Security Council accused of double standards over human rights in Western Sahara
Western Sahara Campaign
Press release
UN Security Council Resolution 1979 on Western Sahara passed yesterday by the Security Council for the first time
recognises the need to improve human rights in the disputed Territory, but failed to respond to South Africa and
Nigeria’s calls to establish human rights monitoring, leaving the UN mission (MINURSO) the only contemporary UN mission
without a human rights mandate.
South Africa and Nigeria had proposed amendments to the text, all of which were rejected but they eventually voted for
the resolution drafted by the UN’s “Group of Friends of Western Sahara” renewing the mission's mandate 15-0.
This failure to monitor human rights comes in sharp contrast to the Security Council’s position on human rights in other
resolutions such as 1970 on Libya. In November Western Sahara was the scene of mass protests and violence. The Secretary
General’s recent report on Western Sahara notes that unrest in the region brings increased urgency for efforts to
resolve the 36 year Western Sahara conflict.
South African Ambassador Baso Sangqu addressing the Security Council said: “This double standard creates an impression
that the Security Council does not care about the human rights of the people of Western Sahara." He called the lack of
human rights monitoring in Western Sahara a “travesty”.
Natalie Sharples from the Western Sahara Campaign, part of a Network of organisations in 35 countries campaigning for
the protection of human rights in Western Sahara said:
“The Security Council has expressed concern over human rights abuses in Moroccan occupied Western Sahara but failed to
implement anything tangible to address them. The fact that France the UK and US have been so keen to highlight their
support for human rights in Libya and Ivory Coast, yet are prepared to deny these rights to the Sahrawi people is
shameful. It is clearly time for an African member to be included in the UN’s Group of Friends.”
Francesco Bastagli the former UN Assistant Secretary-General and Special Representative for Western Sahara said:
“Whether it's conflict prevention, basic human rights or responsibility to protect, Western Sahara is the long-neglected
obligation of the international community. The Security Council can hardly be credible in its concern over Libya and
other countries in the region while continuing to ignore the tragic plight of the Saharawi people.”
Notes:
Noam Chomsky has said that the mass protests that took place in Western Sahara in November last year marked the starting
point of the North Africa/Middle East protests.
Human rights abuses in Moroccan occupied Western Sahara are reported widely by International human rights organisations
who have repeatedly called for human rights to be monitored by UN mission (MINURSO).
MINURSO is the only UN mission established since 1978 without a human rights mandate.
France is thought to be the main country to oppose human rights monitoring and in previous years threatening to veto the
resolution if it included any reference to human rights http://bit.ly/fEFjZ9
The resolution fails to establish any mechanism to monitor human rights instead the preamble states: “Welcoming the
establishment of a National Council on Human Rights in Morocco and the proposed component regarding Western Sahara, and
the commitment of Morocco to ensure unqualified and unimpeded access to all Special Procedures of the United Nations
Human Rights Council.
The UN’s “ Group of Friends of Western Sahara” is the UK, US France, Spain and Russia. No African member is included.
Western Sahara has been occupied by Morocco for 36 years in violation of international law and numerous Security Council
Resolutions. http://www.wsahara.org.uk
The UN Mission for Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) was established in 1991 to oversee a referendum in which the
people in Western Sahara would choose between independence or integration with Morocco. Despite the previous publication
of UN approved voter lists Moroccan objections to voter lists has meant the referendum has never taken place
Francesco Bastagli was UN Assistant Secretary-General and Special Representative for Western Sahara from 2006 – 2006. He
resigned in protest over UN inaction on Western Sahara.
ENDS