Morocco - Yesterday (1/6) IOM Director General William Lacy Swing began a two-day official visit to the Kingdom of Morocco at the invitation of the Moroccan Government. He met with senior officials, including Abdel-Ilah Benkiran, the Head of Government, and various Ministers.

During his meeting with Anis Birrou, Minister for Moroccans Living Abroad and Migration Affairs, Ambassador Swing congratulated Morocco on its new, human rights-based approach to migration initiated by his Majesty King Mohammed VI in September 2013.

In particular, Ambassador Swing underlined the crucial role of the three new law proposals (on migration, human trafficking and asylum) and reiterated IOM’s availability to continue providing technical support for an effective implementation on the new migration policy. He also praised Morocco’s leading role in promoting South-South dialogue and cooperation, which is an important aspect of promoting the integration of sub-Saharan migrants in Morocco. 

At a meeting with the Delegate Minister of the Interior, Charki Draiss, Ambassador Swing signed an agreement extending the Ministry’s support for IOM Morocco’s Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programme for stranded migrants. He thanked the Minister for Morocco’s excellent collaboration with IOM since the 2007 signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, stressing that the demand for voluntary return and reintegration continues to rise.

Yesterday DG Swing also met with Abdeslam Seddiki, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs; Mbarka Bouaida, Delegate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation; and  Mahjoub El Haiba, Inter-Ministerial Delegate for Human Rights.

Topics under discussion included IOM’s Strategy for the Mediterranean Crisis, which aim to provide short-, mid- and long-term solutions to respond to immediate humanitarian needs and to address root causes of irregular migration in the region.

Today (2/6) DG Swing will take part in the closing conference of IOM’s Belgian-funded MEDMA2 project, which engages the Moroccan diaspora in investing and contributing to development of their country of origin.

Ambassador Swing will also today meet with the Presidents of the two Chambers of the Moroccan Parliament, Mohamed Cheikh Biadillah and Rachid Talbi Alami; with the Deputy Chairman and the Secretary General of the Fondation Hassan II pour les Marocains Résident à l’Etranger, Omar Azziman and Abderahmane Zahi; and with the Minister for Solidarity, Women, Family and Social Development, Bassima Hakkaoui.

For more information please contact Rudi Anich at IOM Morocco, Email: ranich@iom.int, Tel. +212 5 37652881.