Rabat (Morocco), February 1, 2015 (SPS) – Human Rights Watch (HRW) has confirmed the lack of improvements in human rights in Morocco and Western Sahara during the year 2014, in its World Report 2015.
“There were few tangible improvements in human rights in Morocco and Western Sahara during 2014, either in law or in practice”, HRW said Thursday in the 656-page world report, 25th edition, reviewing human rights practices in more than 90 countries.
“In Western Sahara, police blocked all public gatherings thought to be organized by opponents of continued Moroccan rule over the disputed territory”.
“Authorities blocked scores of peaceful private and public meetings organized by various Moroccan human rights associations, reversing a long-standing tolerance of such gatherings. The authorities also refused both new and long-standing human rights groups legal recognition,” added the report.
“Three years after Moroccans adopted a bold new constitution, they still await the legal and other reforms needed to put it into effect,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director. “Reforms take time – but they also take political will, which has been lacking.” (SPS)
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