Bouayach was speaking at a high-level debate on the issue of the death penalty organized Tuesday through videoconference as part of the participation of the CNDH in the 46th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, in which participants discussed "human rights violations linked to the application of the death penalty" and examined "whether the application of this penalty has a deterrent effect on the crime rate".
During this panel, held under the theme "human rights violations related to the application of the death penalty, in particular with regard to whether the application of the death penalty has an effect dissuasive on the crime rate", the president of the CNDH praised "the long-standing fight of human rights activists in Morocco against the death penalty, which is neither due to a certain ideology or culture, nor to the dogmatism of any thinking".
After noting that "article 20 of the Constitution does not provide any exception to the right to life", and that "in addition, the legislator has the constitutional obligation to protect him from any attack or offense", she indicated that the CNDH "thus plead against the argument often used by some political leaders not to repeal the death penalty by justifying itself by the hostility of public opinion to such a measure."
Bouayach recalled that "the CNDH has consistently adopted a clear and assertive position for abolition, including in its recommendation to the parliament regarding the draft penal code".
The CNDH also called on the Moroccan government last December to vote on the General Assembly's resolution on the universal moratorium, she said.
The CNDH, according to its president, ensures the monitoring and protection of the rights of those condemned to death, by carrying out regular visits, adding that the Council is also taking action for the universal abolition of the death penalty.
The Council leads the national dialogue, also provides constant support to NGOs, networks of lawyers, journalists, teachers and MPs against the death penalty, said Bouayach.
"The CNDH and the abolitionists," she affirmed, "are convinced that the death penalty has no effectiveness in reducing crimes. Conversely, its application will only provoke the feeling of 'deepest injustice and a thirst, never unfulfilled, for brutality and violence'.
The CNDH, she said, believes that killing the person will not do justice to the families of homicide victims and will not strengthen society in its fight against violence.
"For the CNDH, abolishing the death penalty is protecting the first right of human rights," she pointed out.
The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system made up of 47 States responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe.
It has the ability to discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention throughout the year. It meets at the UN Office at Geneva.