On Tuesday, around forty countries reaffirmed their full support for Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces during the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), held from June 16 to July 9 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. In a statement delivered by Omar Zniber, Morocco's ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva, the group praised the kingdom's «constructive, voluntary, and profound» engagement with the UN human rights system. «For many years, Morocco has engaged in a constructive, voluntary, and profound interaction with the United Nations human rights system, particularly the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), to promote and respect human rights throughout its territory», Zniber said, speaking under agenda item 2, which focuses on interaction with the OHCHR. He also recalled that UN Security Council resolutions on the Sahara issue recognize the role of the National and Regional Human Rights Commissions in Dakhla and Laayoune, as well as Morocco's cooperation with the UN Human Rights Council's special procedures mechanisms. The group further welcomed the recent openings of consulates general in Dakhla and Laayoune by several countries. It reaffirmed its support for reviving the UN-led political process based on the format established during the two Geneva roundtables, in line with Security Council resolutions, notably Resolution 2756 of October 31, 2024. «Resolving this regional dispute will contribute to fulfilling the legitimate aspirations of African and Arab peoples for integration and development, a goal Morocco continues to pursue with sincere and ongoing efforts», the ambassador concluded.
