The publication of this report falls within the framework of the Council's prerogatives as a pluralist and independent national institution, in charge of all questions relating to the defense and protection of human rights and freedoms, the guaranteeing of their full exercise and promotion, as well as the preservation of the dignity, rights and individual and collective freedoms of citizens, said the CNDH in a press release.
Adopted unanimously by the General Assembly of the Council, held on March 6-8, this report aims to observe, monitor and document these events and assess their impact on rights and freedoms, in accordance with international conventions ratified by Morocco and the guarantees provided for in the Constitution and national laws.
Its objective is to submit proposals based on the human rights approach that would help to resolve the issues related to the demands expressed during the Jerada protests and to draw lessons to prevent them from happening again in similar contexts.
Thus, in the introduction of the said report, CNDH president Amina Bouayach underlined that "the protests which took place in Jerada, one of the cities dependent on mining activity, mirror the problem linked to the transition from the phase of mining operations to the post-resource depletion phase", adding that this should have been an opportunity to reflect on the development of a national anticipatory strategy aimed at dealing with economic, social and environmental transformations in the city of Jerada, and regions with a similar situation.
She said that "these transformations make a post-mining transition inevitable, given that the mines have a hypothetical lifespan before the activity stops."
Bouayach affirmed that "the CNDH draws attention to the need to adopt a strategy based on early and rapid warning of violations of economic and social rights, taking into account the consequences that could result therefrom and which could sometimes lead to social tensions", adding that proactive and swift action is of paramount importance, particularly to ensure the establishment of appropriate preventive measures to protect civil peace.
Written during the period between December 2019 and February 2020 and composed of some sixty pages, the report on the Jerada protests, to which the Regional Human Rights Commission of the eastern region made a strong contribution, presents all the data available to the Council, notably those relating to the observation of trials, and the monitoring and interaction with the authorities concerned, civil society and the affected categories, the same source said.
The report presents 29 conclusions and 36 recommendations formulated on the basis of the human rights approach and the monitoring carried out by the said regional commission of the various forms of demonstrations and protests that the city of Jerada has witnessed, as well as on the basis of the follow-up by the Council of the population's protests and demands.
The recommendations issued by the Council are divided between recommendations of a general nature and recommendations of a specific nature addressed to public authorities, parliament and the eastern region, in addition to recommendations relating to the observation of the trials of persons prosecuted in connection with the Jerada protests.
Among these recommendations are the call for respecting the right to peaceful protests and the use of human rights-based interpretation, regardless of the availability of the declaration or notification, while ensuring the development of guidelines which supervise the intervention of public forces in this area.
The Council also draws attention to the need to open a national dialogue on the issue of businesses and human rights and to speed up the adoption of a national plan in this area, as part of the implementation of the provisions of the National Action Plan for Democracy and Human Rights, in accordance with the relevant constitutional provisions and the United Nations guiding principles relating to businesses and human rights, concluded press release.