Human Rights Pavilion at 29th session of SIEL 2024 commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Equity and Reconciliation Commission
“Commemorating 20 Years of Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation...a Milestone and a Process”
13 intellectual symposiums with 76 national and international speakers, 17 literary discussions addressing transitional justice, memory preservation, and current and emerging human rights issues...
On the occasion of the 29th session of the International Publishing and Book Fair (SIEL), taking place from 9 to 19 June 2024 in Rabat, Morocco, the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) pavilion commemorates the two decades anniversary of the Equity and Reconciliation Commission (IER) experience.
Under the slogan “Commemorating Truth, Equity and Reconciliation... a Milestone and a Process,” the CNDH participation in SIEL 2024 aims to highlight Morocco’s pioneering transitional justice experience at the national, regional and international levels.
Ms. Amina Bouayach, CNDH Chairperson, emphasized that the pavilion’s main theme is dedicated to commemorating twenty years of truth, justice and reconciliation- a milestone and a process. The CNDH’s aim extends beyond a mere celebration; it seeks to share insights with visitors on the various facets of Morocco’s transitional justice journey, including significant legislative and constitutional reforms and achievements. It also aims to foster reflection, meaningful dialogue, and the exchange of perspectives among creators, writers, authors, civil society, readers, youth, students and children.
As customary, the Human Rights Pavilion stands as an open and inclusive space, embracing all voices and perspectives. Its activities will focus on issues related to Morocco’s transitional justice experience, exploring its diverse interpretations through literary discussions, seminars and testimonials.
Children and youth from across Morocco will participate in the CNDH events on this occasion.
Over the ten-day event, the Human Rights Pavilion will host 13 seminars facilitated by Moroccan and foreign experts and stakeholders, including 76 figures from various fields, along with 17 literary discussions on publications addressing transitional justice, memory preservation, and current and emerging human rights issues- a reflection of the priorities regarding the effectiveness of human rights and freedoms.
250 girls and boys from the 12 Moroccan regions will participate in the CNDH events.
The CNDH will also exhibit its publications including annual and thematic reports, memoranda and opinions, etc.
Participants will address key themes including literature and its intersection with major contemporary tragedies as well as its role in promoting cultural expression and diversity. They will also explore topics such as Morocco’s interaction with the international human rights system, youth civic engagement amidst social transformation, multi-element national identity and establishing the Amazigh New Year as an official holiday, human rights through the prism of memory and history, the right to water, Morocco’s presidency of the Human Rights Council, National preventive mechanism against torture as part of the non-recurrence guarantee recommendation, and more.
The CNDH pavilion will host open meetings featuring esteemed writers, poets, and philosophers, including Abdellatif Laâbi (Morocco), Charline Effah (Gabon), Tarik El-Ariss (Lebanon), Ahmed Haddachi (Morocco), and Monique Elboudo (Burkina Faso), Omar Ait Said (Morocco), Concilie Bigiramana (Burundi), Said Belgharbi (Morocco), Véronique Tadjo (Ivory Coast), Taoufik El Ouadie (Morocco), Othman Siloum (Morocco), among others.
Accessibility for persons with disabilities, including sign language, will be provided at the CNDH pavilion.
Each morning, it will host artistic children’s performances, offering an opportunity to interact with their expressions and creativity as part of the implementation of the principle of children’s participation, which the CNDH advocates to institutionalize.