Assahafa.com
Morocco’s ambassador to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Omar Zniber, on Thursday called for stronger protection and promotion of the family within the United Nations system during a diplomatic workshop on “a New Decade of Revitalization, Protection, and Strengthening of the Family in Policy, Law and Practice.”
Addressing diplomats, experts, and civil society representatives, Zniber stressed that resolutions of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) recognize the family as “the natural and fundamental group unit of society” and, as such, deserving of greater protection by states and international institutions.
Speaking at the event organized by the international NGO Family Watch International, he noted that the family’s role in development and social cohesion remains “largely underestimated,” even though it contributes to building “just, stable, and secure” societies, as highlighted in HRC resolutions.
“For this reason, Morocco believes that family-related issues should be addressed within the Human Rights Council in a spirit of responsibility, balance, and consensus, away from ideological debates and polarization,” he said.
Describing the family’s “multidimensional” role, Zniber said it serves as an essential space for social solidarity, particularly during times of crisis, whether linked to economic hardship, migration, illness, or conflict. He also highlighted its role in fostering economic resilience by supporting vulnerable individuals and helping prevent exclusion and poverty.
The diplomat called on the HRC to foster international cooperation and the sharing of best practices in areas such as social protection, child protection, combating violence against women, and the economic empowerment of women.
He further underscored the family’s educational role in promoting human rights and preventing racism, xenophobia, and extremist ideologies. “Prevention begins at home,” he said, stressing the importance of teaching children respect for differences and rejection of hatred at a time marked by growing social fragmentation and the rise of hate speech, particularly online.
Referring to Morocco’s experience, Zniber noted that the family occupies a central place in the country’s constitutional framework. The Constitution guarantees equality between women and men and recognizes the family as the “basic unit of society” while ensuring protection for all children regardless of their family situation, he said.
Reviewing reforms undertaken by Morocco to strengthen family resilience, the diplomat cited the expansion of social protection, the extension of mandatory health insurance coverage, and the introduction of family allowances and direct assistance mechanisms targeting vulnerable households, including those headed by widows.
He concluded by emphasizing the importance of intergenerational solidarity, noting that every generation bears responsibilities toward others “to care, transmit, protect, and prepare for the future.”
Source: map
