Advocates Mobilize to Oppose Proposed Restrictions on Associations’ Legal Rights in Criminal Procedure Draft

Advocates Mobilize to Oppose Proposed Restrictions on Associations’ Legal Rights in Criminal Procedure Draft

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The National Office of the Moroccan Association for the Protection of Public Money announced the organization of a protest stand in front of Parliament on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at 5:00 PM, under the slogan “No to restrictions on civil society, no to corruption and the plunder of public money.”

This protest comes in protest against the draft Criminal Procedure Code that the government recently approved, sparking a wave of condemnation among human rights activists and public money protectors who considered that it “restricts the right of civil society organizations to litigate against crimes of corruption and the looting of public money.”

In this context, the Moroccan Association for the Protection of Public Money reported that “the draft Criminal Procedure Code includes two controversial articles. Article 3 stipulates that judicial investigations into financial corruption cases can only be conducted based on referrals from the Chief Public Prosecutor, while Article 7 imposes restrictions on the right of associations to litigate as civil parties, which requires obtaining special permission from the Minister of Justice.”

The statement considered that these amendments constitute a “clear violation of the basic rights guaranteed by the constitution and international conventions,” noting that “closing the door of the judiciary in the face of human rights associations expresses an authoritarian trend aimed at restricting freedoms and reducing the role of civil society in combating corruption.”

The National Bureau of the Association explained that the new amendments “stand against constitutional principles and hinder efforts to combat corruption,” noting that these changes “contradict Law No. 10-37 on the protection of whistleblowers and the United Nations Convention against Corruption.”

Accordingly, the National Office called for “forming a unified framework with democratic and human rights bodies to confront corruption,” stressing the importance of broad participation in the upcoming protest stand with the aim of “increasing pressure on the government to reconsider the draft law and its amendments.”

It is noteworthy that the Government Council approved, last Thursday, draft law 03.23 amending and supplementing Law No. 22.03 on criminal procedure, prepared by the Ministry of Justice. This step was considered by the Ministry itself as “important towards strengthening criminal justice and modernizing the national legal system,” as this draft aims to complete the implementation of the provisions of reforming the justice system called for by King Mohammed VI on several occasions.

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2024-09-08 11:19:29

Global corruption barometer 2023

Morocco’s ​Struggle Against Corruption:⁢ A Call to Action

Corruption remains a⁤ significant obstacle to Morocco’s progress, ‌with⁣ the country scoring a mere⁤ 40 out of 100⁣ in the 2020⁣ Corruption Perceptions Index‌ [[1]]. This lack​ of progress in combating systemic corruption in the public sector is a glaring ⁢concern, and recent events ‍have brought this issue ​to the forefront.

The Moroccan Association for the Protection of Public Money has announced ‍a protest stand in‍ front‌ of Parliament⁤ on September ⁢21, 2024, to​ decry the draft Criminal Procedure Code that restricts the⁣ right of civil society organizations to litigate against corruption and the looting of public money.‌ This move has sparked widespread condemnation ​among ​human rights⁣ activists ⁤and​ public money protectors, who view it as a clear violation of basic rights guaranteed by the constitution and international conventions.

The controversial articles ​in the draft code, specifically Article 3 and⁣ Article ​7, have raised concerns about the limitations on ⁢judicial investigations ‍and ​the restrictions on associations’ right to litigate as civil parties [[3]]. ⁢These amendments have ⁤been criticized for contradicting ​Law No. 10-37 on the protection of whistleblowers and the United​ Nations Convention against‌ Corruption.

Morocco’s Corruption Index has⁣ historically been a subject ‌of concern,​ with the country averaging 37.08 points ​from 1998‍ to 2023, reaching an all-time high of 47.00 ‌points in 2000 and a ‍record low of 32.00 points [[2]]. Currently, Morocco ranks 97 out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index⁤ [[3]].

The National Office​ of the Moroccan Association for the Protection of Public Money has called for a⁢ unified framework with democratic and ‍human rights bodies to confront corruption, highlighting the importance of broad participation in ‌the upcoming protest​ stand. This ‌collective effort aims to increase pressure⁣ on the government⁣ to reconsider the ‌draft law ⁢and its amendments, ultimately promoting a ⁢more‍ transparent and accountable system.

As Morocco continues‌ to grapple with ​the challenges of corruption, ⁣it is essential for‍ citizens, civil society organizations, ‌and the‍ government to work together to combat this pervasive issue. By acknowledging the gaps⁣ in ‍the ⁣current ‍system and advocating for change, Morocco can take a crucial step towards creating a more just and equitable society.

Join the movement against corruption and restrictions‍ on civil society. Stand in solidarity with the Moroccan Association for the Protection of Public Money on September 21, 2024, and​ demand a more transparent and accountable system‍ for all.

Current issues in Morocco 2024

Morocco’s Struggle Against Corruption: A Call to Action

Corruption remains a significant obstacle to Morocco’s progress, with the country scoring a mere 40 out of 100 in the 2020 Corruption Perceptions Index [[1]]. This lack of progress in combating systemic corruption in the public sector is a glaring concern, and recent events have brought this issue to the forefront.

The Moroccan Association for the Protection of Public Money has announced a protest stand in front of Parliament on September 21, 2024, to decry the draft Criminal Procedure Code that restricts the right of civil society organizations to litigate against corruption and the looting of public money. This move has sparked widespread condemnation among human rights activists and public money protectors, who view it as a clear violation of basic rights guaranteed by the constitution and international conventions.

The controversial articles in the draft code, specifically Article 3 and Article 7, have raised concerns about the limitations on judicial investigations and the restrictions on associations’ right to litigate as civil parties [[3]]. These amendments have been criticized for contradicting Law No. 10-37 on the protection of whistleblowers and the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

Morocco’s Corruption Index has historically been a subject of concern, with the country averaging 37.08 points from 1998 to 2023, reaching an all-time high of 47.00 points in 2000 and a record low of 32.00 points [[2]]. Currently, Morocco ranks 97 out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index [[3]].

The National Office of the Moroccan Association for the Protection of Public Money has called for a unified framework with democratic and human rights bodies to confront corruption, highlighting the importance of broad participation in the upcoming protest stand. This collective effort aims to increase pressure on the government to reconsider the draft law and its amendments, ultimately promoting a more transparent and accountable system.

As Morocco continues to grapple with the challenges of corruption, it is essential for citizens, civil society organizations, and the government to work together to combat this pervasive issue. By acknowledging the gaps in the current system and advocating for change, Morocco can take a crucial step towards a more corruption-free future.

The Protest Stand: A Call to Action

The upcoming protest stand on September 21, 2024, is a call to action for all those who care about the future of Morocco. It is an opportunity for citizens, civil society organizations, and human rights activists to come together and demand change. The protest stand is not only a reaction against the draft Criminal Procedure Code but also a statement against the pervasive corruption that has plagued Morocco for far too long.

The Importance of Unity

In the face of corruption, unity is essential. The National Office of the Moroccan Association for the Protection of Public Money has called for a unified framework with democratic and

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