Morocco Backs UN Call for Global Death Penalty Moratorium After Decades of Abstention

Wednesday 18 December 2024 - 13:15

By: Dakir Madiha

Morocco Backs UN Call for Global Death Penalty Moratorium After Decades of Abstention

Morocco has made a decisive move by supporting a United Nations General Assembly resolution advocating for a global moratorium on executions. This marks a significant departure from its 17-year practice of abstention, signaling potential reforms in the nation’s approach to capital punishment.

The resolution, backed by 130 countries, faced opposition from 32 nations, with 22 abstaining. This follows a trend of growing international consensus, as seen in prior votes since the resolution’s debut in 2007. Morocco’s latest stance has been celebrated as a pivotal step toward aligning its practices with global human rights norms.

A Shift Toward Reform

Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi announced Morocco’s intention to support the moratorium earlier this year, aligning with the global movement against the death penalty. Morocco currently has 88 individuals on death row, including one woman. However, no executions have occurred since 1993. Death row inmates are held indefinitely in specialized prison wings, often awaiting sentence reductions or pardons.

The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) lauded the vote, describing it as a major victory for human rights. CNDH President Amina Bouayach called the decision a reflection of Morocco’s constitutional commitment to the right to life. The council has consistently recommended abolishing capital punishment, emphasizing its ineffectiveness in deterring crime.

Advocacy and Human Rights

The CNDH has long argued that the death penalty serves retribution rather than rehabilitation. It regularly monitors the conditions of death row inmates and highlights the challenges faced by prisoners with chronic or mental illnesses.

Globally, 144 nations have abolished the death penalty in law or practice. Within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, 33 out of 57 member states have either eliminated the practice or observe a moratorium. Additionally, 90 countries have ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aimed at abolishing executions.

Looking Ahead

Despite Morocco’s historic vote, challenges remain. The CNDH’s 2023 report revealed that 83 individuals were sentenced to death last year. A proposed reform of the Criminal Code lacks provisions to abolish capital punishment, prompting calls for further dialogue.

Parliamentarian and university professor Nabila Mounib underscored the importance of the UN vote as a cornerstone for advancing human rights. She expressed hope for complete abolition, emphasizing that fundamental freedoms depend on the recognition of the right to life.

Morocco’s decision has been welcomed by abolitionist networks such as the Moroccan Coalition Against the Death Penalty. Advocates view the vote as a critical first step in aligning national policies with international commitments.

This landmark vote positions Morocco as a key player in the global movement to protect human rights, with the potential to influence reforms across the region.