Two international NGOs have raised alarms regarding the human rights crisis in the occupied Western Sahara, urging the Security Council to integrate human rights monitoring into the UN Mission for the Organization of a Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). The International Federation for the Protection of the Rights of Ethnic, Religious, Linguistic and Other Minorities (IFPRERLOM) and the International Youth and Students Movement for the United Nations (ISMUN) expressed their concerns through Sahrawi activist Amma Lahbib at the Human Rights Council’s 58th session.
They highlighted systematic oppression faced by the Sahrawi people, asserting that human rights defenders, journalists, and students frequently face repression for exposing violations. The NGOs contended that the violence against peaceful demonstrators and arbitrary detentions aim to stifle dissent and self-determination calls, emphasising the need for international engagement in protecting rights in this last vestige of colonialism in Africa.
In their appeal, the NGOs called on the Human Rights Council to acknowledge its responsibility towards the Sahrawi people and advocate for their human rights. They stressed that the ongoing violations in Western Sahara must not be overlooked and underscored the urgent need for human rights monitoring in MINURSO’s framework, as it remains the only UN mission without such a mandate.
Further, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a recent report, echoed concerns over the lack of access for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) in the region. He noted that this absence hampers a complete evaluation of human rights conditions, while reports of harassment against Sahrawi activists signal an increasingly constricted civic space.
Two NGOs have expressed deep concern for the human rights crisis in Western Sahara, urging the Security Council to mandate human rights monitoring within MINURSO. They highlighted the repression faced by Sahrawi activists and called for the Human Rights Council to protect their rights. UN Secretary-General Guterres also raised concerns about the lack of access for the OHCHR, emphasizing the need for better oversight of human rights conditions in the region.
The call from NGOs for human rights monitoring in Western Sahara underscores the urgent need for international oversight in a region marked by oppression. Both the Human Rights Council and the UN Secretary-General have acknowledged these issues, reinforcing the message that without effective monitoring, the plight of the Sahrawi people may continue to be ignored, allowing human rights abuses to persist unchecked. This reinforces the collective responsibility to ensure justice and safeguard the rights of those in occupied territories.
Original Source: al24news.com
