Morocco: King approves final report of commission
King Mohammed VI today (December 16) approved the publication and public release of the final report of the Moroccan Equity and Reconciliation Commission (Instance Équité et Réconciliation or IER). The Royal Palace received the report on December 1, 2005, officially ending the Commission's 18-month mandate.
King Mohammed VI today (December 16) approved the publication and public release of the final report of the Moroccan Equity and Reconciliation Commission (Instance Équité et Réconciliation or IER). The Royal Palace received the report on December 1, 2005, officially ending the Commission's 18-month mandate.
Following today's announcement, the Commission released brief summaries of its findings and recommendations. (To access the summaries, go to: http://www.ictj.org) A substantial summary is expected to be released this weekend, in advance of the full report.
The highly anticipated public dissemination of the report will mark a crucial stage in the course of the Commission's work as the processes it recommends provide Morocco with a tremendous opportunity to advance victims' rights and prevent future abuses. According to the summaries, the full report determines the responsibilities of state actors and other parties for the abuses and outlines an extensive reparations plan for victims and their families. While addressing the precise nature of past violations, the report also recommends concrete steps the Moroccan government and civil society can take to ensure non-repetition in the future, such as measures and reforms that strengthen the rule of law.
Background
From the 1950s to the 1990s, thousands of Moroccans were illegally detained, imprisoned, tortured, or forcibly 'disappeared' by state actors under King Hassan II. In April 2004, his son and successor, King Mohammed VI, formally established the 17-member Commission to investigate this era and provide compensation to victims and their families. The IER received more than 22,000 applications for consideration and held victim-centered, public hearings televised throughout Morocco-an unprecedented first for the region.
As the first truth commission in the Middle East and North Africa region, the public release of the IER's final report will be a groundbreaking event, both nationally and internationally. Given its rich archive documenting past violations, the Commission and its final report could help move Morocco forward on a path toward national reconciliation and greater respect for human rights.