Equity and Reconciliation Commission
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The Equity and Reconciliation Commission (Arabic: هيئة الإنصاف و المصالح; French Instance Equité et Réconciliation - IER) is a Moroccan human rights and truth commission created on January 7, 2004 by King Mohammed VI in order to reconciliate victims of human rights abuses and atrocities- committed by Makhzen (the governing elite) during the Years of lead, with the State.
IER is composed of a president and 16 members of various institutions and establishments, half of them from CCDH. The proclaimed objectives of the commission are the protection and the promotion of the human rights in Morocco.
IER aim is to rehabilitate the victims, and pay compensation for state outrages against them.[1] This has been hailed internationally as a big step forward, and an example to the Arab world.
However, the IER has also come under attack from parts of the human rights-community, since:
- its mission is not to reveal the identities of or prosecute human rights offenders, which most of the victims were requesting.[2];
- it is not allowed to mention Mohammed's predecessor, King Hassan II;
- it is not allowed to report about human rights violations since 1999, when Mohammed VI was enthroned.
- it cannot criticize the violation of freedom of speech, which according to human rights organisations still exists in Morocco.
[edit] References
- ^ ICTJ Activity in Morocco - International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ)
- ^ Morocco's Truth Commission: Honoring Past Victims during an Uncertain Present: V. Constraints on the ERC - Human Rights Watch (HRW.org)
