UNHCR Commends Humanism Characterizing Morocco’s Immigration, Asylum Policy

Representative of the UN refugee Agency (UNHCR) Jean Paul Cavaliéri commended Morocco for the humanism underlying its immigration and asylum policy in line with the 1951 Geneva Convention.

Speaking on the occasion of the World Refugee Day, celebrated on June 20, the UNHCR official told Morocco’s news agency MAP that the Kingdom has succeeded in developing an adequate legal framework guaranteeing the right to asylum.

Morocco updated legal texts to enable refugees to enjoy their rights to international protection, he said, adding that the UNHCR works closely with the Moroccan government and the civil society to bring help to asylum seekers in terms of registration for obtaining refugee status in addition to offering them medical and legal aid, and education to their children.

The UNHCR together with the civil society in Morocco are also organizing this June 18-23 artistic, sports and cultural activities benefiting refugees and asylum seekers in order to shed light on the living conditions of individuals and families who had to leave their countries to escape persecution and wars, he said.

The UNHCR estimates that forced displacements has worsened in recent years as 33.9 million people had to leave their homes in 1997 compared to 65.6 million in 2016.

By last March, 18,228 migrants submitted to Moroccan authorities their requests to gain residency cards as part of the second phase of a regularization campaign that was launched last December upon directives from King Mohammed VI after the success of the first phase that saw 25,000 migrants gain residency status.

Morocco was one of the first countries of the South to adopt a genuine solidarity-based policy regarding sub-Saharan migrants…This integrated policy, which is rooted in humanitarian values, is designed to make sure migrants’ rights and dignity are safeguarded