Rabat: Regular schedule of elections offers a renewed opportunity to build trust and expand citizen participation, president of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) Amina Bouayach on Thursday in Rabat.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Speaking at a press briefing presenting the preliminary report on the observation of the September 23 legislative elections, Bouayach called for measures to ensure the regular renewal of institutions, including improving voter registration, accessibility, representation of women and youth, and participation by Moroccans living abroad, while stressing the importance of transparency and accountability.
She also called on political parties to establish transparent mechanisms ensuring that women and young people have access to elected office and top spots on electoral slates, while advocating for a debate on the criteria for representation and spatial equity, and for developing measures aimed at removing the barriers faced by certain groups and regions.
Bouayach then stated that CNDH observers, deployed at 3,915 polling stations, and international observers (1,644) found that the elections took place in an almost normal atmosphere, with no widespread violence or observed administrative bias in favor of any political party. Recorded violations and irregularities represented less than 3% of the cases observed and analyzed.
The CNDH's survey sample covered 733 communes out of a total of 1,538, comprising 542 rural communes and 191 urban communes and districts across 82 prefectures and provinces, she reported, noting that the Council's coverage rate reached 8.9% of polling stations, a figure significantly higher than the international standard, which ranges from 3 to 5%.
The CNDH president also emphasized the importance of publishing data disaggregated by age, gender, region, and candidate position in order to measure the impact of reforms and the quality of participation.
The Council also underscores the need to guarantee freedom of expression and to promote the use of the Amazigh language in election communications, she stated, emphasizing the importance of informing the public about the results of investigations and the measures taken, while respecting legal safeguards and the rights of all parties.
In this context, the CNDH president stressed the special importance placed on young people, given the challenges and difficulties faced by some of them, particularly regarding access to the labor market, economic independence, and participation in public life.