France objects to human rights in Western Sahara. Some twenty people demonstrated for respect of human rights in front of France's embassy in Oslo today.
France is every year preventing the UN mission in Western Sahara to report on human rights situation in the territory. Norway, UK and several other states have expressed that the mandate of the UN mission should be extended to include human rights observation. France, however - Morocco's closest ally - objects to such human rights monitoring in the territory that Morocco is illegally occupying.
"France should stop sabotaging human rights in Western Sahara. It is hypocritical that they demand human rights observers in some countries, while they veto any attempts in the occupied territories of Western Sahara", said Senia Abderahman, a Saharawi living in Oslo, in a speech to those attending.
The mandate of the UN mission, MINURSO, is up for renewal in the UN Security Council end of April. If Sarkozy gets it the way he wants, the operation will be denied the ability to report on human rights violation again this year.
Similar demonstrations have taken place in 14 countries today, 14 April 2012, all in front of the French embassies.
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