UN Official: Morocco, a Model in The Field of Immigration Policy and Migrant Reception

A number of immigrants, especially Africans, found in the Kingdom refuge, stability and good living conditions.

A number of immigrants, especially Africans, found in the Kingdom refuge, stability and good living conditions.

Khaled Hussein, Director a.i. of the UN Economic Commission Office (ECA) in North Africa, said today, Thursday, in Rabat, in an intervention during a workshop devoted to presenting the report on the start of the study on migration statistics, that Morocco is a model for North African countries in the field of immigration policy and migrant reception.

He said, “Morocco, in addition to being a country of immigration and transit, has become a real receiving ground for African and sub-Saharan immigrants”, highlighting the Kingdom’s immigration policy which is based on openness, solidarity, and respect for immigrants’ rights.

In this regard, the UN official stated that the Moroccan constitution of 2011 consecrates the spirit of openness, equality and sharing, particularly in Chapter 30, which states that “(…) foreigners, under Moroccan jurisdiction, enjoy the fundamental freedoms recognized to Moroccan citizens, in accordance with the law. Those among them who reside in Morocco can participate in local elections by virtue of the law, of the application of international conventions or of practices of reciprocity”, referring to the various measures taken by Morocco to settle the situation of a large number of migrants.

Concerning the ECA’s tasks, Hussein highlighted that the commission contributes in particular to looking for solutions to development challenges in the continent, explaining that its mission is to support the economic and social development of its member states, encourage regional integration and enhance international cooperation for the development of Africa.

For her part, Dr. Naima Elmadani, Professor of Sociology and Anthroplogy at Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech, considered, during her presentation of the consumption report, that immigration statistics are applicable, exploitable and consistent, and represent an essential tool for managing the issue of migration, noting that the evaluation of statistical data on migration in Morocco allows a balance between the existing data and the measures taken.

Elmadani also emphasized that the project to strengthen the capacities of member states in the field of migration requires an assessment of migration statistics through a scientific protocol, pointing out that, if necessary, training sessions will be organized with stakeholders capable of acquiring good practices in statistical evaluation.

In this context, the ECA, in cooperation with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the International Organization for Migration (OIM), has been charged with implementing a project to strengthen the capacities of member states, in order to develop immigration policies and programs based on realistic data, in line with international, regional and African protocols and frameworks on Immigration.

Officials from national ministerial sectors and a number of international experts participated in this workshop, and enriched the meeting with a constructive discussion on the issue of migration and other related statistics.

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