Mohamed El Mustapha Benelhaj is a PhD recipient in public law at the University of Hassan I in Settat. He currently works in Dakhla city and is a member of the Regional Commission of Human Rights for the region of Guelmim-Oued Noun. Mr. Benelhaj is also the executive director of the Center for Strategic Studies and Research Agora.
Mohamed’s project organized a two-day training session for 22 participants from different civil societies in Guelmim on the legal right to access information to promote the accountability and transparency of local governments in Morocco. The four training workshops covered the topics of international standards, national legal frameworks, transparency and accountability, and the protection of personal data. His project also created a simplified guide that stated the procedures for exercising the right to access information for all participants. As a result of the successful training, Mohamed’s project received significant attention from visual and digital media.
Mr. Benelhaj’s project engaged the local community of Guelmim in the local governance process by engaging the citizens in an accountability process with local authorities. This project used social media to make public voices heard in front of policymakers and publicly hold the authorities accountable.
15 project participants were trained on social media advocacy to successfully organize and manage online campaigns and communicate with policymakers and local public administration officers. Trainings were also held on how to use visuals and imagery in social media campaigns and about the ethics of using pictures publicly and the copyright regulations in Morocco.
Additionally, the project established an online platform with access to all training resources and a forum to openly share ideas, problems, solutions, exchange experiences and manage shared campaigns. Physical and virtual handbooks were given to all participants to aid them in their future work to hold local governments accountable, specifically in the fields of child protection, environmental protection, and women’s rights. You can view his project here: Sharek Project
Mohamed was a participant in the IVLP Project Transparency and Accountability in Government in 2021, organized by the U.S. Department of State and the Institute of International Education. He was a participant in the IVLP Project Transparency and Accountability in Government in 2022 organized by the U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center.
Mohamed's exchange experience led to the development of his IVLP Impact Award Project: "The most important lesson I learned from my visit to the United States is that donation and volunteer work are the basis for success in the work of civil society."
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