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Western Sahara: Human Rights

Volume 479: debated on Monday 21 July 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that the UN mission to the Western Sahara monitors the human rights situation; and what discussions he has had with MINURSO on this matter. (218848)

The UK continues to support the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). MINURSO's mandate does not include human rights monitoring, and while I have not held recent talks with MINURSO, Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials in New York and Rabat are in regular contact with MINURSO representatives. Julian Harsten, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to the Western Sahara, and MINURSO colleagues met with our Ambassador in Rabat on 27 June to discuss the latest developments in the region.