A/HRC/22/53/Add.2
Advance Unedited Version
Distr.: General
28 February2013
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Twenty-second session
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,
Juan E. Méndez
Addendum
Mission to Morocco* **
Summary
The Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
or punishment undertook a visit to Morocco from 15 to 22 September 2012.
The Special Rapporteur expresses his appreciation to the Government for extending
an invitation to visit the country, which illustrated the willingness to open Morocco to
independent and objective scrutiny of its human rights situation.
The Special Rapporteur welcomes the effort made by the authorities to address the
legacy of past abuses during the ―years of lead‖ through the Equity and Reconciliation
Commission, and in general the development of an emerging culture of human rights in
Morocco. However, he notes that torture and ill-treatment still occur. He finds that the
practice of cruel treatment persists in ordinary criminal cases, and when there are highly
charged events, such as a perceived threat to national security, terrorism or large
*
**
GE.13-
The Special Rapporteur also visited Laâyoune, Western Sahara, on 17 and 18 September
2012. As an independent mandate holder, his visit should not be interpreted as expressing
any political view concerning the present or future status of the Non-Self-Governing
Territory of Western Sahara. The territory is subject to the right to self-determination in
conformity with the principles contained in General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) and
1541 (XV).
The summary of the present report is circulated in all official languages. The report, which
is annexed to the summary, is circulated in the language of submission and in French only.