“The Kingdom of Morocco reiterates its call for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, unconditional access for humanitarian aid, and the protection of civilians to pave the way for a lasting peace based on the two-state solution,” Morocco's Deputy Permanent Representative in Geneva, Abdellah Boutadghart, said during the general debate on the annual report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, on the situation of human rights worldwide.

In his report, an update of which was unveiled at the opening of the HRC's September session on Monday, Mr. Türk drew up a worrying assessment of the human rights situation in the world, which continues to be plagued by conflict, of which “the war in Gaza is the most striking example." He also warned that this regional conflict could have consequences in many countries.

In his statement on behalf of the Moroccan delegation, Mr. Boutadghart thanked the UN High Commissioner for his report and praised his tireless efforts "despite increasingly limited resources and a global context marked by the worsening of multifaceted crises."

The diplomat He emphasized that Morocco shares Mr. Volker Türk's concerns about the denial of migrants' rights, the rise of systemic racism and xenophobia, climate change and its impact on food and health security, as well as the exacerbation of the digital divide, which exacerbates inequalities.

"More than ever, therefore, we need to tackle the structural and immediate causes of these societal woes and prevent their impact on the enjoyment of human rights by focusing on global and concerted measures capable of ensuring a more sustainable future," Morocco's Deputy Permanent Representative in Geneva insisted.

He also expressed Morocco's willingness to share its experience in promoting human rights, notably through a side event scheduled for September 25 as part of this session under the theme of "Interconnecting justice, reform, and memory in transitional justice."

This event, he added, comes as the Kingdom of Morocco celebrates the 20th anniversary of the creation of the Equity and Reconciliation Commission (IER), a fundamental step towards strengthening the rule of law and a modern, democratic society.

"It's a pioneering experiment in extrapolating past experience to create a dynamic capable of building a better future for human rights," he said.

For its September session, the Council will examine over 80 reports, including those submitted by experts and investigative bodies on the human rights situation in nearly fifty countries. It will also hold twenty interactive debates with special procedures mandate-holders.