1. Morocco is located on the north-west corner of the African continent, between 21° and 36° latitude north. Its surface area is 710,850 km2. It is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its land borders are with Algeria to the east and Mauritania to the south.
2. A general population and housing census conducted in 1994 indicated a population of 26,074,000 inhabitants, with an average density of 36.7 inhabitants per km2. According to a projection by the Centre for Demographic Studies and Research, as at 1 July 1995 this figure was 26,386,000 with an average density of 37.1 inhabitants per km2.
3. A national population and employment survey in 1995 estimated the working population to be 10,006,436, or 37.9 per cent of the total population, with 4,982,080 living in urban areas and 5,024,356 in rural areas. A 1994 population census indicated that there are now fewer Moroccans living in the countryside than in the towns: 48.6 per cent in rural areas, as against 51.4 per cent in urban areas.
4. The unemployment rate in 1995 was 16 per cent of the working population (22.9 per cent in urban areas and 8.5 per cent in rural areas). Unemployment particularly affects young people, in both urban and rural areas. The unemployment rate is higher for women than men in urban areas (32.2 per cent of working women are unemployed as against 18.7 per cent of working men) and lower for women than men in rural areas (6.5 per cent for women, 9.6 per cent for men).
5. The national census indicates a higher rate of unemployment for women; this is due to the fact that official statistics do not include unstructured work performed by women both at home and in the agricultural sector.
6. Morocco is a constitutional, democratic and social monarchy. The latest revision of the Constitution, approved by referendum, dates back to 7 October 1996.
7. The Constitution begins with articles stating that sovereignty belongs to the nation, which exercises it directly by referendum and indirectly through the institutions established by the Constitution. The political parties, trade unions, communities and professional organizations cooperate in the organization and representation of citizens.
8. The King is the supreme representative of the nation, the symbol of its unity and the guarantor of the permanence and continuity of the State. He ensures respect for Islam and the Constitution. He is the protector of the rights and freedoms of citizens, social groups and communities.
9. Legislative power is exercised by the Parliament, which, since the revision of the Constitution in 1996, now consists of two chambers: the Chamber of Representatives and the Chamber of Counsellors. The members of the Chamber of Representatives are elected by direct universal suffrage. Three fifths of the membership of the Chamber of Counsellors consist of members elected in each region by an electoral college composed of representatives of the local communities, and two fifths consist of members elected in each region by electoral colleges composed of the elected representatives of professional organizations and members elected on a national scale by an electoral college composed of representatives of wage-earners.
10. The Government is composed of the Prime Minister and ministers. It is answerable to the King and the Parliament. It is responsible for the enforcement of the law and is in charge of the administration. The Prime Minister has the authority to make regulations; he may delegate some of his powers to the ministers; he is responsible for the coordination of ministerial activities.
11. The judiciary is independent of both the legislature and the executive. Judges are appointed by dahir at the proposal of the Supreme Council of Justice. The composition of the Council is set by the Constitution. It is presided over by the King and consists of nine judges; the Minister of Justice is its Vice-President. Judges are subject to the regulations governing the judiciary. The Supreme Council of Justice ensures compliance with the guarantees afforded judges in terms of advancement and discipline. Judges are irremovable.
12. The local communities consist of the regions, prefectures, provinces and communes. Morocco is divided into regions. A recent law, promulgated on 2 April 1997, provides a new legal framework for the regions, which now function as local communities with councils having both deliberative powers and power to monitor the executive authority (governor of the regional capital). The number, names, territorial boundaries and capitals of the regions are shortly to be set by decree.
13. The regions themselves are divided into 10 wilaya, comprising 13 provinces, 24 prefectures and 31 other provinces, which are themselves subdivided into rural and urban communes.
14. The local communities elect assemblies responsible for democratic governance under conditions set by law.
15. The communal councils are elected by a relative majority in a single-round uninominal ballot by direct universal suffrage, for a term of six years. The prefectorial and provincial assemblies are elected by the communal councillors under a proportional system in which they vote for several names on a list and any remaining seats are attributed to the parties which have the best showing; only communal councillors are eligible to serve on these bodies; the councils also include representatives of professional associations and the chambers of commerce, industry and services, craft trades, agriculture and marine fisheries, through a representative elected by each of them.
16. The regional councils are composed of representatives elected by the local communities, professional organizations and wage-earners; they also include members of Parliament elected on a regional basis and the Presidents of the prefectorial and provincial assemblies located in the region, who attend as non-voting members.
17. Morocco's commitment to human rights has since 1992 been proclaimed by the Constitution itself, whose preamble states: "Aware of the need to ensure conformity of its actions with the aims of the international organizations of which it is an active and dynamic member, the Kingdom of Morocco adheres to the principles, rights and obligations deriving from the charters of those organizations and reaffirms its commitment to the universally recognized human rights." This statement illustrates the importance which Morocco attaches to respect for human rights; its inclusion in the Constitution reinforces the responsibility of the State bodies for observing human rights.
18. The dahir of 1990 established the Human Rights Advisory Council. According to its explanatory introduction, the purpose of the Human Rights Advisory Council is to ensure the strictest possible observance of human rights. Its role is to assist the monarch in all human-rights-related questions.
19. The Council is presided over by the First President of the Supreme Court; it is composed, on the one hand, of the Ministers of Justice, Foreign Affairs, the Interior and the Habous, and on the other, of representatives of various organizations of civil society (political parties, trade unions, human rights associations, Moroccan Judges' Association, Moroccan Bar Association, University Teaching Corps, Moroccan Physicians' Association). The Council may also include leading figures chosen for their competence in the field of human rights.
20. The President of the Council places before it the questions on which the Monarch wishes to consult it. By a majority of two thirds of its members, it may also decide, of its own initiative, to consider questions about which it believes the Monarch should be informed.
21. The National Council on Youth and the Future was established in July 1990. This advisory body stands out among democratic institutions in Morocco because of its varied composition and the innovative, forward-looking and multifaceted approach that characterizes all its actions. In the field of economic, social and cultural rights, it takes an interest in urban and rural youth, especially as regards employment.
22. Since 1993 Morocco has had a Ministry of Human Rights, whose functions include the following:
To use all available educational and other methods for spreading, promoting and strengthening a culture of human rights;
23. During the latest ministerial reorganization, in August 1997, this Ministry was attached to the Ministry of Justice. It should be noted that the current Government is a transitional Government pending the legislative elections scheduled for November 1997.
24. Since 1993 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation has included a division for humanitarian and social questions. The main task of this division is to ensure coordination between the United Nations bodies responsible for human rights and humanitarian and social questions and the ministerial departments concerned. It also ensures follow-up of Morocco's commitments under international instruments on human rights and humanitarian and social questions. In addition, it supervises the preparation of the periodic reports which Morocco submits as a State party to the international conventions.
25. An Office of High Commissioner for Disabled Persons was established in 1994. This institution has many functions, the principal one being to introduce a global policy for the social integration of disabled persons. It was provided at the outset with a methodology and effective scientific tools for coming to the aid of disabled persons.
26. By a royal decision in 1996, the National Congress for Children's Rights became the National Body for observing and monitoring the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Among the Body's functions are coordinating actions to ensure the survival and development of children, helping to strengthen Morocco's policies in the field of protection of children and creating a computerized database on all aspects of the implementation of the Convention and the Declaration and Plan of Action of the World Summit for Children.
27. Following the Fourth World Conference on Women, a National Commission was established to monitor the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. A national strategy was prepared covering all areas where the situation of women might be improved. One of the aims of this strategy is to ensure that national legislation is in conformity with the provisions of the international conventions ratified by Morocco.
28. A plan of action was therefore prepared, whose objectives included the publication of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, in terms accessible to all women regardless of their educational level, in order to raise their awareness of their rights and inform them of the procedures for applying to the courts if their rights are violated.
29. Non-governmental organizations in Morocco have been increasing spectacularly and are the main sign of a "civil society" in full development. They work in several areas, notably the promotion and protection of human rights, but also in the economic, social and cultural fields.
(a) Judicial remedies
30. Persons whose rights have been violated are, first of all, entitled to a judicial remedy with the courts. This remedy is available whenever a right stipulated by law has not been respected. It may be exercised either in civil or criminal courts, depending on the nature of the right violated. For example, an application for maintenance payments would be brought before the civil courts, while a victim of arbitrary detention would apply to the criminal courts for redress. In cases where the violation of the right constitutes an offence, the Public Prosecutor's Office may also institute legal proceedings, whether or not the victim appears as a plaintiff in the case.
31. Morocco's judicial system is established by a dahir of 15 July 1974, which provides for the following ordinary courts:
32. The commune and district courts have jurisdiction in criminal matters to try a precise list of extremely minor offences (set out in the dahir of 15 July 1974 establishing these courts) and in civil matters, in cases not involving more than 1,000 dirhams, with the exception of cases relating to personal status and cases involving real estate. These courts were established in 1974 in order to bring justice closer to the people; they are the only courts in the judicial system which consist of a single judge.
33. The courts of first instance have general powers in civil, commercial and social matters and questions relating to personal status and inheritance matters. In the criminal sphere they hear cases involving petty offences (for which the penalty is a prison term of less than one month or a fine of less than 1,200 dirhams) and offences (for which the penalty is a prison term or a fine of more than 1,200 dirhams). These courts consisted of a single judge until 1993. A legislative amendment of 10 September 1993 made them collegiate courts which consist of three judges.
34. The courts of appeal hear appeals against the judgements of the courts of first instance and against orders issued by their Presidents. Their hearings are held and judgements handed down by three judges. The courts of appeal also have specific powers in the criminal sphere, which are assigned to the criminal and correctional divisions and the examining magistrates:
35. The criminal division tries crimes (i.e., the most serious offences, for which the Criminal Code provides one of the following penalties: death, life imprisonment or long-term imprisonment, banishment or loss of civil rights); it is composed of five judges.
36. The correctional division, in addition to its role as appellate jurisdiction in respect of decisions handed down by the courts of first instance in cases involving offences and petty offences, hears appeals against judicial orders issued by the examining magistrate. It also has other powers, including power to monitor the activity of the judicial police and the preliminary investigations conducted by the office of the examining magistrate in cases pending before the court of appeal.
37. The examining magistrates, who are appointed from among the sitting judges, are responsible for the investigatory phase of gathering evidence for the trial, which is obligatory for the most serious crimes (involving the penalty of death or life imprisonment) and optional for other crimes.
38. The Supreme Court holds the highest position in the Moroccan judicial system. It hears appeals on points of law against final decisions handed down by all the courts in the Kingdom. It is a collegiate court, whose hearings are held and judgements handed down by five judges.
39. The special courts are the High Court of Justice (which is competent to hear cases involving members of the Government), the Permanent Court of the Royal Armed Forces (which is competent to hear cases involving the military and offences against the external security of the State) and the Special Court of Justice (which is competent to try public officials for misappropriation of public funds, bribery, influence-buying and embezzlement). Decisions by any of the special courts, from the Permanent Court of the Royal Armed Forces through the Special Court of Justice, may always be the subject of an appeal to the Supreme Court.
(b) Administrative remedies
40. Anyone who considers that an administrative decision has caused him harm is entitled to an administrative remedy: an appeal out of court to the person responsible for the decision asking him to reconsider the decision and perhaps take a different position; an appeal to the department having authority over the person responsible for the decision appealed against; or a remedy lodged with the authority responsible for supervising the actions of the decentralized communities and ensuring that they enforce the law.
41. Anyone wishing to challenge an administrative decision may also lodge an appeal against an administrative decision on the ground that the department in question has exceeded its authority. Cases in which such appeals may be lodged are set out in the Act of 12 July 1991 establishing the administrative courts: "Any administrative decision taken by a body which lacks jurisdiction or which has procedural regularities or is the result of a misuse of power or unjustifiable or contrary to the law, constitutes an abuse of power entitling the injured party to bring proceedings before the competent court."
42. Appeals against administrative decisions are lodged with the administrative courts or the Supreme Court, depending on the authority which has taken the decision being appealed against.
43. The administrative courts were established in 1991 with a view to strengthening the capacity of the court system to enforce legality and the rule of law. These courts are basically competent to hear appeals against decisions by administrative departments on the ground that they have exceeded their authority, disputes relating to administrative contracts and actions in tort for damage caused by the acts and activities of public entities.
(c) Other remedies
44. The Human Rights Advisory Council can also receive complaints of violations of human rights. In such cases, it asks the bodies dealing with these complaints to conduct inquiries and to restore the complainants' rights when the allegations in question prove to be true.
45. The international conventions to which Morocco is a party are published in the Official Gazette of the Kingdom. The Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment were published in December 1996. The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination was published in the Official Gazette of 4 February 1970.
46. Information on human rights is also published by the departments concerned. Publications have included several general information bulletins, one illustrated edition of the Convention on the Rights of the Child aimed at explaining the text and making it more accessible, and the Government's initial report on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
47. Simultaneous efforts are under way to publish the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, ratified by Morocco in 1993, in accessible language.
48. Associations concerned with human rights in general or at the sectoral level help to raise society's awareness of human rights problems and to disseminate a culture of human rights. Some of these activities are conducted in partnership with government bodies. These associations produce information brochures in their respective fields of activity.
49. Among the fundamental principles established by the Constitution, article 5 states that "all Moroccans are equal before the law". Article 9 of the Constitution guarantees all citizens: "Freedom of movement and residence anywhere in the Kingdom, freedom of opinion, freedom of expression in all its forms and freedom of assembly, freedom of association and freedom to join trade unions and political associations of their choice."
50. Implementing this constitutional principle raises no difficulties as problems of racial discrimination do not exist in Morocco. Moroccans do not segregate or discriminate on the basis of race, colour, descent or origin. During the Second World War, oppressed peoples seeking refuge turned to Morocco, where they found a cordial welcome, tolerance and egalitarian treatment.
51. Islam is the State religion (Constitution, art. 6). Most of the country's population is of the Muslim faith. But the Constitution also proclaims freedom of religion, as reflected in its recognition of freedom to worship for the monotheistic religions.
52. As in the past, the members of the Jewish community, whose presence in Morocco is of long standing, enjoy their own personal status which is conferred on them by their own religious institutions. This special treatment is in no way discriminatory, but an example of the recognition of the right to freedom of worship laid down in the Constitution. Apart from this special feature, which only concerns personal status (family relations, inheritance), the members of the Jewish community are full Moroccan citizens; they have equal access to public service and to employment in general and enjoy civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights without restrictions or special features of any sort. They experience no discrimination in access to education, both public and private, health, cultural activities, high-level posts and representative bodies.
53. Morocco has no policy of segregation or racial discrimination and has always condemned apartheid. It is also a party to the 1986 International Convention against Apartheid in Sports and has always fulfilled its obligations under the Convention. It welcomes the positive developments in the situation in South Africa, which have led to the elimination of apartheid.
54. As stated above, the problem of racial discrimination does not arise in Morocco. Consequently, the legislation contains few provisions dealing explicitly with apartheid. However, it does contain the means for punishing such behaviour should that become necessary.
55. Any association formed for the purpose of spreading racist propaganda or based on ideas or theories of racial superiority would be punishable under law. The dahir of 15 November 1958 establishing rules governing freedom of association does not explicitly cover this situation but stipulates that the rules governing association are the general principles of law applicable to contracts and obligations. The law relating to obligations considers any contract contrary to public order to be null and void. The request for a contract to be declared null and void may be made by the public prosecutor's office or any person concerned. There is no doubt that an association whose statutes introduce discrimination based on race is contrary to public order, as the Constitution proclaims equal rights for all citizens.
56. In addition, article 3 of the dahir of 15 November 1958 is very clear on this point when it stipulates: "Any association based on an unlawful cause or formed for an unlawful purpose, contrary to the laws, to morality ... is considered to be null and void." Article 7 states that in cases where an association is found to be null and void and generally speaking if the association's activity appears likely to disturb public order, it shall be dissolved by the court of first instance, on application by any person concerned or by the public prosecutor.
57. Penalties are laid down for the founders, directors or administrators of an association which has continued to function or formed again after being dissolved, and for anyone who has helped the members of a dissolved association to meet.
58. Political parties or associations of a political nature must also be based on a cause or formed for a purpose that is legal and in conformity with the law. The dahir of 15 November 1958 states explicitly that they must be formed by nationals only, "without any discrimination on the basis of race, religion or region of origin".
59. The dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority and hatred may be punishable under law, as constituting injurious behaviour, which the Criminal Code defines as "any insulting expression or term of contempt or abuse containing no allegation of fact", or defamation, defined as "any allegation or attribution of a fact which besmirches the honour or reputation of the persons or body to which the fact is attributed". When these offences are public they are punishable under the Press Code. Moreover, any journal or periodical that encourages racial hatred may be considered as endangering public order and may therefore be seized and banned by order of the Prime Minister, as stipulated in the Press Code (arts. 77 et seq.).
60. Acts of violence and incitement to violence are punishable under the criminal legislation, whatever the reasons for which they were committed. In its chapter on offences against the internal security of the State, the Criminal Code establishes very severe penalties for "anyone responsible for an attempt either to instigate a civil way by arming inhabitants or encouraging them to arm themselves against each other or to cause destruction, killing and looting in one or more douars of communities". Plots formed for the same purpose are also punishable, even if they have not been followed by the commission of a preparatory act or an attempt to do so. Any act of violence or planned violence against a group of persons would come within the purview of this offence, whatever the grounds for committing it.
(a) Right to equal treatment before the tribunals
61. In pursuance of the constitutional principle of the equality of all before the law, everyone has access to the courts under identical conditions. The only exception provided by law concerns legally incapacitated subjects (minors, mentally disturbed people spendthrifts, who must be assisted by their legal representative.
62. Defence rights are also the same for everyone as far as the conduct of criminal proceedings is concerned. The Code of Criminal Procedure introduces no discrimination whatsoever. It requires an interpreter to be designated when the accused speaks another language, dialect or other form of expression difficult to comprehend, failing which the proceedings shall be declared null and void.
(b) Right to security of person
63. The Criminal Code provides the same protection for anyone who has been the subject of abuse or ill-treatment. When government employees are involved, articles 224 to 232 of the Criminal Code establish penalties for abuse of authority (offences against individual liberty or civil rights, arbitrary detention, violence against individuals, etc.) by public servants against individuals, with no discrimination among the victims. When those responsible are private individuals (as covered in articles 400 et seq. of the Criminal Code: violence with intent to harm), the law makes no distinction either.
(c) Political rights
64. Political rights are guaranteed to all nationals without discrimination by the Constitution, article 8 of which stipulates: "All adult citizens of both sexes in possession of their civil and political rights may vote." The Electoral Code (Act No. 9-97 of 2 April 1997) takes up this statement and lists in article 5 the grounds for ineligibility to vote, which derive essentially from criminal sentences and are in no way based on racial discrimination.
65. The Constitution also stipulates (art. 12) that "all citizens have access, under the same conditions, to public office and public functions".
66. Article 1 of the Public Service Statute (dahir of 24 February 1958) states that "All Moroccans have the right of equal access to public service." The only restrictions on access to public service are laid down in article 21, which stipulates that "No one may be appointed to a public service post if he is not of Moroccan nationality, in full possession of his civil rights and of good character, if he does not meet the physical requirements for performing his functions or has not fulfilled the conditions laid down in the Military Service Act." No other restrictions are established.
(d) Other civil rights
67. The Constitution guarantees all citizens, without discrimination, the right to freedom of movement and residence anywhere in the Kingdom, freedom of opinion, expression and assembly, freedom of association and freedom to join trade unions and political organizations. It also guarantees the right to own property and the right to free enterprise (arts. 10 and 15).
68. Nationality is acquired by affiliation or by birth on Moroccan soil under the conditions established by the Nationality Code. The Code contains a precise list of cases involving loss or deprivation of nationality. None of the cases established by law involving acquisition, loss or deprivation of nationality is based on discrimination of any nature whatsoever.
(e) Economic social and cultural rights
69. Economic, social and cultural rights are guaranteed to everyone without discrimination. With regard to the right to work, article 3 of the framework statute governing all industrial and commercial enterprises in the private sector (decree of 23 October 1948) stipulates that candidates shall be recruited only on the basis of their aptitudes, qualities and references.
70. The draft Labour Code, whose preparation is now complete and which ought shortly to be submitted to Parliament for discussion and a vote, is more precise. Article 8 of the Code explicitly prohibits all discrimination, as follows: "It is prohibited to practise any discrimination against workers on the basis of race, colour, sex, marital situation, religion, political opinion or national descent, with a view to destroying or impairing equality of opportunity or treatment in employment or professional matters, in terms of hiring, performance or distribution of work, vocational training, wages, advancement and social benefits, dismissal and disciplinary measures." Violation of this prohibition is punishable by a fine of 3,000 to 5,000 dirhams.
(f) Right of access to any place or service intended for use by the general public
71. There are no restrictions of any kind on access to public places.
72. Anyone who considers that his rights have been violated may avail himself of the remedies described above in part one chapter III of the report (Legal framework within which human rights are protected).
73. It should also be noted that, where domestic rules are not compatible with international rules, the Supreme Court, in a consistent line of precedent which is already of long standing, has decided that the international rule, on publication, should take precedence over the domestic rule. The inclusion since 1992 in the preamble to the constitution of Morocco's statement of adherence to the principles, rights and obligations deriving from the charters of the international organizations cannot but strengthen this position.
(a) Education
74. A considerable effort has been made in recent years to establish a system of human rights education. In this framework, a think-tank has been asked to study the possibility of introducing and strengthening a human rights culture at all levels of the education system.
75. On 26 December 1994, a partnership agreement was signed between the ministries concerned with a view to implementing and strengthening human rights principles and precepts in the basic and secondary school curricula. The strategy on which this project is based covers the period 1995 to 2004. It encompasses a preparatory phase, an experimental phase and an extension phase which will also include project follow-up and evaluation.
76. A joint commission was established in 1995, as well as two subcommissions, one of which is responsible for curricula (reparation of future courses of study) and the other for textbooks (history, geography, Arabic, French, philosophy, Islamic instruction) for which it analyses contents and any necessary changes in both textbooks and proposed teaching activities. These subcommissions which have been functioning for over a year, held two workshops in April 1997.
77. Mention should also be made of the agreement concluded between UNESCO and the Ministry of Higher Education for establishing a human rights Chair at Mohammed V University; the Chair began its activities in 1996-1997. The Chair's plan of action contains sections on "human rights teaching" and "training". In establishing a human rights education system the initial goal is to choose appropriate disciplines from among the subjects taught at university level and then to define, in cooperation with the teachers of the subjects chosen, the spirit, form and contents of the additional courses to be incorporated.
78. The Chair intends to organize training seminars for people whose work brings them into contact with human rights matters (doctors, lawyers, security forces, etc.) and those who have a role to play in the protection and promotion of human rights (judges, NGOs, trade unions, educators, etc.).
(b) Culture
79. The Constitution provides all citizens with an equal right to instruction. The promotion of culture is one of the Government's continuing concerns. In 1995 six regional councils for culture were established throughout the territory of the Kingdom as branches of the Supreme Council for Culture. Achievements in the cultural sphere cover all areas of activity: theatre, national heritage, plastic arts, music, etc. They are the concern not only of government agencies but also of associations working in the field of culture.
80. Growing importance is attached to the Berber culture in this context. The Berbers were the first inhabitants of North Africa, and their language and culture are still widespread in Morocco. The various dialects which make up Berber language are genetically independent from the official language. They are used by the rural Berber-speaking communities as a means of communication for their social, economic and cultural activities.
81. There are 18 associations in Morocco whose principal goal is the protection and promotion of Berber language and culture. The oldest and most active of these is AMREC (Moroccan Association for Cultural Research and Exchange). In 1992 these associations regrouped into a national coordination structure and in this framework take common positions on issues relating to their field of interest. These associations basically concern themselves with the following:
Collecting and preserving the Berber cultural heritage;
82. Their position is based on the demand for a democratic and pluralistic culture in which all the components of the national culture are recognized as having their place.
83. Generally speaking, there is a trend towards recognition of the special features of the Berber culture from both the linguistic and anthropological points of view. There is a living and dynamic Berber culture in Morocco which is an integral part of the national cultural activities (music broadcasts, publication of novels, novellas, poetry and periodicals, in Berber language transcribed into Arabic characters).
84. On 20 August 1994, a speech by the King emphasized cultural diversity and the fact that the Berber dialects are an essential component of the national make-up. It stressed the need to consider introducing Berber dialects into the school curricula. The introduction of classes in Berber dialects in the schools is currently under study by commissions especially established for that purpose.
85. Radio and television programmes currently reach most of the regions in the Kingdom and also go beyond the national territory to other regions throughout the world. Radio broadcasts are in Arabic, three dialects (tarifhit, tamazight and tachelhit), French, English and Spanish. With regard to radio coverage, 62 per cent of the territory (84 per cent of the population) is covered by medium-wave hroadcasts in Arabic and 13.1 per cent of the territory (50 per cent of the population) by programmes in dialect.
86. Moroccan television broadcasts cover 4,527 hours; 74 per cent are in Arabic (including dialects) and 26 per cent in French, English and Spanish. There are daily television news broadcasts in the three dialects. Berber cultural programmes are broadcast periodically.
87. Morocco celebrates the human rights days through cultural activities and radio and television broadcasts.
(c) Information
88. See part one, chapter IV - Information and publicity.