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Occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco is illegal

Submitted on

New York, October 3, 2016 (SPS) - The occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco is illegal under international law recalled, in a report of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights in a recent report, in partnership with several other non-governmental organizations and academics.
The report, which was submitted on 28 September to the United Nations Human Rights Council (OHCHR) deals with the issue of human rights in Morocco and includes the detailed recommendations submitted to the OHCHR.
The document presented by the Robert F. Kennedy centre and its partners reaffirms that “the occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco is illegal under international law and presents elements and analysis on the actions and the way Morocco violates Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination.”
The document addresses the ongoing violations, by Morocco, of Sahrawi people’s rights to have their natural resources, their right to life and to be free from the arbitrary detention and torture.
The centre also recalls the cruel, inhuman and degrading treatments faced by the Sahrawi people, whose fight continues for individual freedoms and freedom of movement.
In addition, the document broaches the Sahrawi people’s right to equality before courts and fair trials, private life, freedom of expression and peaceful meeting, as well as the freedom of association.
“Morocco continues to routinely-and at times violently- violate the rights of the Sahrawi people,” said Kerry Kennedy, president of the Robert F. Kennedy for Justice and Human Rights. (SPS)
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