Council of Europe’s contribution to find a solution to the Western Sahara conflict

Strasbourg (France)- February 1, 2014 (SPS) -  Rapporteur of the Committee for Political and Democratic Affairs of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly Liliane Maury Pasquier presented on Wednesday, at the headquarters of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, its first report on Western Sahara before the Committee for Political and Democratic Affairs, entitled "Contribution of the Council of Europe to a solution to the Western Sahara conflict."

Appointed by the Council of Europe to prepare a report on the situation in Western Sahara, Maury Pasquier paid two visits to the occupied territories and the Sahrawi refugee camps in May and October to discuss how Europe could contribute to resolve the conflict in Western Sahara.

Representatives of the Saharawi civil society including human rights defenders, Mtou Ahnini Mostafa, member of the Association of Parents of Saharawis prisoners and disappeared and Ghalia Adjimi representing the Sahrawi Association of Victims of human rights violations committed by the Moroccan State were invited to testify.

Ghalia Adjimi seized the opportunity to "refute Morocco’s allegations" on democratic development in the territory of Western Sahara and to discuss the ongoing violations against the fundamental freedoms of the Saharawi people. (SPS)