Assahafa.com
Morocco has signed a landmark agreement with the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) to host the organization’s new Regional Office for Africa.
The signing took place on Monday in Rabat and affirms Morocco’s growing presence in international legal cooperation.
The agreement, signed by Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and HCCH Secretary General Christophe Bernasconi, sets the groundwork for what the two parties described as a crucial step forward.
The new office will act as a hub for promoting legal frameworks across the continent and focus on areas such as family law, child protection, cross-border disputes, and the recognition of public documents.
“This office will act as a bridge between Africa and the legal instruments developed by the HCCH,” Bernasconi said at a press conference following the ceremony. He also acknowledged Morocco’s longstanding engagement with the organization, describing the country as a “trusted partner with recognized legal expertise.”
Morocco joined the HCCH in 1993 and has since ratified several of its key conventions. Its consistent involvement has earned the country a reputation for reliability and legal competence.
According to Bernasconi, this experience puts Morocco in a strong position to guide the work of the new office, which will be only the third of its kind globally, after the ones established in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region.
Rachid Ouadifi, Director of Civil Affairs at Morocco’s Ministry of Justice, also attended the event. As the country’s central authority for HCCH conventions, he noted the practical importance of this partnership for Morocco’s legal institutions.
The decision to establish the regional office in Morocco came in March during the HCCH’s annual policy meeting.
Held at the organization’s headquarters in The Hague, the meeting brought together more than 450 delegates from 75 member states, 44 non-member countries, and around 20 international organizations.
Founded in 1893, the HCCH remains the world’s oldest intergovernmental body focused on private international law. Over the decades, it has developed more than 40 legal instruments and built a network of 91 member states and the European Union. The new regional office in Morocco marks a significant extension of that mission, this time, with Africa at its heart.
Source: Morocco word news
