Geneva, March 8, 2013 (SPS) - The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Mrs. Margaret Sekaggya has expressed “deep concern” about the situation of human rights defenders in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, pointing out that they are harassed and prevented from association and assembly.
Addressing the 22nd ordinary session of Human Rights Council underway in Geneva, Mrs. Sekaggya said that she remains “concerned over the restriction on the freedom of peaceful assembly, which constitutes a serious obstruction to human rights defenders in all parts of the world, especially those activists in the occupied Western Sahara.”
She, in this respect, expressed concern Moroccan authorities’ rejection to recognize the Saharawi Association of Victims of Grave Human Rights Committed by the Moroccan State, in a flagrant violation of the provisions of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
The Special Rapporteur also expressed concern about the use by Moroccan security forces of excessive force against demonstrators, which puts physical and psychological integrity of human rights defenders at risk. (SPS)
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