The CESE Calls for a National Project to Strengthen Civic Engagement in Public Spaces
CESE Advocates for a National Project to Promote Civic Behavior in Public Spaces in Morocco
The Economic, Social, and Environmental Council (CESE) has recommended the launch of an integrated national project aimed at enhancing civic behavior in public spaces across Morocco. This initiative strives to strengthen citizenship values, bolster social cohesion, and support sustainable development goals.
This call to action was made in Rabat during a feedback workshop centered on a CESE opinion titled "Civic Behavior in Public Spaces: Towards Strengthening Citizenship Values for Sustainable Development." The meeting provided a platform to share the Council’s key findings and recommendations regarding the improvement of public space usage.
CESE President Abdelkader Amara emphasized that civic behavior is a fundamental issue for community living today. He believes it reflects the quality of relationships between citizens and their environment, directly influencing social cohesion and national development.
The report highlights several priority action areas, including the enhancement of citizenship education, the promotion of individual responsibility, the exemplary conduct of public institutions, and the rigorous enforcement of regulations governing communal spaces.
CESE also stresses the necessity of revaluating public spaces as common goods. This entails improving their quality, accessibility, and usage conditions to create an environment conducive to the sustainable anchoring of civic behaviors.
Furthermore, the institution underscores the importance of upcoming international events, notably the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal. This event is viewed as an opportunity to accelerate the spread of a civic culture, particularly within sports infrastructures and their surroundings.
CESE’s opinion is based on a participatory approach, incorporating consultations with relevant stakeholders and a field survey conducted among over 1,000 citizens. The findings notably reveal an increase in non-civic behaviors that are sanctioned by law, with a majority of infractions committed by individuals with low educational attainment.
Finally, the Council calls for the establishment of a genuine culture of sports citizenship, founded on modern, safe, and inclusive venues, as well as on the use of technology to enhance security and trust during major sporting events.
