Subject: Escalation of repression and violation of human rights in Western Sahara
Since Morocco’s ceasefire ended with an attack on Sahrawi civilians, the Alawi Kingdom has increased its pressure on the Sahrawi population, constantly harassing activists protesting the occupation.
This is the case of Sultana Khaya, her sister and her mother, who are under house arrest and are not allowed visitors. Moreover, Sultana Khaya has stated that Moroccan security forces raided and destroyed her home and sexually assaulted her and her sister.
Mina Baali, an ISACOM activist, has been under house arrest since 7 May and has been violently assaulted by Moroccan military police.
In view of the above:
1. Has the VP/HR conveyed his concerns to the Moroccan Government about the degradation of human rights in Western Sahara and, in particular, the sexual assaults against Sahrawi activists?
2. Does the VP/HR believe that this situation underscores the need for MINURSO to monitor the protection of human rights in Western Sahara?
3. Does the VP/HR believe that the continued violation of human rights by Moroccan occupying forces in Western Sahara is a sufficient basis for triggering the human rights protection clause of the EU-Morocco trade agreement?
Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Borrell on behalf of the European Commission (3 August 2021)
The EU is following these cases, as part of its regular contacts and dialogue on human rights with the Moroccan authorities as well as with Morocco’s dedicated body, the National Council of Human Rights (NCHR).
The EU fully supports the United Nations’ efforts with a view to finding a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution to the question of Western Sahara, in compliance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), in particular UNSCR 2548, adopted on 30 October 2020. In this resolution, the UNSC encouraged the parties to work with the international community to develop and implement independent and credible measures to ensure full respect for human rights.
Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is a vital component of the bilateral relations with Morocco, as notably reflected in the EU-Morocco Declaration of 27 June 2019 (1). The EU maintains a regular political dialogue with Morocco to exchange on human rights issues, including in a dedicated Sub-Committee, which last met on 25 March 2021.
⋅1∙ https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2019/06/27/joint-declaration-by-the-european-union-and-the-kingdom-of-morocco-for-the-fourteenth-
meeting-of-the-association-council/