JUSTICE ROADSHOWS IN MOROCCOCARTAGENA , FEBRUARY 2014

REDA OULAMINE, PRESIDENTWWW.DROITETJUSTICE.ORG

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 (2012 2014).

• 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 6th and 7th 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

26%

26%

15%

21%

12%

L'immobilier AdministratifCode du travail

Code de la famille

Code pénal

13%

14%

9%21

%

30%

13%

Assurance AdministratifL'immobilier Code du

travailCode de la famille

Code pénal

AN EXAMPLE: The Justice Roadshow ProgramSixth 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!