UN expert to visit Morocco to assess the impact of poverty on human rights

GENEVA (29 November 2022) – The UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Olivier De Schutter, will visit Morocco from 6 to 19 December 2022 to examine the government’s efforts to eradicate poverty.

“Morocco, like most countries, has been left reeling from the double shock of COVID-19 and skyrocketing inflation, with years of progress on poverty now in decline,” said De Schutter, an independent expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor, report, and advise on poverty and human rights.

“My visit in December will be an opportunity to hear and learn more, and provide recommendations to the government on how it can protect the most vulnerable from these shocks.”

The combination of the pandemic and higher consumer prices has thrown an additional 3.2 million people into poverty or vulnerability in Morocco, according to recent figures from the High Commission for Planning of Morocco, the country’s statistical office.

“As Morocco grapples with the cost-of-living crisis, I will look closely at how its social protection system is protecting those in poverty, and how it can be strengthened to close the country’s deep wealth divide,” De Schutter said.

As well as examining the adequacy of social protection benefits, the expert will assess the quality of the country’s healthcare, housing and education systems. He will also review the situation of groups disproportionately impacted by poverty, including women, children, people with disabilities, older persons and migrants.

The UN expert will travel to the Casablanca region, Ouarzazate Province and Marrakesh-Safi region. He will meet with national and local government officials, individuals and communities affected by poverty, as well as international and civil society organisations. A preliminary schedule of the Special Rapporteur’s visit is available here.

The Special Rapporteur will share his preliminary observations and recommendations at a press conference at La Tour Hassan Palace in Rabat on 19 December at 11:30am local time. In-person access will be strictly limited to journalists but the press conference will also be live-streamed (more information here).

His final report will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2023.

ENDS

Mr. Olivier De Schutter (Belgium) has been the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights since May 2020. He was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council and is part of the Special Procedures, the general name of the Council's independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organisation and serve in their individual capacity.
UN Human Rights Country Page: Morocco