The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) both define discrimination as: “distinction any exclusion, restriction, restriction or preference that has the purpose or effect of destroying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on equal terms, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political field, economic, social and cultural or in any other area of ​​public life “. Under the CERD, discrimination is “based on race, color, descent or national or ethnic origin”, while CEDAW bases discrimination on sex. More broadly, it is possible to apply this definition to discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, religion or any other personal circumstance. Discrimination undermines respect for human rights and equal opportunities.

After its independence, the Kingdom of Morocco subscribes to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which lays down the principle of equality with its Article 7 It states that “All are equal by the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination that violates this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination “. Subsequently ratification of the nine main international conventions [1] for the protection of human rights, as well as the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the status of refugees, marked Morocco’s international commitment to fight against all forms of discrimination.

In December 2016, 13 Moroccan civil society organizations came together and engaged in the Civil Council to fight against all forms of discrimination to make the discrimination in Morocco visible and understandable. This report gives an overview of these discriminations through the eyes and experiences of its different members: what is the diagnosis of the current state of the various forms of discrimination in Morocco?

The Civil Council to fight against all forms of discrimination was created on December 9, 2016, by 13 organizations – collectives or associations, of the Moroccan civil society. It concretizes a desire to create a space for convergence of struggles around the theme of discrimination.

All the laws and mechanisms described above require a citizen watch, which permanently observes the effective implementation of guaranteed rights. by the legislative texts, as well as the effectiveness of the mechanisms of fight against the discriminations envisaged. The Civil Council is a dynamics independent of any ideological, political, religious and / or state tie.

[1] International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the United Nations Convention on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against women, the International Convention for the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, and the International Convention on the Rights of Persons in Situ of handicap.

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