Copenhagen (Denmark), September 22, 2016 (SPS) - The Danish Organization of Afrika Kontakt launched a campaign on several levels in Denmark in order to put pressure on the EU to play a positive role in enabling the Saharawi people of their right to self-determination through a free, fair and impartial referendum, underlining that Western Sahara is the last non-self-governing territory of Africa and still pending the completion of its decolonization process. Hence, it is paramount that the referendum for self-determination is settled and international law respected.
“It is imperative that you make unambiguous the commitment of the EU to support UN-led, peaceful solution to the conflict, including the option to use political leverage to pressure Morocco to be part of an actual solution.” Said Afrika Kontakt in its online petition letter the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherin
The campaign called EU to respect its legal and moral obligations regarding the resources of Western Sahara, and thus to ensure that EU does not in future enter into trade agreements with Morocco which include said resources, demanding the release of Saharawi political prisoners and to insist on fair and free trials for Saharawis and the ban of torture.
Danish Organization (AK) urges also EU to pressure the UN to extend the MINURSO mandate to monitoring human rights. MINURSO is the only current UN peacekeeping mission without this mandate, and its necessity is evident.
It should be recalled that the campaign includes online petition letter to be signed and sent to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini to encourage EU to play a positive role in securing the right of the Saharawis to a referendum of self-determination, short animation film in different languages and lectures at Danish universities and high schools, in addition to a protest in front of headquarters of Danish companies involved in the illegal transfer of phosphate from the occupied territories of Western Sahara.SPS
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