Morrocan Human Rights Council Demands Respecting Right to Peaceful Protest

Morrocan Human Rights Council Demands Respecting Right to Peaceful Protest
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Morrocan Human Rights Council Demands Respecting Right to Peaceful Protest

Morrocan Human Rights Council Demands Respecting Right to Peaceful Protest

The National Council of Human Rights (CNDH) in Morroco, in a report on the protests that had erupted in Jerada in 2017, called for respecting the right to peaceful protests and demanded launching an investigation on the wounded protesters during the March 14 protests. It also demanded that the investigation’s results be published, stressing the need to review the code of criminal procedure and the texts relevant to it.

The report also considered the ban on unauthorized protests or those that no organized group had given notice of to violate the right to peaceful protest. The Council also demanded the criminalization of illegitimate use of violence to guarantee freedom of expression and assembly and the right to peaceful protest, as well as implementing pressing economic and social housing demands.

Concerning trials of detainees, the report revealed that detainees said that they had signed judicial police reports without having read them, and some disputed Royal Gendarmerie records of their confessions, as they had not signed the reports presented to the court, but the statements recorded in the statement book only.

According to the Council’s report, the court’s verdict relied heavily on judicial police reports, which include the accused’s confessions and judicial police inspection reports indicating detainees’ participation in the protests despite the authorities’ ban decision and photos and videos of the protests and the statements of a number of victims, as well as health statements given by the victims.

Concerning the trials, the Council reiterated its call for the need to review the code of criminal procedure and strengthening the defense’s pre-trial role, through its presence in the preliminary research stage and the incorporation of the right to appeal all decisions that involve the deprivation of liberty, especially pre-trial detention.

The Council issued a statement explaining that the report, Written between December 2019 and February 2020, aims to monitor, track, and record the events and evaluate their effects on rights and freedoms, based on the international conventions ratified by Morocco and the county’s constitutional and legislative safeguards. It takes a human rights approach to the proposals it submits on how to address the Jerada protests’ demands and prevent the recurrence of similar incidents and drawing conclusions to prevent their recurrence in similar contexts.

The Jerada incident erupted after two brothers died while extracting coal in an informal mine, spurring demonstrations and marches demanding better living conditions and job opportunities for the city’s residents.

For her part, the Council’s president, Amina Bouayach says that protests should have been an opportunity to think about building a proactive national strategy for managing economic, social, and environmental transformations in the city of Jerada and similar areas in such a way that makes the moving into a post-mining phase inevitable.



Half of Yemen’s Population Face Mounting Risks from Climate Change

Al-Garehi Al-Gharbi camp in the Abs district of north-west Yemen. (Norwegian Refugee Council)
Al-Garehi Al-Gharbi camp in the Abs district of north-west Yemen. (Norwegian Refugee Council)
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Half of Yemen’s Population Face Mounting Risks from Climate Change

Al-Garehi Al-Gharbi camp in the Abs district of north-west Yemen. (Norwegian Refugee Council)
Al-Garehi Al-Gharbi camp in the Abs district of north-west Yemen. (Norwegian Refugee Council)

Already suffering from a prolonged conflict as a result of the Houthi coup against the legitimate authority, Yemen is facing mounting risks brought on by climate change, the World Bank warned on Thursday.
Many populations are facing threats from climate change, such as extreme heat, drought, and floods, the WB said in its newly released Yemen Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR).
Stephane Guimbert, World Bank Country Director for Egypt, Yemen and Djibouti said that Yemen is facing an unprecedented convergence of crises — conflict, climate change, and poverty.
He called for immediate and decisive action on climate resilience, a matter of survival for millions of Yemenis.
“By investing in water security, climate-smart agriculture, and renewable energy, Yemen can safeguard human capital, build resilience and lay the foundations for a path to sustainable recovery,” he said.
The WB report said half of Yemenis are already exposed to at least one climate hazard — extreme heat, drought, or flooding — with compounding effects on food insecurity and poverty.
These risks, it showed, are expected to intensify without immediate action and Yemen’s annual GDP could decline by an average of 3.9% by 2040 under pessimistic climate scenarios, largely due to decreased agricultural productivity and infrastructure damage.
Navigating Challenges
Despite these challenges, the CCDR identifies strategic opportunities to strengthen resilience, improve food and water security, and unlock sustainable growth, the WB report noted.
For example, it said, targeted investments in water storage and groundwater management, coupled with adaptive agriculture techniques could lead to productivity gains of up to 13.5% in crop production under optimistic climate scenarios for the period of 2041 to 2050.
The report also spoke about risks to the fisheries sector, considered as a critical source of livelihood for many Yemenis.
Its projections indicate a potential decline of up to 23% in fish stocks due to rising sea temperatures and altered marine ecosystems.

The WB report also said that climate change exacerbates existing health challenges in Yemen, leading to increased healthcare costs and strain on already fragile health systems.
“It is projected that climate-related health issues could cost the country over $5 billion in excess health costs by 2050,” it noted.
“Addressing these challenges requires integrating climate resilience into public health planning, with a focus on vulnerable groups such as women and children.”
Concerning infrastructure, the report said urban areas and critical infrastructure are especially vulnerable, and without adaptation measures, economic shocks will disproportionately affect already fragile communities.
As for the private sector, it has a critical role to play in addressing Yemen’s pressing development challenges, said Khawaja Aftab Ahmed, IFC’s Regional Director for the Middle East.
“Harnessing its potential through innovative financing mechanisms and guarantee instruments and creating a conducive investment climate can help mobilize the climate-focused funding the country urgently needs to build a greener and more resilient future,” he said.
The WB report also said that Yemen also has immense potential for renewable energy, which could serve as a key component of its climate response and recovery.
It showed that harnessing renewable energy resources not only offers a pathway to reduce reliance on fossil fuels but also enables the creation of a more resilient power infrastructure.
“This will be essential in supporting vital services such as healthcare, water supply, and food distribution, particularly in conflict-affected areas,” it said.
Global Coordination
The World Bank highlighted the significant commitments and coordination from the international community to support Yemen in coping with climate shocks and building broader resilience.
It said securing sustainable peace will be required to unlock the financing and take the action needed to build long-term resilience to climate change.
The CCDR then underscored the importance of flexible, risk-informed decision-making to adapt climate actions to Yemen's uncertain political landscape.
Under a “Peace and Prosperity” scenario, it said, a higher level of adaptation can be implemented, yielding greater economic and social benefits.
Yemeni Minister of Water and Environment, Tawfiq Al-Sharjabi, stressed the importance of integrating climate action into development strategies and adapting to climate fluctuations.
The minister was speaking at a special session to discuss the WB report on the sidelines of the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
He said the report represents a significant contribution for Yemen in addressing climate change and will facilitate access to various climate financing options amid the structural and technical fragility faced by institutions due to the war.
The report, Al-Sharjabi added, aligns closely with Yemen's urgent priorities, particularly in the areas of water and food security, enhancing livelihoods, and promoting area-based climate adaptation approaches.