UN human rights chief urges Morocco to put into practice its laws and rules protecting rights

Hundreds of Moroccans protest against jail sentences recently handed out to young activists protesting against the monarchy during a labor demonstration last April in Rabat, Morocco, Wednesday, May 28, 2014. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights saluted Morocco’s human rights record during her visit this week, but local rights groups maintain police are targeting and arresting young activists. (AP Photo/Paul Schemm) (The Associated Press)

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has lauded Morocco's 2011 constitution and various measures to better protect the citizens' rights, and urged that they be swiftly applied.

Navi Pillay, speaking to journalists Thursday at the end of a three-day trip, said "many of the promising protections under the constitution have yet to be translated into reality for the people of Morocco."

Independent rights activists say that in the aftermath of the 2011 Arab Spring reforms, police are targeting activists and rolling back human rights improvements.

International human rights groups have criticized the use of torture by police to obtain confessions. The government has denied torture is systemic, saying there are only isolated cases.

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