“We recommend that the procedures regarding registration of registration of civil society organizations, including for the organizations advocating for the Saharawi people’s right to self-determination, to be in conformity with international human right standards”, stated the Norwegian government in the UN Human Rights Council today, 22 May.
Several Saharawi civil society organisations have the last years been denied to register formally. This applies to among others the leading human rights networks CODESA and ASVDH.
The statement came in relation to Morocco's evaluation in the Human Rights Council's so-called UPR process, that is taking place every four years.
Since 1975, three quarters of the territory of Western Sahara has been occupied by Morocco. A majority of the population is still living in refugee camps in Algeria. Those who remained in their homeland are subjected to serious harassment from the Moroccan occupiers. For more than 40 years the Sahrawis have been waiting for the fullfilment of their legitimate right to self-determination.
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