Take action for human rights monitoring in Western Sahara
MINURSO, the UN mission in Western Sahara, is the only contemporary UN peacekeeping mission in the world without a mandate to monitor human rights. In April the UN will address the renewal of MINURSO's mandate - we must ACT NOW to make sure that this time it includes human rights monitoring!
Thank you so much for your efforts for Aminatou Haidar, whose return to El Aaiun is, in her own words, a victory for ‘international law, for human rights, for international justice’. Aminatou Haidar’s brave actions in Lanzarote have helped to shed light on the dire human rights situation in Western Sahara.
Now that this issue, which has been ignored for so long, has finally been brought to light we must act to ensure that we build on the momentum and end human rights abuses in occupied Western Sahara.
There is currently particular concern for the 7 prisoners of conscience currently awaiting trial, who may face the death penalty following their arrest for treason. Click here for more information.
Independent human rights monitoring is a key tool in the fight against human rights abuses.
MINURSO, the UN mission in Western Sahara, is the only contemporary peacekeeping mission without a mandate to monitor human rights.
Human rights organisations, including Amnesty international and Human Rights Watch, and the POLISARIO have repeatedly called for human rights monitoring in the region. This has been blocked by the Moroccan authorities.
The renewal of MINURSO’s mandate in April provides a key opportunity to implement this. Take Action!
1. Write to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon: • Thanking him for his action in the case of Aminatou Haidar and welcoming his comments on the need for a settlement on the issue. • Emphasising the human rights abuses against those who peacefully oppose the Moroccan occupation - in particular the case of the 7 prisoners of conscience currently awaiting trial, who may face the death penalty. • Stating that MINURSO is the only contemporary peacekeeping Mission without a mandate to monitor human rights. • Calling on him to establish an independent mechanism for human rights monitoring. • Insisting that a referendum which includes the option of independence is implemented without delay.
2. Make sure your country supports human rights monitoring. Contact your MP/political representative, ask them to write to your Foreign Minister: • Explaining the human rights abuses against those who peacefully oppose the Moroccan occupation. • Stating that MINURSO is the only contemporary peacekeeping Mission without a mandate to monitor human rights and; • If your country is a member of the UN Security Council: calling on your country to insist on human rights monitoring whether through the extension of MINURSO’s mandate or through another independent monitoring mechanism. • If your country is not a member of the Security Council: asking that your country makes a public statement calling for human rights monitoring.
3. Contact your national delegation to the UN • If your country is a member of the UN Security Council, please write to your national delegation to the UN or copy them into your letter to Mr Ban Ki Moon.
Details The UN Security Council Permanent members of the UN Security Council are: China, France, Russian Federation, UK and US. Non-permanent members: Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Gabon, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Turkey and Uganda.
Address for Ban Ki Moon The Honourable Ban Ki-Moon Secretary General 760 United Nations Plaza United Nations New York, NY 10017 Address for UK Mission to the UN H.E. Sir Mark Lyall Grant Permanent Representative of the UK to the United Nations UK Mission to the UN One Dag Hammarskjold Plaza 885 Second Avenue New York, NY 10017 USA Fax: (212) 745 9316
Address for US Mission to the UN H.E. Ms Susan E. Rice Permanent U.S. Representative to the United Nations United States Mission to the United Nations 140 East 45th Street New York, N.Y. 10017 USA Fax: (212) 415 4053
Contact details for other members of the UN Security Council are listed at the bottom of the page.
If you could please send any copies of letters and responses to coordinator@wsahara.org.uk
Contact details of UN Security Council national delegations France H.E. Mr Gérard Araud Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations 245 East 47th Street 44th floor New York, N.Y. 10017 USA Email: france@franceonu.org
China H.E. Mr. Zhang Yesui Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations 350 East 35th Street New York, NY 10016 USA E-mail: ChinaMissionUN@Gmail.com
Russian Federation H.E. Mr Vitaly Churkin Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations 136 East 67 Street New York, NY 10065 USA Fax:(212)628-0252 E-mail: rusun@un.int
Austria H.E. Mr Thomas Mayr-Harting Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations Austrian Mission to the United Nations 600 Third Avenue, 31st Floor New York, NY 10016 USA Fax: (212) 94 91 840
Bosnia and Herzegovina H.E. Mr Ivan Barbalic Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations Permanent Mission of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations 420 Lexington Avenue Suites 607 & 608 New York, NY 10170 USA Fax: (212) 751 90 19
Brazil H.E. Mrs Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations Permanent Mission of Brazil to the United Nations 747 Third Avenue, 9th Floor New York, NY USA Fax:(212)3715716 Email: delbrasonu@delbrasonu.org
Gabon S.E.M. Denis Dangue Rewaka Ambassadeur Extraordinaire et Plenipotentiaire, Representant Permanent Mission permanente du Gabon auprés des Nations Unies 18 East 41st Street, 9th Floor New York, NY 10017 USA Fax: (212) 689 5769
Japan H.E. Mr Yukio Takasu Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations The Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations 866 U.N. Plaza, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10017 USA E-mail: japan.mission@un-japan.org
Lebanon H.E. Dr. Nawaf Salam Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the United Nations The Permanent Mission of Lebanon to the United Nations in New York 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 531-533 New York, NY 10017 USA Fax: (212) 838-2819 Email: ambassador@lebanonun.org
Mexico H.E. Mr Claude Heller Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations Permanent Mission of Mexico to the United Nations Two United Nations Plaza, 28th Floor New York, NY 10017 USA Fax (212) 688.8862 E-Mail: mexico@un.int
Nigeria H.E. Mrs U. Joy Ogwu OFR Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations 828 Second Ave New York, NY 10017 USA Fax (212) 697 1970
Turkey H.E. Mr Ertuğrul Apakan Permanent Representative of Turkey to the United Nations Permanent Mission of Turkey to the United Nations 821 UN Plaza New York, NY 10017 USA Email: turkey@un.int
Uganda H.E. Dr Ruhakana Rugunda Permanent Representative of Uganda to the United Nations Permanent Mission of Uganda to the United Nations 336 East 45 Street New York, NY 10017 USA Email: ugandaunny@un.int
Africa's last colonySince 1975, three quarters of the Western Sahara territory has been illegally occupied by Morocco. The original population lives divided between those suffering human rights abuses under the Moroccan occupation and those living in exile in Algerian refugee camps. For more than 40 years, the Saharawi await the fulfilment of their legitimate right to self-determination.
Since 1975, three quarters of the Western Sahara territory has been illegally occupied by Morocco. The original population lives divided between those suffering human rights abuses under the Moroccan occupation and those living in exile in Algerian refugee camps. For more than 40 years, the Saharawi await the fulfilment of their legitimate right to self-determination.
