JUSTICE ROADSHOWS IN MOROCCO CARTAGENA, FEBRUARY 2014 REDA OULAMINE, PRESIDENT

MOROCCO FACT SHEET LOCATION: NORTHWESTERN HORN OF AFRICA POPULATION: 36 MILLION GDP PER CAPITA: 4475 USD UNDP HUMAN DEV INDEX RANKING: 129 HUGE ILLETERACY RATE: OVER 60% POLITICAL STRUCTURE: A CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY. NEW CONSTITUTION SINCE JULY 2011 (ARAB SPRING EFFECTS) WORLD JUSTICE PROJECT RULE OF LAW INDEX: – Civil Justice : 48/97 – Fundamental rights: 80/97 – Criminal law and procedure: 89/97!!!!

JUSTICE ROAD SHOWS IN MOROCCO: PRESENTATION OF DROIT ET JUSTICE MOROCCAN NGO SLOGAN: “POUR UN MAROC PLUS JUSTE” (FOR A FAIRER MOROCCO) CREATED IN 2008 MISSION STATEMENT: TO PROMOTE THE RULE OF LAW IN MOROCCO ACTIONS INCLUDE: – PRO BONO REPRESENTATION OF INDIGENT PEOPLE – REPRESENTATION OF SENSITIVE HIGH PROFILE POLITICAL CASES – CONFERENCES AND REPORTS ON CRIMINAL LAW REFORM AND CIVIL LIBERTIES – REFUGEES LEGAL AID PROGRAM – JUSTICE ROAD SHOWS – 2014: COURT MONITORING AND PUBLISHING OF UNFAIR JUDGMENTS

JUSTICE ROAD SHOWS IN MOROCCO: PRESENTATION CONSIST OF ONE WEEK END A MONTH OF FREE LEGAL CONSULTATION IN POOR RURAL AND URBAN AREAS ( ). SLOGAN: CITIZENSHIP: RIGHTS AND DUTIES TENTATIVE MINUSCULE ANSWER TO ACCES TO JUSTICE ISSUE IN MOROCCO – Poor and uneducated population – Widespread lack of care on the part of the GOM – Lack of institutional capacity to provide legal aid – Exemple: citizens rarely find info in courts. MOJ “centres d accueil defective” MADE UP OF 6 LAWYERS FUNDED BY DUTCH AND UK GOVERNMENTS CONSIST OF MOSTLY NO REPRESENTATION IN COURTS BUT PROVISION OF FREE BASIC LEGAL ADVICE

– The Sixth roadshow was organized on the 6 th and 7 th of April 2013, in Azrou and Ain Leuh located in the district of Ifrane. – The caravan has received more than 107 beneficiaries. – Legal advice in Azrou focused on the family law, labor law and administrative law. In Ain Louh, legal issues were related to real estate law, administrative law and family law. Ain Leuh Azrou AN EXAMPLE: The Justice Roadshow Program Sixth roadshow – Meknes Tafilalt Region…

JUSTICE ROAD SHOWS IN MOROCCO: Findings Over 1000 people assisted 40% women, 60 % men Revealed existence of sub category of extremely poor people People are intimidated by the legal system and do not know how to access it Need for additional awareness campaigns to diffuse rights Out of court, Need for support for alternative methods to litigation (.ie concilaition/ mediation) In court, Need for total overhaul of rather defective legal aid system Need for legal aid/ legal assistance centers inspired from the Jordanian and/or Colombian examples.

THANK YOU!