Western Sahara
NGOWG MAP Recommendations
Monthly Action Points on Women, Peace & Security for April 2012
NGO Working Group on Women, Peace & Security
In the MAP for April 2012, the NGOWG had several recommendations for the Security Council on the current situation in Western Sahara:
In relation to its discussion of the forthcoming Secretary-General’s report on the UN mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO), and in its expected renewal of the MINURSO mandate, the Council should ensure the new resolution includes a human rights monitoring mandate, which - unlike most other missions established under the authority of the Council - it currently does not have. A human rights component is critical to documenting human rights violations, including violations against women, in Western Sahara, and the Tindouf camps administered by the Polisario Front. In the past year, the Moroccan authorities have taken positive steps to ensure respect for human rights, including facilitating visits of UN Special Procedures, and the Working Group on Discrimination against Women in Law and Practice of February 2012. However, human rights violations have been regularly reported against Sahrawis advocating for the self-determination of Western Sahara. Pro-independence activists have been imprisoned and have reportedly been tortured or otherwise ill-treated during questioning. The absence of independent human rights organizations in the camps makes it difficult to report and verify human rights violations. A human rights monitoring mandate for MINURSO, to include both Western Sahara and the Tindouf camps, would provide independent reporting on the current human rights situation, and be able to monitor violations against women. This mandate would strengthen the mission’s support build trust between the parties and create an environment conducive for political negotiations, negotiations which must include the full and equal participation of women.
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Monthly Action Points on Women, Peace & Security for April 2011
NGO Working Group on Women, Peace & Security
In the MAP for April 2011, the NGOWG had several recommendations for the Security Council on the current situation in Western Sahara:
Particularly in light of the November 2010 attack on the El-Ayoun refugee camp and the continued detention of human rights’ defenders, the forthcoming mandate renewal and report for the UN mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO) should include a human rights monitoring mandate, which - unlike most other missions established under the authority of the Council - it currently does not have. The inclusion of such a human rights component to MINURSO would be a positive response to the concern expressed by Council members about the human rights situation in Western Sahara, and the Secretary-General’s reiteration of the UN commitment to human rights standards in Western Sahara (S/2009/200). The general deterioration of the human rights situation in Western Sahara has included the targeting of women’s human rights defenders, and a failure to include the full and equal participation of women in any efforts to achieve a peace agreement. Another issue of concern is denial of rights to women political prisoners, which is counter to international human rights and humanitarian law.
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Monthly Action Points on Women, Peace & Security for April 2010
NGO Working Group on Women, Peace & Security
In the MAP for April 2010, the NGOWG had several recommendations for the Security Council on the current situation in Western Sahara:
Particularly in light of recent attacks on human rights defenders, the forthcoming mandate renewal for the UN mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO) should include a human rights monitoring mandate, which - unlike most other peacekeeping operations - it currently does not have. This general deterioration of the human rights situation in Western Sahara has included the targeting of women’s rights defenders. MINURSO is nearly the only mission established under the authority of the Security Council that does not include a human rights component. The inclusion of such a component would be a positive response to the concern expressed by Council members about the human rights situation in Western Sahara, and the Secretary-General’s reiteration of the UN commitment to human rights standards in Western Sahara (S/2009/200).
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Member Organizations
© 2012 NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security