HRH Princess Lalla Meryem Chairs Ceremony Celebrating 30th Anniversary of National Observatory for Children’s Rights

Rabat – HRH Princess Lalla Meryem, President of the National Observatory for Children’s Rights (ONDE), presided over a ceremony in Rabat on Sunday marking the 30th anniversary of the Observatory, as part of the 17th National Congress on Children’s Rights.

This celebration reflects the special attention His Majesty King Mohammed VI gives to children’s issues and his unwavering commitment to strengthening efforts to protect this segment of society and improve their conditions.

Ceremony Highlights

The event opened with a contemporary dance performance titled “ONDE’s Fight for Children’s Rights,” presented by talented young artists who vividly portrayed Morocco’s three-decade-long efforts in child protection.

HRH Princess Lalla Meryem then watched an audiovisual presentation highlighting:

• The enduring commitment of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, since his accession to the throne, to ensuring children’s well-being and social and cultural development.
• The Observatory’s role in safeguarding and promoting children’s rights, with a special focus on mental health.
• Digital transformation led by ONDE to foster innovation in child protection.

Launch of the “Child Health Record” App

As part of the comprehensive digitalization project for child health records launched by HRH Princess Lalla Meryem in February 2025, the Observatory announced the release of the first version of the “Child Health Record” app, designed for parents to monitor their children’s growth with guidance on nutrition, psychomotor development, and preventive care.

A second version, developed in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, will soon follow, featuring new functionalities such as vaccination history, automatic reminders for appointments, and a child development tracking module.

Signing of Strategic Partnership Agreements

HRH Princess Lalla Meryem oversaw the signing of three agreements aimed at strengthening inter-institutional coordination, child participation, and the effective implementation of children’s rights:

1. An agreement with the Ministry of Solidarity, Social Integration, and Family to support ONDE’s 2025-2027 action plan, focusing on training field workers and enhancing child parliamentarians’ participation.
2. An agreement with the Ministry of the Interior and the National Human Development Initiative to expand programs of the National Child Psycho-Trauma Unit (DNPTE) in rural areas and integrate mental health into policies targeting the first 1,000 days of a child’s life.
3. An agreement with the Higher Institute of the Judiciary to incorporate mental health into judges’ training programs and conduct joint research on children’s rights.

Honoring Distinguished Figures

HRH Princess Lalla Meryem presented honorary awards to three individuals who have significantly contributed to ONDE’s mission:

• Ms. Nadia Fettah, Minister of Economy and Finance, in recognition of her steadfast support for the Observatory.
• Mr. Moulay Ismail Alaoui, former Minister of National Education (awarded posthumously for health reasons).
• Ms. Amina Ouarid, honored for 35 years of dedication to children’s welfare.

Distinguished Attendance

The ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials, child parliamentarians from across Morocco, and institutional, civil society, and international partners committed to children’s rights.

At the conclusion, HRH Princess Lalla Meryem posed for a commemorative photo with the children present.

Upon her arrival, HRH Princess Lalla Meryem reviewed a guard of honor from the Auxiliary Forces before receiving greetings from officials, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, government ministers, and regional leaders.

This event reaffirms Morocco’s leadership in child protection and reflects the royal vision that places children at the heart of social development priorities.