The ICJ today released its latest report on the impact of special economic regimes on social rights in Morocco. The report (in French) is the result of a research and consultation process started early 2014.
It is the outcome of a project carried out in Morocco and Peru that aims at identifying and illustrating the impact on economic, social and cultural rights (ESCR) of policies and laws that introduce and extend special economic zones and regimes to promote exports and investment in the times of economic crises.
It aims at analysing if and to what extent social rights, including but not exclusively limited to labour rights, become “adjustment variables” for countries in search of economic growth and of increased exports to secure foreign currencies to repay their debts.
The report is also part of a broader programme of work of the ICJ on ESCR in Morocco that has included an analysis of the obstacles and the realities of access to justice for victims of violations of these rights in the country, as well as a dialogue with various national actors on the specific topic of focus in the report.
In this regard, the ICJ is encouraged to see the start of work, among others by the Moroccan national human rights institution, to identify the situation, and specific needs and problems of agricultural workers in the country.
The ICJ will continue to work with these national actors on these matters.
The report is written in French and can be downloaded below:
Morocco-Droits sociaux et regimes speciaux-Publications-thematic report-2014-FRE