Morocco’s Observatory for Rights of the Child commemorates 30th anniversary

Morocco’s National Observatory for the Rights of the Child (ONDE) commemorated its 30th anniversary in Rabat Sunday at a ceremony held under the chairmanship of Princess Lalla Meryem, President of the ONDE

The celebration of this anniversary reflects the special interest of King Mohammed VI in the cause of children, and his keenness to give a strong impetus to actions geared toward protecting this category of society and improving its situation.

At the onset of the ceremony, Princess Lalla Meryem attended a contemporary dance show named “ONDE’s fight for children’s rights”, performed by young artists who conveyed with intensity and emotion the Kingdom’s three-decade-long battle on behalf of children.

She then followed audiovisual capsules highlighting the unwavering commitment of King Mohammed VI, since his accession to the Throne, to the well-being and full social and cultural development of children; the importance attached by ONDE to the protection and promotion of children’s rights; the preservation of children’s mental health, in addition to the digitalization of ONDE, notably the Observatory’s driving role in innovation in favor of child protection.

As part of the global project to digitalize children’s health record launched by Princess Lalla Meryem in February 2025, ONDE announced during this ceremony the launch of the first version of the “Child’s health record”, an application granting parents access to all essential information needed to support their children’s growth in terms of prevention, nutrition, and psychomotor development, offering practical advice.

In partnership with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, this educational version will soon be followed by a second with new functionalities (vaccination history, automatic reminders of vaccinations and appointments), as well as a child development monitoring module.

During the commemoration ceremony, the ONDE President chaired the signing ceremony of three strategic agreements meant to strengthen inter-institutional coordination, children’s participation and the effective implementation of their rights. These partnership agreements reflect the Observatory’s ongoing commitment to pooling efforts around concrete, sustainable actions adapted to contemporary challenges.

The first agreement, inked with the Ministry of Solidarity, Social Integration and Family, supports ONDE’s 2025-2027 action plan, with a focus on training players in the field, capacity building and promoting the active participation of child parliamentarians.

The second agreement with the Ministry of the Interior and the National Coordination of the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH) provides for deploying the programs of the National Child Psycho-Trauma Device (DNPTE) in rural areas, and integrating mental health into policies targeting the first thousand days of life.

The third agreement, signed with the Higher Institute of the Judiciary, covers the integration of mental health into the training courses for judges, as well as the conducting joint studies, research, and publications on children’s rights.

Princess Lalla Meryem then presented three honorary Trophies to figures who have made a significant contribution to the ONDE’s development, including Minister of the Economy and Finance Nadia Fettah, who was praised for her constant support for the Observatory; former Minister of National Education Moulay Ismail Alaoui, honored for his services to the noble cause of children and who was unable to attend for health reasons; and Amina Ouarid, honored for her 35 years of commitment and dedication to the service of children.