A/HRC/20/26/Add.2 C. National institutional framework 19. The Ministry of Culture was created in 2006 with a mandate to promote Moroccan culture, protect national cultural heritage and collaborate with cultural institutions in Morocco and abroad.6 It oversees 376 of the 416 Maisons de la Culture in the country and its budget accounts for 0.28 per cent of the national budget.7 20. The Independent Expert commends the establishment of IRCAM in 2001 (see paragraph 11 above).8 IRCAM has several objectives, including to combine and transcribe all the expressions of Amazigh culture and to protect and ensure its broadcasting; to carry out and to encourage other academics and experts to undertake research studies on Amazigh culture, and to make the results widely accessible; and to promote the artistic creation in Amazigh culture and contribute to its revival. 9 It organizes educational events and training courses, and publishes and translates books. 10 While appreciating the efforts made by the Institute, including some excellent educational manuals, which range from children’s primers to scientific and philosophical literature, the Independent Expert notes that these publications were regrettably not widely available in the public sector institutions visited, such as libraries and youth centres. In this regard, the Independent Expert considers that concerted efforts should be made to ensure that these publications are widely disseminated and available in schools, libraries and cultural centres. 21. In 2005, INDH was launched by King Mohammed VI (see paragraph 11 above). The aim of INDH is to facilitate access to basic social services, promote activities that generate employment and income, and assist people with special needs. Its programme for the period 2006-2010 included human development projects focusing on poverty reduction and rural development by means of capacity-building, technical assistance and support for microcredit associations.11 The Independent Expert visited a number of facilities supported by INDH and was impressed by the variety of activities, including assistance for women’s shelters, the building of youth centres and projects supporting the crafts industry. 22. The Government agencies responsible for the promotion of economic and social development of the provinces of the North, South and East,12 and the Agency for Economic and Social Development (ADS)13 have a number of projects addressing specific regional needs that also take into account cultural rights. The Independent Expert was informed about a number of projects implemented by these agencies. The agency for the South, for instance, contributed to the establishment of a network of media centres to give people access to learning opportunities. It also assists the work of public academia and associations working on archaeology and the promotion of cultural festivals. The agency for the East has supported festivals of nomadic culture and theatre performances. ADS has helped 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 6 Law No. 2-94-222 of 24 May 1994 and Decree No. 2-06-28 of 10 November 2006 outline the responsibilities of the Ministry of Culture. See F. Bouquerel and B. El Husseiny, “Towards a strategy for culture in the Mediterranean region”, EC preparatory document, November 2009. Available from www.artsinafrica.com/uploads/2011/08/report_mediterranean_region1.pdf. Dahir Sharif No. 299-01-1 of 17 October 2001. See “The rights of indigenous peoples: Morocco”, International Labour Organization (ILO) and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Geneva, 2009. Available from http://www.chr.up.ac.za/chr_old/indigenous/country_reports/Country_reports_Morocco.pdf. E/C.12/MAR/Q/2/Add.1, para. 26. See www.indh.gov.ma/fr/index.asp. See www.apdn.ma/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=147&Itemid=48. See www.ads.ma/ads/lagence/lads-en-bref.html.