Morocco's Amina Bouayach elected president of global human rights alliance

Amina Bouayach, the president of Morocco's National Human Rights Council (CNDH), has been unanimously elected to lead the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI). This significant appointment took place during the Alliance's general assembly held in Geneva, coinciding with the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Vladen Stefanov, head of the National Institutions and Regional Mechanisms Section at the UN Human Rights Office, announced the unanimous vote in favor of Bouayach from national human rights institutions with "A" status. The election of the GANHRI president and secretary is conducted under the auspices of the UN.

Bouayach's candidacy received backing from representatives of national human rights institutions across all geographical groups after her official nomination by the African National Human Rights Institutions Network (RINADH). During RINADH's general assembly, held the previous day at the Palais des Nations, Bouayach's candidacy was formally endorsed on behalf of Africa.

With this election, Africa reclaims the presidency of GANHRI through Morocco's CNDH, a decade after the last representative from the continent held the position.

In a statement to the MAP following the vote, Bouayach expressed her gratitude for the confidence placed in her by her African peers and colleagues worldwide. She emphasized the "unwavering common commitment" of African national human rights institutions, from North to South, towards the protection and promotion of human rights. Bouayach highlighted the critical role these institutions play in complex situations daily in pursuit of this noble cause.

Her election comes at a time when GANHRI faces significant challenges, including the need to navigate the current difficulties affecting multilateralism and funding issues impacting national human rights institutions.

In a world where rights and freedoms are increasingly under threat, Bouayach views her election as a "responsibility of significant magnitude." She outlined various challenges that require renewed vigilance and collective action, ranging from the impact of digital technologies and shrinking civic spaces to armed conflicts, gender equality issues, violence against women, climate change, environmental security, and growing economic disparities.

Bouayach succeeds Qatar's Maryam Al Attiyah, who led the Alliance for three years. The assembly also saw Alyson Kilpatrick from Northern Ireland elected as the new Secretary of GANHRI, replacing Bouayach.