This process, along with constitutional gains and far-reaching legislative and institutional reforms, has made it possible to criminalize all flagrant human rights violations and establish guarantees of non-recurrence, he stressed in a speech at the opening of the interactive dialogue with the Committee on Enforced Disappearances, on the occasion of the examination of Morocco's initial report on the implementation of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

These achievements made enforced disappearance "a practice of the past," insisted the minister, who is leading a large Moroccan delegation to this two-day dialogue at the headquarters of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva. No cases of enforced disappearance have been recorded since the end of the mandate of the Equity and Reconciliation Commission (IER) and the adoption of the 2011 Constitution, he pointed out.

Mr. Ouahbi also affirmed that Morocco wishes to maintain close cooperation and constructive interaction with the Committee on Enforced Disappearances, voicing the hope that this interactive dialogue, the first between the Committee and Morocco, will contribute to strengthening the implementation of the provisions of this Convention, help overcome challenges, and open up prospects for developing cooperation to implement the results of this dialogue in a way that strengthens approaches to protecting and preventing all serious human rights violations.

This interactive dialogue between the Committee and the Moroccan delegation, which includes representatives of the sectors and institutions involved, is "an important moment in Morocco's interaction with the treaty bodies," he said, highlighting the significant role of the Kingdom, which was one of the first contributors to the drafting of this Convention and one of the first signatory states.

Morocco has also supported the international commitment to the Convention by becoming a member of the Global Initiative for the Convention alongside France, the United States of America, Argentina, and Samoa, which has led to extensive consultations to formulate a strategy and a joint action plan to advance the universal ratification and implementation of the Convention, noted the minister.

Mr. Ouahbi recalled Morocco's contribution to the organization of the first World Congress on Enforced Disappearances, to be held in Geneva in January 2025. "We hope that this event will encourage other states to become parties to this important UN instrument, which will put an end to the crime of enforced disappearance on an international scale," he stated.

The official also highlighted Morocco's efforts to support the work of the Committee on Enforced Disappearances and its constant interaction with the body's urgent requests, adding that this commitment is part of Morocco's overall vision to support the reform process of the treaty body system since 2009.

The minister also highlighted some fundamental challenges common to all states, such as enforced disappearances in the context of migration and transnational crimes, which raise issues that transcend the efforts of a single state and challenge regional and international cooperation.

These include preventing violations by promoting a culture of human rights through the implementation of appropriate educational and pedagogical programs, not to mention the adoption of a gender perspective in the identification and classification of violations and strengthening the participation of women in transitional justice processes.

Besides Morocco, Norway and Ukraine will be examining their initial reports as part of the 27th session of the Committee on Enforced Disappearances, taking place between September 23 and October 4, as part of the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC).

The Moroccan delegation to this dialogue includes representatives from various institutions, notably the two Houses of Parliament, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the Interministerial Delegation for Human Rights, the General Delegation for Penitentiary Administration and Rehabilitation, the Presidency of the Public Prosecutor's Office, and the General Directorate of National Security.