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Human Rights Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 April 2012

Wednesday, 18 April 2012

Questions (81)

Patrick Nulty

Question:

74 Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on steps he is taking to support the people of occupied Western Sahara; in particular if he will take steps to raise the on-going human rights abuses in the territory, in particular the unresolved issues of mass displacement and expulsion of citizens by occupying forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19194/12]

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Written answers

Ireland continues to support the right to self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, and the continuing engagement of the United Nations in the search for a political solution in the territory based on the principle of self-determination. UN Secretary General Ban's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Christopher Ross, has convened several rounds of informal talks, most recently last month in the US. Personal Envoy Ross is also due to visit Western Sahara and the wider region in May for talks, a development which I very warmly welcome as it will represent the first such visit by the SG's Personal Envoy to the territory.

In his latest report to the Security Council issued just last week, SG Ban reported that the parties remained committed to the negotiating process and agreed to continue discussing specific subjects of mutual interest such as natural resources, demining and confidence building measures. The parties held a meeting on natural resources in Geneva last November and a meeting on confidence building measures in January this year. They have agreed to meet again in June and July this year for informal negotiations. I regard both sides' commitment to dialogue as constructive and positive, and hope that this process can engender a degree of trust between the two sides that will enable progress on the political questions where there has been no progress to date.

The major obstacle remains Morocco's refusal to allow a referendum in the territory which would include an option of independence for the people of the Western Sahara. This has been provided for in a number of UN peace plans, and it is difficult to see that there can be any genuine self-determination without such a referendum. I would also encourage the two parties to engage in the initiative, suggested by the UN Secretary General, of convening a group reflecting a wide cross-section of the population of Western Sahara inside and outside the territory for consultations and dialogue as a way of generating new ideas to present to negotiators, as all efforts to break the political stalemate must be fully explored.

Addressing human rights issues is also a key ingredient to the successful resolution of the conflict. Morocco has committed itself to providing unqualified and unimpeded access to all special procedures of the Human Rights Council but has not yet formally extended a standing invitation to all special procedures mandate holders. While I welcome Morocco's engagement with three special procedure mandate holders, I call on the Moroccan authorities to give full and immediate effect to its commitment to engage with the HRC Special Procedures. More regular and ongoing monitoring of the human rights situation in the territory than can be provided for through the HRC special procedures is also desirable. I would therefore welcome the inclusion of a broader human rights monitoring mechanism in the mandate of MINURSO, the UN peace-keeping mission in Western Sahara. This has been discussed at the Security Council but agreement has not, to date, been reached.

Ireland will continue its dialogue with both Morocco and the Polisario, through the Moroccan Ambassador and the local Polisario representative, to encourage support for the UN Secretary General's good offices mission and the efforts of Personal Envoy Ross to achieve some measure of political progress and increased confidence between both sides.

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