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Call for extending MINURSO mandate, organizing referendum on self-determination in Western Sahara

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Algiers, April 22, 2013 (SPS) - The participants at the third International Conference on Women Right to Resist: Sahrawi Women Case" called on Sunday in Algiers the United Nations to assume their responsibilities in the extension of the MINURSO's mandate and accelerate the organization of a free and fair referendum that allows Sahrawi people to exercise their right to self-determination.

Sahrawi Ambassador to Algeria Ibrahim Ghali called the UN to "assume their responsibilities for the extension of the mandate of MINURSO (UN Mission for Referendum in Western Sahara) to include the monitoring of human rights."

In this regard, he underlined that Algiers Conference "is taking place on the eve of the meeting of Security Council on the UN Secretary general's report on Western Saharan," adding that Algiers Declaration, which will be adopted at the end of the meeting, comprises several issues, including "human rights and the strengthening of solidarity network with the Sahrawi cause around the world."

For his part, the Chairman of the National Consultative Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (CNCPPDH), Farouk Ksentini called on the UN Security Council to "extend MINURSO's mandate and organize a referendum that will allow the Sahrawi people to exercise their right to self-determination."

He deplored, however, the fact that Morocco continues its policy of repression and systematic violations of human rights in the occupied territories of Western Sahara."

In this regard, Ksentini hailed the "resistance" of Sahrawi people, and particularly Sahrawi women face to the Moroccan occupation.

In this respect, the chairman of the National Committee of Solidarity with Sahrawi People, Mehrez Lamari also called for the "incorporation of human rights monitoring in MINURSO's mandate, and voiced "concerns" of Algerians over Morocco's violations of human rights.(SPS)

 

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