Assahafa.com
Speakers at the 60th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva stressed on Friday the importance of effectively implementing the right to development and hailed the significant progress made in this regard in Morocco’s southern provinces.
Speaking on behalf of the Italian NGO Il Cenacolo during the interactive dialogue with the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development, Dahi Ahl El Khattat highlighted the integrated development model launched in 2015 by Morocco for its Southern Provinces through investments.
El Khattat highlighted the tangible impact of this model on the daily lives of local populations, particularly in the areas of education, health, infrastructure, and job creation. These policies place citizens at the heart of priorities, he said, noting that these advances, recognized in the reports of the United Nations Secretary-General, demonstrate the commitment to promoting sustainable, equitable, and inclusive development in the region.
In contrast to this dynamic, the speaker expressed deep concern about the situation of the populations held in the camps in Tindouf (southwestern Algeria), who are deprived of their fundamental rights.
He also condemned the lack of development rights in these camps, which are run by an armed group outside the law.
The speaker referred in particular to restrictions on freedom of movement, access to work, property, or settlement elsewhere, as well as the refusal of the relevant humanitarian authorities to conduct a census of these populations, calling on the Council to give urgent attention to this worrying humanitarian situation.
In a broader context, Aicha Duihi, representing the NGO Promotion du Développement Économique et Social (PDES), referred to the persistent challenges in certain regions of the world, particularly in Africa, where the combined effects of climate change, armed conflict, and instability continue to hinder the full realization of the right to development.
She stressed that while efforts are being made in several countries, significant gaps remain in terms of equitable access to education, health, and economic participation, calling for the strengthening of inclusive governance and regional cooperation.
Both speakers reaffirmed that the right to development is a fundamental right and must benefit all populations within a framework that respects international standards, human dignity, and the imperatives of social justice.
Source: map
