Geneva, March 01, 2016 (SPS) - The XXXI Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council was inaugurated on Monday in the Swiss city of Geneva, with the participation of Saharawi activists from the occupied territories, the Saharawi refugee camps and the Diaspora.
The session that runs until March 24 was inaugurated by Choi Kyong-lim, the Chairman of the Council with the Secretary General of the United Nations Mr. Ban Ki-moon and Mr. Zaid Ra'ad high Commissioner of Human Rights.
On the opening day the highest representatives of 20 countries have intervened and welcomed the work of this thirty-first session. All have defended the need to work in a constructive and cooperative atmosphere towards the proper functioning and credibility of the Council and stresses the importance of continuing collaborative and general policies and actions among all members.
The Saharawi delegation will condemn the violations by Morocco and its refusal to accept the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination.
Through oral statements to the Council and to the countries present in it, panels and parallel to the session activities, the Sahrawis will manifest before the International Community constant harassment committed by the Moroccan Government against the Saharawi prisoners unjustly imprisoned. In addition to be asked to include human rights monitoring in the mandate of MINURSO.
The Saharawi delegation requests the Office of the High Commissioner quick and deep investigation in the situation of human rights in the occupied territories and the Moroccan prohibition of human rights activist Elghalia Djimi, vice president of ASVDH, of participation, preventing him from leaving the occupied territories. (SPS)
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