CNDH engages youth in debate on death penalty abolition in Morocco

Saturday 16 May 2026 - 09:13

A national gathering in Rabat has brought together young participants, officials and human rights representatives to examine the future of the death penalty in Morocco. The meeting focused on increasing youth involvement in public debate on justice reform and human rights at a time when the country maintains a de facto moratorium on executions, in place since 1993.

The initiative was built on earlier regional consultations that included around 300 young men and women from across the country. From this wider group, 24 participants were selected through a structured process to take part in the final session in Rabat. Organizers said the selection aimed to ensure balanced and representative youth participation in discussions on legal and social reform.

Four participants from the final group are expected to be chosen to attend an international conference on the abolition of the death penalty in Paris next month. The program is presented as part of a broader effort to connect Moroccan youth with international human rights discussions and policy platforms.

Officials linked to the national human rights framework said the initiative goes beyond capital punishment alone. They described it as part of a wider push to strengthen youth participation in decision-making processes and public policy debates. They also pointed to ongoing tensions between Morocco’s current legal framework and international human rights standards, noting that while executions have not been carried out for decades, courts continue to issue death sentences.

Human rights actors participating in the discussions argued that maintaining the death penalty in law, even without executions, leaves open the possibility of future enforcement. They called for clearer legal alignment with international conventions and for a formal legislative move toward abolition, rather than relying on an informal moratorium.

The program has also expanded a youth database covering the 300 original participants, allowing continued consultation on future policy issues beyond capital punishment. Organizers presented this as a step toward sustained youth engagement in national governance debates.