Guterres destaca los esfuerzos de Marruecos para la promoción de los derechos humanos

This Friday the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, presented the latest report on the situation in Western Sahara, which called on the parties to maintain diplomatic momentum despite the current impasse in the peace process. In the report, Guterres points out that "a peaceful solution to the problem of Western Sahara is possible", and encourages the parties to exercise the utmost willingness not to lose the diplomatic momentum created by Kohler (Horst Kohler the last UN envoy for Western Sahara).

In the report to the members of the Security Council, Guterres highlighted Morocco's efforts and achievements in promoting and protecting human rights.

In this respect, the secretary general referred to the letter sent to him by the Moroccan ambassador to the United Nations, Omar Hilale, in which he presented the progress made by the Moroccan kingdom in terms of respect for and promotion of human rights in the former Spanish protectorate.

Mr. Guterres thus informed the Security Council that he had received information on “the daily promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms” in the Moroccan Sahara, adding that he has, also, was seized of “violations of human rights, fundamental freedoms and international humanitarian law in the Tindouf camps”.

In his letter to the UN Secretary-General, Ambassador Hilale notably highlighted Morocco’s fruitful cooperation and interaction with UN human rights mechanisms, in particular the special procedures of the Human Rights Council. Human Rights (CDH) and Human Rights Treaty Bodies.

He also enumerated the progress recorded on a daily basis in the Moroccan Sahara in the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, underlining, in this context, the crucial role of the regional commissions of the National Human Rights Council in Laâyoune and Dakhla.

In the Secretary-General's latest report on the situation in Western Sahara, the Security Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until October 31, 2020. "Overall, calm has prevailed throughout the Territory on both sides of the berm, (...) with respect for the ceasefire (...)", the report stated.

The Security Council, under the presidency of Russia, will meet from October 12 to discuss, among other issues, the conflict in Western Sahara and to hold consultations on the UN mission for the referendum.

In addition, on October 28, following the international body's monthly programme, the CS plans to adopt a new resolution on the conflict, due to the end of the MNURSO's mandate, in accordance with the last Resolution 2494 (2019) adopted on October 30, 2019.