Rabat – The National Commission for the Coordination of Measures to Combat and Prevent Trafficking in Human Beings recently adopted the National Plan to Combat and Prevent Trafficking in Human Beings 2023-2030, as well as the National Referral Mechanism for victims of trafficking in human beings.
In this regard, the Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Ouahbi, presented to the Government Council held on Thursday the contents of the National Plan 2023-2030 to Combat and Prevent Trafficking in Human Beings, the National Strategic Action Plan for Implementation 2023-2026, and the National Referral Mechanism for victims of trafficking in human beings, following their unanimous adoption by the National Commission at its meeting of 17 March 2023.
This falls within the remit of the National Commission for the Coordination of Measures to Combat and Prevent Trafficking in Human Beings, established within the Office of the Head of Government under Law No. 27-14 on combating trafficking in human beings, promulgated on 25 August 2016, and of which the Ministry of Justice holds the presidency and the permanent secretariat.
This initiative is also in response to the commitments of the Kingdom of Morocco to combat and prevent trafficking in human beings in accordance with international instruments and standards and the related national legislation, and stems from the National Commission’s conviction of the need to protect and defend human rights, including combating trafficking in human beings, which constitutes a serious violation of the fundamental principles relating to the protection of human rights.
According to a statement by the Commission, this also reflects the Kingdom’s firm and constant commitment to combating this crime, which requires a unified, holistic and integrated vision, as embodied in the National Plan as a reference roadmap for an effective national response in this area, through the identification of strategic priorities and of measures and procedures for implementing these commitments within the framework of a humanist approach and with full respect for the rule of law and universal human rights.
Furthermore, the same source continues, the adoption of the National Referral Mechanism for victims of trafficking in human beings, following the example of pioneering countries in this field and in line with international standards on the protection of victims and the preservation of their dignity, constitutes one of the projects underpinning the national system for combating and preventing trafficking in human beings.
This mechanism, coordinated by the National Commission through its permanent secretariat at the Ministry of Justice, aims to regulate and define the means of coordinating efforts in applying procedures and measures for the protection of and assistance to victims of trafficking in human beings.
It also makes it possible to define the regulatory and procedural means guaranteeing the early detection of victims, their identification and their referral to services able to assist and protect them, within the framework of an integrated approach involving all stakeholders and institutional actors in partnership with the components of civil society active in this field, the statement concludes.
