Morocco launches national dialogue on prisons

Moroccan ministry of relations with parliament announced Wednesday it had agreed with a group of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to launch a national dialogue concerning the conditions within Moroccan prisons, with participation from the government, NGOs, state institutions and parliament. This announcement comes on the back of what has been described as the "dark report" issued by the parliamentary committee of justice, legislation and human rights which criticised the conditions endured by prisoners inside Morocco's prisons, which disclosed widespread use of bribes, drugs and homosexuality, in addition to overcrowding in cells and chambers of these prisons. The Moroccan ministry assigned to cooperate with parliament and the NGOs, said in a statement issued on Wednesday that the expected dialogue was agreed in a meeting between the Minister Habib al-Choubani, and a delegation representing the Coordination Commission for Prisons, on June 27. "This dialogue reflects the desire of both the government and NGOs to share views about the best ways possible to ensure that the rights of prisoners would be protected according to Moroccan laws and related United Nations charters, applicable to both adult and juvenile prisoners" the statement added.