CNDH takes part in 27th General Meeting of International Coordinating Committee of NHRIs

The (Moroccan) National Human Rights Council (CNDH) takes part in the 27^th General Meeting of the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (ICC), held in Geneva (Palais des Nations), from 12 to 14 March 2014.

The overarching theme of this 27^th General Meeting of the ICC (ICC 27) is the Role of Prevention in the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. The themes of the ICC 27 include: NHRI experiences with the Second Cycle of the Universal Periodic Review, the Belgrade Principles on the Relationship between NHRIs and Parliaments, Women’s Rights and National Actions Plans on Human Rights, and the ICC accreditation process.

Representatives from over 100 national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (NHRIs) from across the globe will meet in Geneva for the 27^th annual General Meeting. The meeting will also be attended by representatives from States, NGOs, academics and independent experts.

Prior to the General Meeting, the Regional Coordinating Committees from Africa, Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe will hold separate regional meetings.

The Francophone Association for National Human Rights Commissions (Association Francophone des Commissions Nationales des Droits de l'Homme), currently chaired by the CNDH, will hold a workshop on the Universal Periodic Review. This workshop will tackle the conceptual framework of the UPR, how it started and evolved, how reports can be drafted and how NHRIs can contribute in this regard, the role of NRHIs in the implementation of the UPR recommendations, etc.

The Steering Committee of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI) will hold, on the sidelines of the ICC 27, its meeting. The Network, chaired by the CNDH in 2009-2011, will also hold a meeting to adopt and conform the minutes of its General Assembly meeting, held in Ghana (Accra - 27^th Nov. 2013). Three publications will be presented by the African Network during this meeting: The Role of the NHRIs in Conflict Management, Resolution and Peace Building – Baseline Survey on the East African Situation, The Role of Southern African NRHIs in Torture Prevention, and Guidelines for Investigating, Monitoring and Reporting Torture. The agenda of this meeting also include (1) a brainstorming on the strategies of enhancing the implementation of the 3-year joint NANHRI/Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) Project on Torture Prevention (A Continent United against Torture), (2) a brainstorming on the modalities of establishing a NHRI Forum on the sidelines of the African Commission’s Sessions, and (3) the election of the representative of the NANHRI at the ICC Sub-Committee on Accreditation.

Several side events will be held, on the sidelines of the ICC27, including “human rights-based-approach to development planning and the role of NHRIs”; “economic, social and cultural rights in the context of limited economic resources”; “How to monitor implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities and ensure effective reporting to the UN Committee” and the “National Human Rights Initiative on good water governance”.