Moroccan legal experts leveraged the platform of the World Law Congress to showcase the Kingdom’s evolving legal framework and strongly advocate for its Autonomy Plan for the Moroccan Sahara as a credible and pragmatic solution to the ongoing dispute, fully aligned with international legal standards.
During the prestigious World Law Congress held in Santo Domingo from May 4th to 6th, Morocco actively promoted its legal advancements and reaffirmed the significance of its Autonomy Plan for the southern provinces. Through a delegation of prominent jurists, the Kingdom highlighted its progress in areas such as human rights, advanced regionalization, and democratic governance.
The 29th edition of the World Law Congress, organized by the World Jurist Association (WJA) and the World Law Foundation (WLF), brought together over 300 leading figures from 70 countries under the theme “New Generations and the Rule of Law: Shaping the Future.” The opening ceremony, hosted by the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, featured remarks from the Vice President of the Dominican Republic, Raquel Peña, who emphasized the crucial role of youth and technology in enhancing access to justice. WJA President Javier Cremades also addressed the gathering, warning of increasing threats to democracy worldwide.
The Moroccan delegation distinguished itself among international speakers through the depth and richness of its contributions. Comprising notable figures such as Zaina Chahim, a lawyer and chair of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, and professors Zakaria Abouddahab, Abdelaziz Laaroussi, and Hamid Aboulass, the delegation effectively presented Morocco’s ongoing reforms and its commitment to openness. In a panel discussion focused on human dignity, Ms. Chahim highlighted the New Development Model for the Southern Provinces, emphasizing the active participation of Saharan women in local governance and the robust human rights protection mechanisms in place through the CNDH regional commissions in Laayoune and Dakhla. She underscored the fundamental link between territorial integrity, inclusive development, and the safeguarding of fundamental rights.
Professor Zakaria Abouddahab provided an overview of constitutional transitions in the Arab world, positioning Morocco’s 2007 Autonomy Plan as an initiative fully consistent with international law, firmly rooted in the United Nations Charter and the principles established by the International Court of Justice. He presented the plan as a form of internal self-determination based on democratic participation and effective territorial governance.
Constitutional expert Hamid Aboulass championed Morocco’s advanced regionalization model as a cornerstone of local democracy within the Kingdom. He highlighted the progressive transfer of powers to local authorities, the established accountability mechanisms, and the electoral legitimacy of local stakeholders. He argued that the Autonomy Plan is a logical extension of this decentralization process, designed to address the geopolitical challenges of the region.
Finally, Abdelaziz Laaroussi explored the concept of human dignity in the context of contemporary democratic challenges. Drawing on an African perspective grounded in community values, he illustrated Morocco’s experience through post-2011 reforms, the strengthening of rights in the southern provinces, and the crucial role of integrated public policies in guaranteeing the right to dignity for all citizens.
The closing ceremony of the World Law Congress, presided over by Dominican President Luis Abinader and King Felipe VI of Spain, featured the awarding of the World Peace and Freedom Prize to American Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a prominent figure in the United States Supreme Court.
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