Copenhagen, April 15, 2014 (SPS) - The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) has noted that since the Moroccan regime has, since 30 April 2013’s Security Council resolution extending MINURSO’s mandate, continued to violate human rights Western Sahara.
In a communiqué issued Monday, EMHRN indicated that Morocco has increased its attacks on freedom of expression, as well as its violence, torture and unfair trials against the Saharawi people, as denounced by many local associations and several European and American independent organizations.
The organization went on saying that during his visits to Western Sahara, the UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara Mr. Christopher Ross learnt first-hand, through meetings and testimonies, about the human rights situation, the persecution of human rights defenders and the repression of any show of what the Moroccan authorities describe as support for pro-independence positions.
It also pointed out to the recommendations on fundamental rights included in the Universal Periodic Review on Morocco presented by the Human Rights Council in September 2012, one of which was to accept the establishment of a monitoring mechanism as part of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).
“In 2013, Juan Mendez, Special Rapporteur on Torture, noted in his report to the United Nations Human Rights Council (A/HRC/22/53/Add.2) the urgent need for an international mechanism for monitoring human rights as a means to improve their protection (pt.91),” underlined the communiqué.
Highlighting that there is an urgent need to put an end to this situation from a legal and humanitarian perspective, EMHRN regretted that the issue of human rights in Western Sahara, in all these areas (civil, political, economic, social and cultural), is not being given special and consistent attention by the international community, which as a result is failing to fulfill its responsibilities.
It, on other hand, called on the Moroccan authorities to cease its repressive practices and to allow the registration and activities of civil society and human rights organisations in Western Sahara.
EMHRN, in this respect, urged the European institutions, the Member States of the European Union and the partner states on the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean to “pay attention to this issue, particularly in the context of their relations with Morocco.”
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) is a network of 64 human rights organizations, institutions and individuals based in 30 countries in Europe and the Mediterranean region. It was established in 1997 in response to the Barcelona Declaration, which led to the establishment of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. (SPS)
090/089/TRA