Vitry-Sur-Seine (France), Oct 23, 2017 (SPS) - The 42nd European Coordinating Conference of Support to the Sahrawi people (EUCOCO 2017) underlined Sunday the urgency to extend the prerogatives of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) to the protection of human rights in occupied Western Sahara, announcing actions within the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Extending the mandate of MINURSO to the protection of human rights in the occupied territories is a claim of the Polisario Front, the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people, as well as of international human rights associations.
In 2013, the United States presented a proposal of resolution to the UN Security Council that it withdrew following France’s request.
The task force of solidarity with the Sahrawi people, EUCOCO, which welcomes Algeria’s flawless commitment, will undertake actions at the UN Human Rights Council, specialized committees and sub-committees, considering the action of the States of the Group of Twelve as an “example to follow with other countries,” said the final resolution, adopted following the works held Saturday and Sunday at Vitry-sur-Seine (South of Paris).
EUCOCO called on the States to force Morocco to respect the Sahrawi people’s inalienable right to self-determination and independence.
“EUCOCO calls on all the States which take initiatives within UN Human Rights Council jointly with Morocco to force this one to respect the fundamental rights of the Sahrawi people notably their inalienable right to self-determination and independence,” said the text read to the participants, denouncing the “serious and ongoing violations of the Sahrawi people’s fundamental rights.” (SPS)
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