rural areas.
30.
The delegation indicated that the number of people living in slums had dropped
considerably.
31.
The delegation stated the following:
The Kingdom of Morocco has made efforts to improve the enjoyment of human
rights in the Moroccan Sahara, in particular the new model for the development of
the Southern Provinces, the advanced regionalization and the efficient role played by
the national institutions, in particular the National Human Rights Council through its
regional commissions in Laayoune and Dakhla, as well as the major and sustained
efforts undertaken by Morocco for the development, the protection and the
promotion of the Saharo hassani heritage which is enshrined in the 2011
Constitution as one of the components of the Moroccan identity. … Pending a final
and consensual political solution among all parties to the territorial dispute over the
Moroccan Sahara, the Kingdom of Morocco continues its efforts, in a participatory
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