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UN peacekeeping force in Western Sahara must monitor human rights (Amnesty International)

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London, April 11, 2014 (SPS) The UN Security Council must expand the mandate of its peacekeeping force in Western Sahara to include sustained human rights monitoring, said Amnesty International, amid clampdowns on peaceful protests and reports of activists tortured in custody during the past year, said Amnesty International in a statement Friday.

 

Morocco expels delegation of Federation for Defense and Promotion of Human Rights

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El Aaiun, April 12, 2014 (SPS) - The Moroccan authorities  prevented Friday an official delegation of the Federation of Associations for the Defence and Promotion of Human Rights from entering  the occupied territories of Western Sahara.
 
According to a statement of the Federation, the delegation which included Nuria Diaz (CEAR), Sarai Martin (Mundubat), Jose Taboada and Santiago Jimenez (CEAS-Sahara), representatives of member organizations of the Federation and Carmelo Faleh (SSIHRL), sought to witness the situation of human rights in the oc

Ban Ki-moon recalls Security Council that Western Sahara is decolonization issue

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Washington, April 12, 2014 (SPS) - United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon recalled the Security Council that the issue of Western Sahara is that of decolonization and that UN efforts are of a strong importance till Western Sahara’s final status is established.

 

It is one of the key observations and recommendations that the UN chief has formulated in his new report on Western Sahara’s file that he will present on April 17 at the Security Council.

 

Aminatou Haidar concludes her visit to United States

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Washington, April 11, 2014 (SPS) - Saharawi activist Mrs. Aminatou Haidar concluded Thursday evening her visit to the United States of America, where she visited several states and informed the public opinion about Morocco’s gross violation of human rights in Western Sahara.


At the end of her 18-day visit, the activist met with Eric Goldstein, deputy director of Human Rights Watch’s Middle East and North Africa division.

Western Sahara’s issue could enter “decisive phase” in 2015, says Boukhari Ahmed

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Washington, April 11, 2014 (SPS) - The Western Saharan issue could enter a “decisive phase” at the United Nations Security Council in 2015, the representative of the Polisario Front in the UN, Mr. Boukhari Ahmed, told APS on Friday, in reaction to the new report of UN secretary general on the Saharawi issue.

AI asks UN to expand MINURSO mandate to include human rights monitoring

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New York, April 11, 2014 (SPS) - Amnesty International (AI) asked Friday the UN Security Council to expand the mandate of its peacekeeping force in Western Sahara, MINURSO, to include sustained human rights monitoring, noting that since MINURSO mandate was renewed last year the Moroccan authorities have continued to place restrictions on freedom of expression, peaceful protests and civil society in the occupied part of Western Sahara.

UN Secretary General’s report on Western Sahara touches pivotal issues (minister)

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Chahid Al Hafed (refugee camps), April 11, 2014 (SPS) - As the first official response from the Frente Polisario, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Mohamed Salem Ould Salek has welcomed the report submitted by the UN Secretary-General on the situation concerning Western Sahara, highlighting that it has touched pivotal issues.


In a statement to SPS, Mr. Ould Salek said that the report highlighted very pivotal issues, of which;

NYC urges France to stop blocking human rights mechanism in Western Sahara

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Akureyri (Iceland), April 11, 2014 (SPS) - Nordic Youth Council (NYC) has urged the government of France to stop blocking that a UN mechanism of permanent monitoring of human rights must be introduced in the MINURSO mandate, calling on the Nordic countries to take a joint Nordic initiative in support of the enlargment of MINURSO mandate.

U.S. supports UN-led efforts in Western Sahara

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Washington, April 11, 2014 (SPS) - The U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Mr. William V. Roebuck has expressed his country’s support to the United Nations-led efforts aimed at finding "a peaceful, sustainable and mutually-agreed solution" to the Western Sahara conflict.

Mhamed Khaddad received in N'Djamena by PM Pahimi Deubet

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N'Djamena, April 11, 2014 (SPS) - Saharawi Coordinator with the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) Mr. Mhamed Khaddad received Thursday in N'Djamena by H.E. Mr. Kalzeubet Pahimi Deubet, prime minister of the Republic of Chad.


Mr. Khaddad delivered to his interlocutor a letter sent by the President of the Republic Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz to his Chadian counterpart Mr. Idriss Déby.

UN Secretary General calls for “sustained” human rights monitoring in Western Sahara

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New York, April 10, 2014 (SPS) - The Secretary General of the United Nations Mr. Ban Ki-moon U.N. called Thursday for “sustained” human rights monitoring in the territory Western Sahara, occupied by Morocco since 1975, warning against unfair exploitation of the territory’s natural resources.


The comments were included in the UN Chief’s latest report on Western Sahara to the UN Security Council, quoted by Reuters.

Aminatou Haidar received by President of UN Security Council

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New York, April 10, 2014 (SPS) - President of the Collective of Saharawi Human Rights Defenders (CODESA) Mrs. Aminatou Haidar received Tuesday at the UN headquartes in New York by Dr. Joy Ogwu, current president of the Security Council and permanent representative of Nigeria to the UN.

Norwegian Liberal Party renews support to Saharawi people’s right to self-determination and independence

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Oslo, April 10, 2014 (SPS) - Norway’s Liberal Party Leader Mrs. Trine Skei Grande reiterated Thursday, in a meeting with Polisario Front’s Representative in Oslo Dr. Limam Khalil, her party’s support to the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination and independence, voicing support to the extension of MINURSO mandate to include the monitoring and report about human rights in Western Sahara.

Saharawi ambassador pays courtesy call on Speaker of Rwandan Chamber of Deputies

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Kigali, April 10, 2014 (SPS) - Non-resident ambassador of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in Rwanda Mr. Habib Boukhreis paid Wedensday a courtesy call on the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Republic of Rwanda, Hon. MUKABALISA Donatille.


The discussions focused on the latest developments on the question of Western Sahara, including the next meeting of the Security Council and the need to task the MINURSO with human rights monitoring in the occupied territories of Western Sahara.

Polisario Front categorically refutes statments promoted by Arab media outlets

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New York, April 10, 2014 (SPS) - Polisario Front has categorically refuted the statements attributed to its Representative in the UN promoted by certain Arab media oulets that it opposed a French proposal submitted to the UN Security Council, ahead of the deliberations scheduled for current April 17th.

FiSahara 2014: films and documentaries to be screened

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Chahid Al Hafed (refugee camps), April 10, 2014 (SPS) - Several films and documentaries, made by both Saharawi and foreign filmamkers, will be screened at 11th edition of the International Film Festival in Western Sahara (known as: the FiSahara), to be celebrated in the Wilaya of Dakhla from April 29th to May 4th, 2014.


According to the organizers, a range of films that deal with family issues will be displayed at this year’s festival, of which


- Ismael by Argentinian Marcelo Piñeyro

Activist Aminatou Haidar visits U.S. State of Minnesota

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Minnesota, April 10, 2014 (SPS) - The Saharawi activist and defender of human rights Mrs. Aminatou Haidar has arrived in the State of Minnesota, as part of her visit to the U.S. to aware about Morocco’s human rights violations in Western Sahara.


At an invitation by the University of Minnesota, one of the famous universities that deal with human rights issues, Aminatou Haidar took part at a conference under the theme “Iberian colonialism: Spanish people of Arab descent and the state of Western Sahara”, held on current April 4th.

Ambassador Habib Boukhreis received by President of Rwandan Senate

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Kigali, April 9, 2014 (SPS) - Saharawi Ambassador in Rwanda Mr. Habib Boukhreis was received Tuesday in the capital Kigali by Dr. Jean Damascene Ntawukuliryayo, President of the Senate of the Republic of Rwanda .


This meeting focuses on the latest developments on the question of Western Sahara, including the violations of human rights perpetuated by Morocco in the occupied Saharawi territories and the need to task the MINURSO with a mechanism to monitor human right in the occupied Western Sahara.