GANHRI Annual Conference: Amina Bouayach chairs the Panel on the role of NHRIs in the implementation of the GCM

As part of the participation of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) in the Annual Conference of the 32nd session of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), Ms. Amina Bouayach chaired the Panel on the role of NHRIs at the regional system level and strengthening regional, sub-and cross regional NHRI cooperation on migration. This event took place on 6 March 2019 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

Within this context, Ms. Bouayach emphasized the commitment of Morocco’s NHRI in the negotiation process of the Global Compact for Safe, Regular and Orderly Migration (GCM), along with NHRIs from Germany, Philippines and Mexico.

In this panel, Ms. Bouayach also highlighted the contributions of Morocco, at regional level, as part of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI). The Moroccan NHRI has been chairing the Working Group on Migration since its establishment in December 2018. This Working Group is composed of NHRIs from Zimbabwe, Kenya, Niger and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Morocco. It aims at reinforcing a systematic and sustainable approach on migrants’ rights amid African NHRIs.  It also intends to share experiences and good practices not only among NHRIs but also with civil society, government and other stakeholders.

At this occasion, the NANHRI approved Morocco’s proposal for organizing a side event at the margin of the next session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) including civil society and concerned stakeholders.

Furthermore, Ms. Bouayach invited various governments to set up action plans ASAP for the implementation of the GCM.

She also indicated that NHRIs should ensure the spirit of the Global Compact and its contents to protect migrants including women and children. NHRIs should also include migration dimension and consider the Global Compact in their thematic or annual reports, she added.

Luis Raul Gonzalez Perez, President of the National Commission on Human Rights of Mexico, Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana, Commissioner at the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, Eva Tzavala, Legal Adviser at the Greek National Commission for Human Rights and Patrick Marega Castellan, Migration Policy Specialist at the International Labour Organization participated in this event. They shared their experiences and good practices to shed light on violations of migrants’ rights and contribute to the implementation of the GCM.