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House of Lords questions government on human rights violations in Western Sahara

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London, June 22, 2014 (SPS) - The Independent British Lord John Stevens asked Friday government about the efforts it is doing with regard to Morocco’s respect to human rights in Western Sahara.


Lord John Stevens asked the UK government what efforts they are making in respect of Morocco´s international human rights obligations in regard to the citizens of Western Sahara; and what steps they have taken in respect of neutralising the Moroccan wall and associated weaponry.


In her reply in the name of the British government, Mrs. Baroness Warsi, minister of state for Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Central Asia, Human Rights, UN, International Organisations, ICC and All of FCO business in the Lords, said that her government “encourages concrete progress towards improving human rights in Western Sahara in discussions with the parties to the dispute over the territory, and at the UN Security Council.”


She also indicated that Mr. Hugh Robertson, minister of state for Middle East and North Africa, discussed human rights in Western Sahara during his visit to Morocco in March.


With regard to the Moroccan Wall of Shame, the minister underlined that the demining teams from the UN peacekeeping operation in Western Sahara (MINURSO), the Moroccan Army and Polisario continue to co-operate to clear unexploded ordnance on both sides of the Moroccan wall.


Lord Stevens had previously probed on various issues of great importance to the UK and the world, where investigated the death of Princess Diana and on allegations of corruption in British football. (SPS)


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