The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) welcomes the decision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to facilitate the return of all unaccompanied Moroccan minors, who have an illegal status in some EU countries.

The royal decision confirms the responsible humanitarian approach of Morocco in dealing with the migration issue and its commitment to the laws, conventions, and guidelines aimed at protecting children, including the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The Organization calls for the necessity of building a bridge of rational dialogue between EU countries and the Southern Mediterranean countries regarding the critical issue and avoiding any considerations that would hinder international efforts to enhance the protection of migrants’ rights.

ICESCO asserts that the Kingdom is a distinguished model of successful regional cooperation in many vital issues, as it is both a country of transit and stability for migrants. H.M. King Mohammed VI took the initiative at the 30th Africa Union Summit in January 2018, to propose the establishment of a body to monitor the migration phenomenon in Africa. The proposal resulted in the establishment of the African Migration Observatory in Rabat in December 2020, a body that responds to the urgent needs related to migration by collecting data, analyzing them, and exchanging information among African countries.

The decision of H.M. King Mohammed VI to facilitate the return of Moroccan minors reflects the strong and sincere involvement of Morocco in all humanitarian and international issues.

The Organization expresses its full support to the decision and to the rational approach stemming from the spirit of true partnership between Morocco and EU countries to achieve peace, stability, and decent living.