CNDH SG PARTICIPATES IN THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF A MULTIDISCIPLINARY MEDICAL CENTER FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE IN HAY MOHAMMADI

The multidisciplinary medical center for victims of violence was inaugurated on Saturday, April 16, 2011 in Casablanca, in the presence of CNDH Secretary General Mr. Mohammed Essabbar.

Based in Bd. Ali Yaata, near the 48th administrative annex in the Casablanca district of Hay Mohammadi, this project was initiated by the Medical Association for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture, with the support of the local coordination unit of the Community reparation Program in Hay Mohammadi.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the center, Mr. Essabbar said the project is to facilitate access to health care for victims of past human rights violations. It is in line with the Community Reparation Program which aims to rehabilitate the populations of the areas that suffered serious human rights violations and promote their socio-economic rights. The ultimate objective of the program is to "achieve a societal interactive and positive reconciliation", he added.

Mr. Essabbar indicated the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) is currently examining the file of the former detention center Derb Moulay Cherif in order to transform it to building to preserve collective memory.

For his part, M'Hammed Grine, Delegated Director of CDG Foundation, said that about 100 projects have been realized to date in the eleven regions covered by the Community Reparation Program, adding that these projects are divided around six points, namely: the preservation of positive memory, capacity building of local stakeholders, support for income generating activities especially for women, integration of women and children, protection of the environment and the reinforcement of infrastructures.

Mr. Abdelkrim Manouzi, President of the Medical Association for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture, said that the creation of this center has great symbolic significance, given the fact that this place is a former police station, not far away from the famous old detention center of Derb Moulay Cherif. He seized this opportunity to commend the efforts of the National Human Rights Council to release a number of prisoners. Calling the Council to continue its efforts in this direction, Mr. Manouzi asserted the need to rehabilitate the former detention center Derb Moulay Cherif and transform it into a place for the preservation of memory and a museum to be open to the public to ensure non repetition of past violations.

Several activities are planned under this project, including permanent five-day care, kinesitherapy services, creation of medical teams and social workers to provide support to the victims of violence. Training sessions on the victims’ needs and raising-awareness campaigns to ensure better integration of victims of violence are scheduled as well.

This project costs 641 000.00 Moroccan Dirhams, 80% of which is covered by the national Human Rights Council, CDG Foundation and the European Union. The Medical Association for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture covered the remaining 20 %. Entraide Nationale and the District of Ain Sbaa Hay Mohammadi contributed to therealization of this project by putting the 180 m² former police station at the disposal of the association.

The participants of this ceremony observed a minute's silence in memory of the martyrs of Derb Moulay Cherif and all victims of serious violations of human rights.