Karim Ghellab, President of Morocco's Assembly of Representatives, told members of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly that Morocco is ‘committed to human rights', including ‘the principle of equality between men and women' and the balance of power in government.
In his address late Tuesday evening – in a session that marked two years since the Moroccan Parliament was granted partner for democracy status* with the Parliamentary Assembly – he stressed the independence of the Moroccan parliament.
Ghellab also highlighted "the strength, importance and credibility" of national institutions to defend human rights, notably the National Human Rights Council.
Morocco promotes freedom of religion, he added. ‘The article in Morocco's constitution that specifies the state as Muslim, also commits the state to protect the practice of other religions. ‘Morocco has dozens of churches and synagogues.'
*The Moroccan Parliament was granted the status of partner for democracy with PACE on 21 June 2011, on the basis of Resolution 1818 (2011).
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