Morocco Urges Global Humanitarian Reform, Anchored in Royal Vision and Decades of Action

Rabat, Morocco — As the global multilateral humanitarian system grapples with unprecedented challenges, Morocco has reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to humanitarian action, advocating for a profound reform rooted in a vision championed by HM King Mohammed VI. This principled stance was articulated by Omar Hilale, Morocco’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, during the International Symposium “Multilateral Humanitarian Action at a Crossroads: Challenges and Issues,” held in Rabat on Friday, July 10, 2026.

Ambassador Hilale emphasized that Morocco’s engagement in the humanitarian field is not merely transactional but stems from a deep-seated royal humanitarian vision. This vision, he explained, is built upon three inseparable pillars: active solidarity as a cardinal value, shared responsibility as an operational principle, and respect for international humanitarian law (IHL) as an absolute imperative. These tenets underscore a foreign policy that prioritizes human dignity and stability.

Morocco’s practical contributions to global humanitarianism reflect these principles. The Kingdom has long considered the protection of civilians, essential infrastructure, and basic services to be a fundamental obligation for all parties in conflict zones. Historically, Morocco has been a consistent and significant contributor to UN peacekeeping operations, deploying thousands of peacekeepers under the UN flag in various crisis theaters worldwide for decades. Beyond conflict zones, the nation has also consistently stepped up its efforts during major natural and humanitarian disasters, both regionally and internationally.

Speaking on a panel dedicated to “Multilateral Humanitarian Action and the Stakes of Peace and Sustainable Development,” Hilale highlighted Morocco’s integrated approach to addressing crises. This strategy combines immediate humanitarian assistance with longer-term reconstruction efforts, institutional capacity building, and the promotion of sustainable socio-economic development. This comprehensive vision aims to mitigate the risk of communities relapsing into instability, thereby fostering lasting socio-economic stability—a crucial link between emergency aid and long-term development that many global efforts struggle to bridge.

Despite acknowledging its current limitations and shortcomings, Morocco remains firmly convinced that multilateral humanitarian action is an indispensable pillar of the international order. However, Hilale stressed the urgent need for the system to adapt, reform, and enrich itself with new approaches. He called for greater investment in prevention, stronger coherence with peace and development objectives, and a reliance on genuine, universal, and selfless global solidarity to overcome the complex challenges that plague the system today.

These challenges, which Hilale reviewed as complex but not insurmountable, include chronic underfunding, persistent issues with humanitarian access, the increasing politicization of aid, and the often-forgotten crises that languish without adequate attention. Morocco believes its extensive experience provides valuable insights into these dilemmas.

Indeed, Morocco possesses several key assets that position it to contribute meaningfully to the collective reflection on reforming the international humanitarian system. Its experience in mediation, its robust commitment to South-South cooperation, and its achievements in human development and humanitarian assistance lend credibility to its proposals. The Kingdom’s deep attachment to universal humanitarian principles and human rights, coupled with its consistent and credible foreign policy, offers a unique perspective worthy of particular attention in these critical times.

Ambassador Hilale concluded by commending the symposium for bringing together a diverse array of national and international actors, experts, academics, and decision-makers. He emphasized that the chosen theme — navigating humanitarian action at a crossroads — resonates deeply with Morocco’s diplomatic identity and its unwavering commitment to humanitarian principles, reflecting a proactive stance in shaping a more resilient and effective global response system.