Geneva – The UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Diego García-Sayán, has canceled plans to visit Morocco.
The human rights expert was scheduled to visit the country from 20 to 26 March 2019 to examine the impact of measures aimed at ensuring the independence and impartiality of the judiciary and prosecutors, and the independent exercise of the legal profession.
In a statement issued by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights OHCHR , said that “The Government of Morocco has not been able to ensure a programme of work in accordance with the needs of the mandate and the terms of reference for country visits by special procedures,”.
The UN human rights office stressed that “governments are obliged to guarantee and facilitate [special rapporteurs] freedom of movement and freedom of inquiry.”
Garcia-Sayan’s visit was to examine the independence and impartiality of judges and prosecutors and the independent exercise of lawyering.
