Western Sahara: Human Rights

Ms Katy Clark
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UN Security Council has been briefed on the human rights situation in occupied Western Sahara by the UN Secretary General's special envoy on Western Sahara.

Mr. Ivan Lewis
The UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy to Western Sahara regularly briefs the Security Council on developments in the conflict of Western Sahara, including the human rights situation. The current Personal Envoy, Christopher Ross, last briefed the Security Council on 18 February. Mr. Ross holds regular discussions with members of the Security Council on a range of issues related to the conflict.

The Secretary-General will submit his report on the latest developments in Western Sahara to the Security Council in advance of the renewal of the UN Mission for the referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) mandate at the end of April.