Western Sahara Cannot Be a Bargaining Chip: A Call for a Security Council Resolution Grounded in International Law
Joint letter by Sahrawi and International Civil Society
At a time when international law and the principles underpinning the United Nations are increasingly challenged, we, Sahrawi and international civil society organisations, human rights defenders, activists and concerned individuals, call on the United Nations Security Council to adopt a resolution that completes the decolonisation of Western Sahara and guarantees the inalienable right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination and independence.
Western Sahara remains a Non-Self-Governing Territory on the UN list since 1963. More than six decades later, its people are still denied the right to freely determine their political future. This unfinished process of decolonisation perpetuates injustice and undermines the credibility of the United Nations and the international legal order.
The 1975 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice established no territorial sovereignty over Western Sahara in favour of Morocco that could override the Sahrawi people`s right to self-determination. Security Council Resolution 690 (1991) established MINURSO to implement the UN Settlement Plan, including a referendum on self-determination. Yet, that promise remains unfulfilled.
The Sahrawi people`s right to self-determination cannot be negotiated away, indefinitely postponed, or sacrificed to geopolitical interests. No political arrangement can legitimately determine the future of Western Sahara without the free and genuine expression of its people`s will. Any credible process must guarantee a genuine choice, including independence, in accordance with international law.
We reject any initiative that subordinates the fundamental rights of the Sahrawi people to political bargains between states. Such an approach risks legitimising the status quo, rewarding the obstruction of decolonisation, and further undermining the principles upon which the United Nations was founded.
We therefore urge the Security Council to adopt a clear, binding and time-bound resolution to complete the decolonisation process and implement the UN referendum on self-determination. This resolution must also ensure the protection of Sahrawi civilians, human rights defenders, journalists and political prisoners; end human rights violations and restrictions on fundamental freedoms; guarantee access for UN human rights mechanisms to the occupied territory; protect the rights of the Sahrawi people over their natural resources; ensure accountability for violations; and support the voluntary, safe and dignified return of Sahrawi refugees once the decolonisation process is fulfilled.
We call on all members of the Security Council to uphold international law above political expediency, reject the acquisition of territory by force, and fulfil their responsibility to safeguard the Sahrawi people`s inalienable right to self-determination.
A just and lasting peace cannot be built on occupation, the denial of rights, or the exclusion of the Sahrawi people from decisions about their future. It must be built on international law, the completion of decolonisation, and the free expression of the Sahrawi people`s will.
Western Sahara is not a bargaining chip. Self-determination is not optional. Decolonisation must be completed.
Sign the letter here
Signatories:
Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Human Rights Violations Committed by the Moroccan State (ASVDH), Western Sahara
Sahrawi Body Against the Moroccan Occupation (ISACOM), Western Sahara
Sahrawi Collective of Human Rights Defenders in Western Sahara (CODESA_WS), Western Sahara
Sahrawi Association for the Monitoring of Resources and the Protection of the Environment in Western Sahara, Western Sahara
Committee for the Defence of Self-Determination, Western Sahara
Sahrawi League for the Protection of Sahrawi Prisoners in Moroccan Prisons, Western Sahara
Sahrawi Committee of Employees and Workers Arbitrarily Dismissed from Their Jobs, Western Sahara
Sahrawi Association for the Protection and Dissemination of Sahrawi Culture and Heritage, Western Sahara
Committee of Families of the 15 Disappeared Sahrawis, Western Sahara
Gdeim Izik Coordination Committee, Western Sahara
Sahrawi Observatory for the Protection of Children, Western Sahara
Committee for the Protection of Natural Resources and the Defence of the Settlement Plan, Western Sahara
Fosboucraa Retirees` Coordination Committee, Western Sahara
Sahrawi Committee for the Defence of Human Rights in Smara, Western Sahara
Shams al-Hurriya (Sun of Freedom) Committee for the Protection of Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders, Western Sahara
Sahrawi League for the Defence of Human Rights and Natural Resources in Boujdour, Western Sahara
Equipe Media, Western Sahara
Mizirat Media Network, Western Sahara
12 October Media Platform, Western Sahara
Sahrawi Centre for Media and Communication, Western Sahara
Association of the Families of Sahrawi Prisoners and Disappeared Persons (AFAPREDESA) , Western Sahara
National Union of Sahrawi Students (UESARIO) , Western Sahara
National Union of Sahrawi Women (UNMS) , Western Sahara
National Union of Sahrawi Workers (UGTSARIO) , Western Sahara
National Union of Sahrawi Youth (UJSARIO) , Western Sahara
NOVA – Western Sahara, Western Sahara
Saharawi Voice, Western Sahara
Saharawi Observatory for the Monitoring of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection (SONREP), Western Sahara
Saharawi Mine Action Women Team, Western Sahara
Saharawi Union of Farmers, Western Sahara
Saharawi Union of Engineers, Western Sahara
Saharawi Union of Journalists, Writers and Authors (UPES) , Western Sahara
Union of Education, Teaching and Training Workers, Western Sahara
Saharwi Union of Doctors, Western Sahara
Saharwi Union of Artisans, Western Sahara
Saharwi Union of Psychologists, Western Sahara
Asociación awlad sahra Murcia, Spain
Asociación amal Nanclares-Euskadi, Spain
Comunidad saharaui balmaseda-euskadi, Spain
Comunidad saharaui en Aragón Aisa-Aragón, Spain
Asociación convsol amurrio-Euskadi, Spain
Asociación saharaui en Ávila-c y león, Spain
Asociación de inmigrante Sahara occidental en las palmas, Spain
Comunidad saharaui en Cordoba-Andalucia, Spain
Colectivo saharaui en fuerteventura, Spain
Colectivo saharaui en guipuzkoa-euskadi, Spain
Comunidad saharaui en jerez y Cádiz mechaal-andalucia, Spain
Comunidad saharaui en la rioja, Spain
Asociación de saharauis en libreja-andalucia, Spain
Comunidad saharaui en navarra, Spain
Asociación libertad pueblo saharaui Tenerife, Spain
Diáspora saharaui en Bizkaia disabi-euskadi, Spain
Comunidad saharaui en Cantabria mijek-cantabria, Spain
Asociación de saharauis en granada-Andalucía, Spain
Asociación baha malaga-andalucia, Spain
Colectivo saharaui en Lanzarote, Spain
Comunidad saharaui castilla mancha, Spain
Asociación minatu ahbabi rota, Spain
Asociación tawasol lludio-euskadi, Spain
Asociación sidemu mojtar estepona-andalucia, Spain
Colectivo saharaui en jaen-andalucia, Spain
Asociación Sahara gasteiz-euskadi, Spain
Comunidad saharaui en alicante, Spain
Asociación Sahara Euskadi-Euskadi, Spain
Asociación Zamur en Valencia, Spain
Comunidad saharauis en Madrid ascm-madrid, Spain
Asociación doctora beituha-Euskadi, Spain
Liga de mujeres saharaui en España, Spain
Asociación banat Saguia y Wad Dahab, Spain
Asociación medica saharauis en España, Spain
Liga de periodistas y escritores saharauis en España, Spain
Liga de estudiantes saharauis en España, Spain
Liga de abogacía saharaui en España, Spain
Federación saharaui de deporte en Europa, Spain
Comunidad saharaui en Asturias, Spain
Comunidad saharaui en Cataluña, Spain
Asociación ardi hurra Sevilla Andalucía, Spain
Asociación sahara Ihsan-Euskadi, Spain
Asociación Enour-Euskadi, Spain
Asociación saharaui en Galicia, Spain
Asociación de profesionales de sanidad saharaui, Spain
Asociación saharaui en Castellón, Spain
Asociación coordinadora de mujeres saharaui en España, Spain
Asociación arratia amal-Euskadi, Spain
Asociación Sahara uien las pitusas Baleares, Spain
Asociación saharaui concordia Tenerife, Spain
Asociación saharaui lautad en Salvatierra alegría, Spain
Juventud saharaui activa en España, Spain
Association de familiares y amigos de Bassirou, Spain
Association saharaui en rivera Tudela asar Navarra, Spain
Asociación tiris tierra brava Navarra, Spain
Asociación saharaui contra el cáncer, Spain
Association des sahraouis en France (Mureaux), France
Association des sahraouis centre France, France
Association de solidarité sahraouie Tarn et Garonne, France
Association des sahraouis Toulouse, France
Association culturelle franco sahraouie, France
Association des femmes sahraouis en France, France
Fédération sportive sahraouie, France
Ligue des étudiants et de la jeunesse sahraouie en France, France
Association des saharaouis deperigeux, France
Association caraso, France
Association de sauvegarde de l’environnement au Sahara Occidental, France
Association bjaoui Loire atlantique, France
Association Aid Wahda Matsafag, France
Ligue des femmes sahraouis en France, France
Sahraouie fils des nuages, France
Association de la communauté Sahraouie de Gironde, France
Association des sahraouis de belgique, Belgium
Association « le Sahara n’est pas à vendre » , Belgium
Association des sahraouis de Suède, Sweden
Photo : Commemoration of the 30th independence day from Spain in the Liberated Territories of Western Sahara in 2005. Source: Wiki Commons.
| Themes |
| • Discrimination • Globalization, negative impacts • Indigenous peoples • International • Legal frameworks • National • Norms and standards • People under occupation • Population transfers • UN system |
