Geneva: Outstanding Participation of the Moroccan Parliamentary Delegation at 149th IPU Assembly
Continuing his outstanding participation in the 149th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), currently being held at the Geneva Conference Center, Rep. Omar Hejira, head of the delegation, delivered an address on behalf of the Moroccan Parliament to the General Assembly on the theme “Harnessing science, technology and innovation (STI) for a more peaceful and sustainable future.” In his address, he highlighted the attention given to this field in the Kingdom of Morocco, in accordance with the High Directives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, May God Assist Him, through the creation of a government department in charge of digital transition, as well as the establishment of an international center on artificial intelligence.
Rep. Hejira also called for the need to use scientific and technological advances responsibly and ethically, warning against the negative effects likely to result from the growing technological gap between countries and the use of these technologies for nefarious purposes.
In the same vein, he stressed the importance of international cooperation to establish rules and ethical standards for the use of these technologies, insisting that science must be at the service of humanity. Similarly, he warned against the negative uses of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and genetic engineering, calling for the need to evaluate them carefully before applying them.
He also urged participants to draw up national and international legislation to guarantee the responsible use of science and technology in order to protect society from its negative effects, raise public awareness of the dangers of these technologies and encourage a culture of scientific and ethical research.
In addition, Rep. Khaddouj Slassi took part in the Forum of Women Parliamentarians on “The impact of artificial intelligence on democracy and human rights from a women's rights perspective.” She highlighted the enormous potential of AI for information transfer and data analysis, in relation to the risks of distorting facts and negatively impacting democratic processes.
On this occasion, she stressed the need to activate human “natural intelligence” to counter the misuse of technological development, calling for a gender impact assessment of AI applications, particularly in the fields of health, education, and justice.
In her intervention, Rep. Khaddouj Slassi proposed developing mechanisms to control gender discrimination in AI systems and to ensure equal opportunities in science and technology for women and girls, given their academic excellence in this field. She also called for gender-sensitive parliamentary oversight mechanisms in the implementation of AI legislation, while highlighting Morocco's efforts to protect privacy and promote AI education.
As part of the work of the Standing Committee on Sustainable Development, Rep. Mustapha Reddad delivered a speech on the theme of “Parliamentary strategies to mitigate the long-lasting impact of conflicts, including armed conflicts, on sustainable development,” highlighting Morocco's pioneering experience in managing the challenges of conflicts and their impact on sustainable development, through a global vision that combines effective diplomacy and integral development under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God Assist him.
On this occasion, he underlined Morocco's diplomatic role in regional conflict resolution, mediation efforts in Libya, and the promotion of peace in Africa, as well as the implementation of initiatives to develop infrastructure in conflict-affected areas, emphasizing the importance of investing in education and capacity building to empower young people.
Rep. Mustapha Reddad also explained that Morocco's strategy is based on investing in people through education and vocational training programs, with the aim of instilling the values of tolerance and coexistence to build resilient societies. He concluded his address by stressing that Morocco's experience is a call for joint action at international level to meet the challenges that require concerted global efforts to achieve peace and prosperity.
It should be noted that, during the meeting of this Committee, the Algerian representative tried to put on the agenda the stale issue of the artificial conflict surrounding our southern provinces. The Moroccan delegation countered this desperate attempt through the intervention of Rep. Mustapha Reddad who recalled the historical and legal facts of Morocco's recovery of its southern provinces and denounced the Algerian approach, which supports separatism and destabilization and peace in the region, stressing that the Sahara is an integral part of the Kingdom of Morocco.