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The UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Olivier De Schutter, will visit Morocco from 6 to 19 December 2022 to examine the government’s efforts to eradicate poverty.

“Morocco, like most countries, has been left reeling from the double shock of COVID-19 and skyrocketing inflation, with years of progress on poverty now in decline,” said De Schutter, an independent expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor, report, and advise on poverty and human rights.

“My visit in December will be an opportunity to hear and learn more, and provide recommendations to the government on how it can protect the most vulnerable from these shocks.”

The combination of the pandemic and higher consumer prices has thrown an additional 3.2 million people into poverty or vulnerability in Morocco, according to recent figures from the , the country’s statistical office.

“As Morocco grapples with the cost-of-living crisis, I will look closely at how its social protection system is protecting those in poverty, and how it can be strengthened to close the country’s deep wealth divide,” De Schutter said.

As well as examining the adequacy of social protection benefits, the expert will assess the quality of the country’s healthcare, housing and education systems. He will also review the situation of groups disproportionately impacted by poverty, including women, children, people with disabilities, older persons and migrants.