On the occasion of the opening debate of the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council, which took place in Geneva on March 8th, the International Fellowship of Reconciliation joined a statement delivered by the American Association of Jurists, on behalf of the NGOs Geneva Support Group for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights in Western Sahara.
Item 2 – Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights General debate
I thank you,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of a group of more than 300 organisations (www.genevaforwesternsahara.org); including the Sahrawi National Commission of Human Rights.
We express our deepest concern about the continuing systematic and serious violations of human rights and International Humanitarian Law norms committed by the Kingdom of Morocco in the occupied Non-Self-Governing Territory of Western Sahara.
The illegal plundering of the Saharawi natural resources continues with the support in particular of the member countries of the European Union, in violation of the decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Sahrawi human rights defenders, journalists and political prisoners are subjected to harassment, threats, arbitrary arrests, ill-treatment, torture, sexual violence. Peaceful manifestations in the Occupied Western Sahara are violently repressed. The use of drones has caused the death of civilians of different nationalities.
The inexplicable silence observed by the Office of the High Commissioner regrettably supports the persistent impunity enjoyed by the Kingdom of Morocco for the crimes committed in the Occupied Western Sahara.
I thank you for your attention.
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Point 2 – Rapport annuel du Haut-Commissaire des Nations Unies aux droits de l’homme Débat général
Je vous remercie,
J'ai l'honneur de parler au nom d'un groupe de plus de 300 organisations (www.genevaforwesternsahara.org) ; y compris la Commission Nationale Sahraouie des Droits de l'Homme.
Nous exprimons notre plus vive préoccupation quant aux violations systématiques et graves des droits de l'homme et des normes du Droit International Humanitaire commises par le Royaume du Maroc dans le Territoire Non Autonome occupé du Sahara Occidental.
Le pillage illégal des ressources naturelles du peuple Sahraoui continue avec le soutien en particulier des pays membres de l’Union européenne, en violation des décisions de la Cour de Justice de l’Union européenne.
Les défenseurs des droits de l'homme, les journalistes et les prisonniers politiques sahraouis sont soumis au harcèlement, aux menaces, aux arrestations arbitraires, aux mauvais traitements, à la torture, aux violences sexuelles. Les manifestations pacifiques au Sahara occidental occupé sont violemment réprimées. L’utilisation de drones a causé la mort de civils de différentes nationalités.
L’inexplicable silence observé par le Haut-Commissariat vient malheureusement conforter l'impunité persistante dont jouit le Royaume du Maroc pour les crimes commis au Sahara Occidental occupé.
Je vous remercie pour votre attention.
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Tema 2 – Informe anual del Alto Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos
Debate general
Muchas gracias,
Tengo el honor de hablar en nombre de un grupo de más de 300 organizaciones (www.genevaforwesternsahara.org); incluida la Comisión Nacional Saharaui de Derechos Humanos.
Expresamos nuestra más profunda preocupación por las sistemáticas y graves violaciones de los derechos humanos y de las normas del Derecho Internacional Humanitario cometidas por el Reino de Marruecos en el Territorio No Autónomo ocupado del Sahara Occidental.
El saqueo ilegal de los recursos naturales del pueblo saharaui continúa con el apoyo en particular de los países miembros de la Unión Europea, en violación de las decisiones del Tribunal de Justicia de la Unión Europea.
Los defensores de los derechos humanos, los periodistas y los presos políticos saharauis son objeto de acoso, amenazas, detenciones arbitrarias, malos tratos, tortura, violencia sexual. Las manifestaciones pacíficas en el Sáhara Occidental ocupado son reprimidas con violencia. El uso de drones ha causado la muerte de civiles de diferentes nacionalidades.
El inexplicable silencio observado por la Oficina del Alto Comisionado lamentablemente respalda la persistente impunidad de la que goza el Reino de Marruecos por los crímenes cometidos en el Sáhara Occidental Ocupado.
Les agradezco su atención.
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Western Sahara case
1963 Western Sahara was integrated to the list of Non Self-Governing Territories (NSGT) by the Special Committee on decolonization (C24), the proposal was endorsed by the UN General Assembly (resolution 1956).
1966 Adoption of resolution 2229 by the UN General Assembly, which invited the Administering Power (Spain) to determine at the earliest possible date the procedures for the holding of a referendum with a view to enabling the indigenous population of the Territory to exercise freely its right to self-determination; Spain failed in its mandate as Administering Power and never organized the referendum.
6 Nov. 1975 the International Court of Justice (ICJ) released its Advisory opinion requested by the UN General Assembly on the legal status of Western Sahara: the Court asserted that the materials and information presented to it do not establish any tie of territorial sovereignty between the territory of Western Sahara and the Kingdom of Morocco. Thus the Court has not found legal ties of such a nature as might affect the application of resolution 1514 (XV) in the decolonization of Western Sahara and, in particular, of the principle of self-determination through the free and genuine expression of the will of the peoples of the Territory.
Hassan II launched the military invasion of Western Sahara, followed by thousands of civilians (Green March).
Adoption of resolution 380 by the UN Security Council, which called upon Morocco immediately to withdrawn from the Territory of Western Sahara all the participants in the march.
NOTE: From then on, Western Sahara became (and still is today) the only NSGT which is under foreign illegal military occupation.
26 Febr. 1976 Spain informed the UN Secretary General that as of that date it had terminated its presence in Western Sahara and relinquished its responsibility over the Territory.
NOTE: From then on, Western Sahara became (and still is today) the only NSGT which has not an internationally recognised Administering Power: de jure, Spain should still be considered as the Administering Power, de facto, the UN has the primary responsibility over the Territory.
1979 Mauritania signed a peace agreement with the Polisario Front and withdrew from the Territory.
Adoption of resolution 34/37 by the UN General Assembly, which deeply deplored the aggravation of the situation resulting from the continued occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco and the extension of that occupation to the territory evacuated by Mauritania. The General Assembly also recognized the Polisario Front as the representative of the people of Western Sahara.
1980 Adoption of resolution 35/19 by the UN General Assembly, which declared that it was deeply concerned at the aggravation of the situation deriving from the continued occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco and reiterated the appeal to Morocco to terminate the occupation of Western Sahara.
. . . continue reading about Western Sahara case, and recent developments, in English, Spanish and French on the website of the Geneva Support Group
