Oslo, April 14, 2015 (SPS) - The Norwegian Students’ and Academics’ International Assistance Fund (SAIH) has launched a new campaign throughout Norway under the motto: “the Last Colony: 40 Years is Enough”, in the aim to demand that the Western Sahara referendum is held.
Marking the 40th anniversary of Morocco’s occupation of Western Sahara, the campaign aims to draw attention to Morocco’s human rights violations in the occupied territories of Western Sahara and the need to conduct the referendum, promised 24 years ago.
The campaign urges Norway to take a leadership role in condemning Morocco’s human rights violations in Western Sahara.
They, therefore, underlined that it is crucial to conduct a referendum on self-determination for the Saharawi people to put an end to extensive human rights abuses.
It also appeals to the international community to put pressure on the French authorities so that they don’t sabotage the inclusion of permanent human rights monitoring within the MINURSO mandate, which is up for consideration again on 30 April 2015.
Taking note that Norwegian authorities discourage business in Western Sahara that violates international law, SAIH demanded that universities in Norway follow this recommendation when considering cooperation with companies engaged in controversial activities in Western Sahara.
To support the campaign, please visit: http://saih.no/english/join-us/campaign/2015. (SPS)
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