Morocco: Visit by UN expert postponed

GENEVA (8 December 2022) – The visit of UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights Olivier De Schutter to Morocco has been postponed at the request of the Government following a lack of agreement over itinerary.

As announced on 29 November 2022, De Schutter, was scheduled to visit Morocco from 6 to 19 December 2022 to examine the government’s efforts to eradicate poverty.

Special Rapporteurs are independent human rights experts. Under the terms of reference of their country visits, governments that invite Special Rapporteurs to visit are required to guarantee and facilitate their freedom to choose whom to meet and which places to travel.

The Special Rapporteur is in contact with Moroccan authorities and has reiterated his willingness to cooperate in the search for a mutually acceptable arrangement of a visit at a later time.

De Schutter expressed his gratitude to all those involved in the preparation of the visit and organising meetings, including representatives of Moroccan civil society organisations.

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