In her opening address, CNDH President Amina Bouayach stressed the need to breathe new life into the work of national human rights institutions in the Francophone world, at a time when human rights actors are facing financial difficulties.
In light of this situation, she continued, it is important to strengthen joint action and pool efforts in order to enshrine advocacy by States and support the independence and effectiveness of these institutions.
Similarly, Bouayach, who is also president of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, emphasized the importance of sharing best practices among these institutions as an essential lever for influencing public policy and national human rights protection efforts.
Referring to the challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI), the CNDH president noted that many algorithms do not comply with fundamental human rights principles, hence the importance of vigilance, awareness-raising, and accountability among digital technology producers regarding their impact on human rights.
She argued that digitization requires the establishment of communication and coordination channels between various actors, national institutions, civil society, experts, and technicians in order to develop common approaches that guarantee a balance between technological innovation and the protection of rights and freedoms.
The work of the congress should result in developing a practical roadmap aimed at furthering the working mechanisms of national human rights institutions in the French-speaking world and strengthening their capacity to interact with digital change, particularly with regard to the establishment of ethical and legal frameworks for the use of AI and ensuring respect for human rights in digital public policies.
Morocco’s hosting of this congress, through the CNDH, reflects the Kingdom’s ongoing commitment to supporting international cooperation in the field of human rights, promoting dialogue between national institutions, and contributing to the development of common visions to respond to emerging and accelerating challenges.
Editorial team/le7tv