Protection of Populations: HRC Adopts Resolution Presented by Morocco

The UN Human Rights Council (HRC) on Friday adopted a resolution presented by Morocco on “the 15th anniversary of the responsibility of protecting populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, as enshrined in the 2005 World Summit Outcome”.

This resolution, initiated and negotiated by a core group comprising six countries including Morocco, provides for the convening by the HRC, before its forty-seventh session, of “an inter-sessional panel discussion on the exchange of best practices regarding the strengthening of national policies and strategies to implement the responsibility to protect people from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity through national mechanisms and other stakeholders.”

The resolution, presented by the Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Omar Zniber, also requests the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to contact the States and the relevant UN bodies, mandate holders, as well as civil society and national human rights institutions, to ensure their participation in the panel discussion, and to ensure that the panel discussion is fully accessible to people with disabilities.

“This 15th anniversary offers a precious opportunity to raise awareness and reflect on the progress made, the best practices implemented and the difficulties encountered at the national, regional and international levels with regard to the responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, including the prevention of such acts,” said Zniber when presenting the text to the HRC members.

In addition to Morocco, the resolution is sponsored by Costa Rica, Liechtenstein, Peru, Switzerland, and Qatar.