Morocco calls for stronger follow-up of UN human rights recommendations

Morocco is calling for a stronger focus on implementation and follow-up as the United Nations prepares for the next phase of the Universal Periodic Review, arguing that the effectiveness of the mechanism should increasingly be measured by what happens after recommendations are issued.

The position was presented in Geneva on Thursday, September 24, during a side event held alongside the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council. The current Council session is taking place at the Palais des Nations from September 7 to October 7, 2026.

From international recommendations to national action

The Universal Periodic Review, or UPR, examines the human rights records of all UN member states through a state-driven process under the Human Rights Council. Its design is based on principles including universal coverage and equal treatment among states.

For Morocco, the discussion is now increasingly focused on the period after a review takes place: how recommendations can be translated into policies, assigned to responsible institutions and monitored over time.

Yasmine Boutaib, Director of Studies, Monitoring and International and Regional Cooperation, presented the conclusions of the Rabat Retreat on the future of the UPR on behalf of Mohammed El Habib Belkouch, Morocco’s Interministerial Delegate for Human Rights.

The Rabat meeting, held on June 5 and 6, brought together representatives from states, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN bodies, national human rights institutions, civil society, academia and independent experts. The Geneva discussion was intended to carry those exchanges into the international debate surrounding the fifth UPR cycle.

A continuous process rather than a reporting exercise

Morocco’s proposal does not call for replacing the basic architecture of the UPR. Instead, it emphasizes making better use of its existing principles while strengthening the link between recommendations and national implementation.

The approach places greater weight on planning, institutional coordination, clearly defined responsibilities and resources. It also points to the importance of maintaining continuity between one review cycle and the next.

Another issue concerns the quality of recommendations themselves. The Rabat discussions highlighted the potential value of recommendations that are more specific and targeted, and that can be assessed through measurable indicators where appropriate.

Such an approach could make it easier for governments and other stakeholders to identify priorities, monitor progress and determine where additional support may be required.

National mechanisms placed at the centre of follow-up

A major part of the discussion concerns National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting and Follow-up, commonly known as NMIRFs.

The OHCHR describes NMIRFs as national systems that can help governments coordinate implementation, reporting and follow-up across international human rights mechanisms. Its National Recommendations Tracking Database is also designed to help such mechanisms organize recommendations and monitor their implementation.

The Moroccan proposal gives these mechanisms a role extending beyond the preparation of reports for international bodies.

Where recommendations involve several ministries, public institutions or levels of government, stronger coordination can help prevent follow-up from becoming fragmented. A clearly mandated national mechanism can also connect international commitments with domestic policy planning and institutional responsibilities.

Morocco has indicated that it wants to contribute to international cooperation between NMIRFs, including through exchanges of experience, peer learning and South-South cooperation.

Technology emerges as another tool for implementation

Digital tools are also part of the discussion surrounding the future of the UPR.

The OHCHR already operates digital systems designed to organize and track recommendations. Its National Recommendations Tracking Database, for example, brings together recommendations from UN human rights mechanisms and allows countries to monitor their implementation alongside other commitments.

The Moroccan initiative points toward broader use of technology to classify recommendations, follow progress and improve information-sharing between national systems and international human rights mechanisms.

Other proposals discussed in Rabat include possible adjustments to the preparation and conduct of reviews, stronger mid-term follow-up and changes to how recommendations are communicated and organized.

Linking human rights commitments with development policies

Another dimension of the discussion is the relationship between UPR recommendations and national development strategies.

The Moroccan approach stresses stronger connections between international human rights commitments, public policies, the Sustainable Development Goals and cooperation frameworks. Technical assistance and peer-to-peer exchanges could also help states strengthen their institutional capacity to implement recommendations.

The OHCHR's UPR Knowledge Hub similarly promotes technical cooperation, capacity-building and peer learning to support implementation of recommendations, including through bilateral, regional, South-South and triangular cooperation.

Preserving the foundations of the UPR

While Morocco is advocating changes to improve implementation, the proposal also stresses that procedural improvements should not weaken the core characteristics of the mechanism.

The UPR's universal scope, equal treatment of states, public and interactive dialogue and participation of relevant stakeholders remain central elements of the process. The objective presented in Geneva is therefore to strengthen the mechanism's capacity to generate sustained national action without altering its fundamental character.

The debate comes as the international human rights system approaches the fifth UPR cycle. Morocco's message is that the value of the next cycle should not be assessed solely by the number of recommendations produced, but also by the systems established to follow them after the Geneva discussions have ended.

Morocco seeks to extend the discussion

The Moroccan Interministerial Delegation for Human Rights also plans to continue discussions on the effectiveness and coherence of international human rights mechanisms.

A future retreat focusing on other UN human rights mechanisms is envisaged as a way to extend the exchange launched in Rabat, encourage the sharing of national experiences and identify practical approaches to improving follow-up.

For Morocco, the emerging debate over the future of the UPR is therefore increasingly about the space between international commitments and national implementation — and about whether institutions, data, coordination and cooperation can turn recommendations into actions that can be followed over time.