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Doha – Morocco’s National Human Rights Council (CNDH) is set to make a significant impact at the second International Children and Youth Book Fair in Casablanca, launching a comprehensive program focused on youth participation and rights from December 14-22.
Under the theme “Participation for Effective Children and Youth Rights,” the CNDH’s involvement aims to institutionalize youth participation across multiple domains. The initiative comes as the fair prepares to host 29 countries and 340 publishers at Anfa Park.
CNDH President Amina Bouayach emphasized the strategic importance of this approach, stating: “Our strategic goal is to institutionalize the principle of children and youth participation by legally establishing it and fostering its development to create young people who are active in public affairs.”
The council’s nine-day program features a diverse range of activities designed to give young people platforms for expression and engagement. These include open discussions, artistic workshops covering drawing, theater, and collective writing, all aimed at capturing youth perspectives on their issues and concerns.
Key focus areas include discussions on youth-specific public policies, civic participation, artificial intelligence opportunities and challenges, and voluntary work. The program also incorporates meetings with authors and publishers to explore writing and publishing as tools for enhancing creativity and knowledge access.
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The CNDH has established various themed spaces for activities, each named to reflect human rights values: Citizenship, Equality, Solidarity, Inclusion, and Communication. This approach aims to encourage widespread participation and engagement.
The initiative builds on significant partnerships with key academic institutions in the region. These include collaborations with the Regional Academy of Education and Training, Ben M’sik Faculty of Arts in Casablanca, and the Faculties of Legal, Economic, and Social Sciences in both Mohammedia and El Jadida.
The CNDH has also forged strong ties with civil society organizations to enhance the program’s reach and impact. Partners include the Bayti Association, Idmaj Foundation for Development, and Gorara Arts and Cultures Association, alongside social protection centers Abdelaziz Bennani, Benslimane, and Berrechid.
This participation marks a continuation of CNDH’s efforts throughout 2023, during which the council conducted regional consultations with children across Morocco’s twelve regions.
The initiative aligns with one of the four fundamental principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child – participation – which intersects with non-discrimination, the right to survival and development, and the best interests of the child.
The program comes at a crucial time for Morocco’s youth literacy development. Recent statistics show near-universal literacy among 15-24 year-olds, though challenges remain in addressing urban-rural and gender disparities in education access.
Through this comprehensive approach, the CNDH aims to create a sustainable framework for youth participation in public affairs, combining human rights principles with awareness of emerging issues in the digital context.
