The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, in partnership with Sandblast-Arts, Defense Forum Foundation, Africa Solidarity for Sahrawi, Western Sahara Campaign and Western Sahara Action Forum cordially invite you to a Debriefing on the Sahrawi Republic: Human Rights and Recent Developments.
Background
On 6 December 2018, Horst Köhler, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, wrapped up the first roundtable talks on the future of Western Sahara. The former German president noted that the talks were ‘a first, but an important step’ towards resolving the decades-old standoff between Morocco and the Polisario Front. The South African Government, a supporter of Western Sahara and currently occupying a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council (2019–2020), welcomed the two-day UN talks that were held in Geneva.
In addition, the extension of the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) was only for six months instead of the usual one-year period. Moreover, MINURSO is the only UN Mission without a human rights component. While the Kingdom of Morocco and Polisario Front are being pressed to continue negotiations directly in finding a lasting solution, the question remains: Why is the long-awaited referendum over the future of Western Sahara still delayed?
Programme
12:00 - 12:30 Arrival and registration
12:30 – 12:45 Welcome and opening remarks Chairperson Radhi S. Bachir, Sahrawi Republic Ambassador to South Africa
12:45 – 13:00 Ms Catherine Constantinides, Human Rights Activist
13:00 – 13:15 Ms Magdalene Moonsamy, Attorney & Human Rights Activist
13:15 – 13:55 Questions and answers session
13:55 – 14:00 Vote of thanks and close
Event Information
Date: Wednesday, 3 April 2019
Time: 12:30 – 14:00
Venue: Room 1-76, Graduate Centre, University of Pretoria (Hatfield Campus)
RSVP: Please confirm your attendance by sending an email to dominique.mystris@up.ac.za
