United Nations Security Council Resolution 1920
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1920, adopted unanimously on April 30, 2010, after reaffirming all previous resolutions on the Western Sahara
including 1754
(2007), 1783
(2007), 1813
(2008) and 1871
(2009), the Council discussed prospects for a settlement of the dispute and extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara
(MINURSO) until April 30, 2011.
The Security Council reaffirmed its commitment in assisting Morocco
and the Polisario Front
for a lasting, mutually acceptable solution which provides for self-determination
for the people of Western Sahara. In this regard, full co-operation was required from the concerned parties and neighbouring states in the region with the United Nations. It noted proposals submitted to the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
by both parties and invited them to demonstrate their political will to resolve the conflict. At the same time, several rounds of negotiations were also recognised, and stressed the need for both sides to adhere to their obligations to make progress on the "human dimension" of the conflict.
The resolution anticipated family visits by land and by air, with full co-operation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
. It was recognised that the status quo was unacceptable, and welcomed the commitment of both sides to continue negotiations for the benefit of the people in the territory.
Both parties were then urged to adhere to the military agreements reached with MINURSO regarding a ceasefire
. The parties were called upon to continue to show political will and continue unconditional negotiations under the auspices of the Secretary-General. Assistance was from other countries was invited in this regard, including funding for confidence-building measures such as family visits.
Finally, the Secretary-General was requested to keep the Council regularly informed on progress made during the negotiations, providing a report before the end of MINURSO's mandate period, set at April 30, 2011. He was also required to make sure both parties complied with MINURSO with regards to the United Nations sexual exploitation and abuse
policy and for troop-contributing countries to ensure full accountability.
The resolution avoided mention of human rights
, due to disagreements over its use in resolutions by some members of the Council. Austria
, Mexico
, Nigeria
, Uganda
, the United Kingdom
and United States
supported its inclusion while China
did not. Other members of the Council, such as Mexico
and Nigeria
, were concerned that only a small number of Council members were involved in consultations regarding the resolution and the absence of a mention of Resolution 690
(1991) which formed MINURSO's original mandate. Both Morocco and the Polisario Front welcomed the adoption of Resolution 1920 as a basis for further negotiations, but disputed the issue of human rights in the territory
.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1920, adopted unanimously on April 30, 2010, after reaffirming all previous resolutions on the Western Sahara
Western Sahara
Western Sahara is a disputed territory in North Africa, bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria to the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its surface area amounts to . It is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world, mainly...
including 1754
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1754
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1754, adopted unanimously on April 30, 2007, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Western Sahara, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara for six months until October 31,...
(2007), 1783
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1783
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1783 was unanimously adopted on 31 October 2007.- Resolution :The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara for six months, until 30 April 2008.In the unanimously adopted resolution 1783...
(2007), 1813
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1813
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1813 was unanimously adopted on 30 April 2008.- Resolution :Following extensive consultations, the Security Council this evening extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara for one year, until 30 April 2009.In...
(2008) and 1871
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1871
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1871 was unanimously adopted on 30 April 2009.- Resolution :The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara by one year, until 30 April 2010.Unanimously adopting resolution 1871 , as...
(2009), the Council discussed prospects for a settlement of the dispute and extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara
United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara
MINURSO is the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara. The name is a French acronym for "Mission des Nations Unies pour l'Organisation d'un Référendum au Sahara Occidental" — United Nations Mission for the organization of a Referendum in Western Sahara.-Purpose of the mission:MINURSO...
(MINURSO) until April 30, 2011.
The Security Council reaffirmed its commitment in assisting Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
and the Polisario Front
Polisario Front
The POLISARIO, Polisario Front, or Frente Polisario, from the Spanish abbreviation of Frente Popular de Liberación de Saguía el Hamra y Río de Oro is a Sahrawi rebel national liberation movement working for the independence of Western Sahara from Morocco...
for a lasting, mutually acceptable solution which provides for self-determination
Self-determination
Self-determination is the principle in international law that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or external interference...
for the people of Western Sahara. In this regard, full co-operation was required from the concerned parties and neighbouring states in the region with the United Nations. It noted proposals submitted to the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
by both parties and invited them to demonstrate their political will to resolve the conflict. At the same time, several rounds of negotiations were also recognised, and stressed the need for both sides to adhere to their obligations to make progress on the "human dimension" of the conflict.
The resolution anticipated family visits by land and by air, with full co-operation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees , also known as The UN Refugee Agency is a United Nations agency mandated to protect and support refugees at the request of a government or the UN itself and assists in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to...
. It was recognised that the status quo was unacceptable, and welcomed the commitment of both sides to continue negotiations for the benefit of the people in the territory.
Both parties were then urged to adhere to the military agreements reached with MINURSO regarding a ceasefire
Ceasefire
A ceasefire is a temporary stoppage of a war in which each side agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions. Ceasefires may be declared as part of a formal treaty, but they have also been called as part of an informal understanding between opposing forces...
. The parties were called upon to continue to show political will and continue unconditional negotiations under the auspices of the Secretary-General. Assistance was from other countries was invited in this regard, including funding for confidence-building measures such as family visits.
Finally, the Secretary-General was requested to keep the Council regularly informed on progress made during the negotiations, providing a report before the end of MINURSO's mandate period, set at April 30, 2011. He was also required to make sure both parties complied with MINURSO with regards to the United Nations sexual exploitation and abuse
Sexual exploitation and abuse in humanitarian response
The sexual exploitation and abuse of beneficiaries by humanitarian workers first came to public attention with the release of a report in February 2002 of a joint assessment mission looking into the issue...
policy and for troop-contributing countries to ensure full accountability.
The resolution avoided mention of human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
, due to disagreements over its use in resolutions by some members of the Council. Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
supported its inclusion while China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
did not. Other members of the Council, such as Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, were concerned that only a small number of Council members were involved in consultations regarding the resolution and the absence of a mention of Resolution 690
United Nations Security Council Resolution 690
United Nations Security Council Resolution 690, adopted unanimously on April 29, 1991, after recalling resolutions 621 and 658 and noting a report by the Secretary-General on the situation in Western Sahara, the Council approved the report and decided to establish the United Nations Mission for...
(1991) which formed MINURSO's original mandate. Both Morocco and the Polisario Front welcomed the adoption of Resolution 1920 as a basis for further negotiations, but disputed the issue of human rights in the territory
Human rights in Western Sahara
Morocco sees Western Sahara as its Southern Provinces. Morocco considers the Polisario Front as a separatist movement given the Moroccan origins of many of its leaders, and a puppet in the hands of Algeria....
.
See also
- History of Western SaharaHistory of Western SaharaThe history of Western Sahara can be traced back to the times of Carthaginian explorer Hanno the Navigator in the 5th century BC. Though few historical records are left from that period, Western Sahara's modern history has its roots linked to some nomadic groups such as the Sanhaja group and the...
- Legal status of Western Sahara
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1901 to 2000 (2009 – 2011)
- Sahrawi Arab Democratic RepublicSahrawi Arab Democratic RepublicThe Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is a partially recognised state that claims sovereignty over the entire territory of Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony. SADR was proclaimed by the Polisario Front on February 27, 1976, in Bir Lehlu, Western Sahara. The SADR government controls about...
- Wall (Western Sahara)
External links
- Text of Resolution at ReliefWebReliefWebReliefWeb is an on-line gateway to information on humanitarian emergencies and disasters. An independent vehicle of information, designed specifically to assist the international humanitarian community in effective delivery of emergency assistance, it provides information as events unfold, while...