Security Council resolution 2285 (2016) [on extension of the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 30 Apr. 2017]
Symbol: S/RES/2285 (2016)
Date: 2016-04-29
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/71 [45] UN MISSION FOR THE REFERENDUM IN WESTERN SAHARA
S/71 [44] WESTERN SAHARA QUESTION
S/ X The situation concerning Western Sahara.
Subjects: UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara|PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|WESTERN SAHARA|NEGOTIATION|PEACE AGREEMENTS|WESTERN SAHARA QUESTION|CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES
Votes in favour: 10
Votes against: 2
Abstentions: 3
Voting record:
country: ANGOLA
vote: abstention
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: EGYPT
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: JAPAN
vote: yes
country: MALAYSIA
vote: yes
country: NEW ZEALAND
vote: abstention
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: abstention
country: SENEGAL
vote: yes
country: SPAIN
vote: yes
country: UKRAINE
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes
country: URUGUAY
vote: no
country: VENEZUELA (BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF)
vote: no

               United Nations                                                                    S/RES/2285 (2016)
               Security Council                                                Distr.: General
                                                                               29 April 2016




               Resolution 2285 (2016)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 7684th meeting, on
               29 April 2016

                    The Security Council,
                    Recalling and reaffirming all its previous resolutions on Western Sahara,
                    Reaffirming its strong support for the efforts of the Secretary-General and his
               Personal Envoy to implement resolutions 1754 (2007), 1783 (2007), 1813 (2008),
               1871 (2009), 1920 (2010), 1979 (2011), 2044 (2012), 2099 (2013), 2152 (2014), and
               2218 (2015),
                     Reaffirming its commitment to assist the parties to achieve a just, lasting, and
               mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self -determination
               of the people of Western Sahara in the context of arrangements consistent with the
               principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, and noting the role
               and responsibilities of the parties in this respect,
                     Reiterating its call upon the parties and the neighbouring states to cooperate
               more fully with the United Nations and with each other and to strengthen their
               involvement to end the current impasse and to achieve progress towards a political
               solution,
                    Recognizing that achieving a political solution to this long-standing dispute
               and enhanced cooperation between the Member States of the Maghreb Arab Union
               would contribute to stability and security in the Sahel region,
                    Welcoming the efforts of the Secretary-General to keep all peacekeeping
               operations, including the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western
               Sahara (MINURSO), under close review and reiterating the need for the Council to
               pursue a rigorous, strategic approach to peacekeeping deployments, and effective
               management of resources,
                    Recognizing the important role played by MINURSO on the ground and the
               need for it to fully implement its mandate,
                     Expressing concern about the violations of existing agreements, and calling on
               the parties to respect their relevant obligations,
                    Taking note of the Moroccan proposal presented on 11 April 2007 to the
               Secretary-General and the serious and credible Moroccan efforts to move the


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               process forward towards resolution; also taking note of the Polisario Front proposal
               presented 10 April 2007 to the Secretary-General,
                    Encouraging in this context, the parties to demonstrate further political will
               towards a solution including by expanding upon their discussion of each other’s
               proposals,
                    Taking note of the four rounds of negotiations held under the ausp ices of the
               Secretary-General and recognizing the importance of the parties committing to
               continue the negotiations process,
                     Encouraging the parties to resume cooperation with the Office of the High
               Commissioner for Refugees in implementing the January 2 012 updated Plan of
               Action on Confidence-Building Measures, including programmes focused on
               linking people who have been divided for more than 40 years due to the conflict,
                     Stressing the importance of improving the human rights situation in Western
               Sahara and the Tindouf camps, and encouraging the parties to work with the
               international community to develop and implement independent and credible
               measures to ensure full respect for human rights, bearing in mind their relevant
               obligations under international law,
                    Encouraging the parties to continue in their respective efforts to enhance the
               promotion and protection of human rights in Western Sahara and the Tindouf
               refugee camps, including the freedoms of expression and association,
                    Welcoming in this regard, the recent steps and initiatives taken by Morocco,
               and the role played by the National Council on Human Rights Commissions
               operating in Dakhla and Laayoune, and Morocco’s interaction with Special
               Procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council,
                     Commending the technical visit of the Office of the United Nations High
               Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to Western Sahara in April 2015, and to
               the Tindouf refugee camps in July-August 2015, and strongly encouraging full
               continuing cooperation with OHCHR, including through facilitating further visits to
               the region,
                    Recognizing the impact of torrential rains in October 2015 on the Tindouf
               refugee camps and welcoming the plan of the United Nations High Commissioner
               for Refugees to convene a donor briefing,
                    Reiterating its request for consideration of a refugee registration in the
               Tindouf refugee camps and inviting efforts in this regard,
                    Stressing the importance of a commitment by the parties to continue the
               process of negotiations through the United Nations-sponsored talks,
                     Recognizing that the consolidation of the status quo is not acceptable, and
               noting further that progress in the negotiations is essential in order to improve the
               quality of life of the people of Western Sahara in all its aspects,
                    Affirming full support for the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western
               Sahara Ambassador Christopher Ross and his work in facilitating negotiations
               between the parties, and, welcoming to that effect his recent initiatives and ongoing
               consultations with the parties and neighbouring states,




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                Affirming full support for the Special Representative of the Secretary -General
           for Western Sahara and Head of MINURSO Kim Bolduc,
                 Regretting that MINURSO’s ability to fully carry out its mandate has been
           affected as the majority of its civilian component, including political personnel,
           cannot perform their duties within MINURSO’s area of operations,
                Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of 19 April 2016
           (S/2016/355),
                1.    Decides to extend the mandate of MINURSO until 30 April 2017;
                2.    Emphasizes the urgent need for MINURSO to return to full functionality;
                3.  Requests the Secretary-General to brief the Council within 90 days on
           whether MINURSO has returned to full functionality and expresses its intention, if
           MINURSO has not achieved full functionality, to consider how best to facilitate
           achievement of this goal;
                 4.   Reaffirms the need for full respect of the military agreements reached
           with MINURSO with regard to the ceasefire and calls on the parties to adhere fully
           to those agreements;
                 5.  Calls upon all parties to cooperate fully with the operations of
           MINURSO, including its free interaction with all inter locutors, and to take the
           necessary steps to ensure the security of as well as unhindered movement and
           immediate access for the United Nations and associated personnel in carrying out
           their mandate, in conformity with existing agreements;
                 6.   Emphasizes the importance of the parties’ commitment to continue the
           process of preparation for a fifth round of negotiations, and recalls its endorsement
           of the recommendation in the report of 14 April 2008 ( S/2008/251) that realism and
           a spirit of compromise by the parties are essential to achieve progress in
           negotiations;
                7.    Calls upon the parties to continue to show political will and work in an
           atmosphere propitious for dialogue in order to enter into a more intensive and
           substantive phase of negotiations, thus ensuring implementation of resolutions 1754
           (2007), 1783 (2007), 1813 (2008), 1871 (2009), 1920 (2010), 1979 (2011), 2044
           (2012), 2099 (2013), 2152 (2014), and 2218 (2015) and the success of negotiations;
                8.    Affirms its full support for the commitment of the Secretary-General and
           his Personal Envoy towards a solution to the question of Western Sahara in this
           context and calls for renewed meetings and strengthening of contacts;
                  9.   Calls upon the parties to continue negotiations under the auspices of the
           Secretary-General without preconditions and in good faith, taking into account the
           efforts made since 2006 and subsequent developments, with a view to achieving a
           just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the
           self-determination of the people of Western Sahara in the context of arrangements
           consistent with the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, and
           noting the role and responsibilities of the parties in this respect;
                10.   Invites Member States to lend appropriate assistance to these talks;
                 11. Requests the Secretary-General to brief the Security Council on a regular
           basis, and at least twice a year, on the status and progress of these negotiations


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               under his auspices, on the implementation of this resolution, challenges to
               MINURSO’s operations and steps taken to address them, expresses its intention to
               meet to receive and discuss his briefings and in this regard, and further requests the
               Secretary-General to provide a report on the situation in Western Sahara well before
               the end of the mandate period;
                    12. Welcomes the commitment of the parties and the neighbouring states to
               hold periodic meetings with the Office of the United Nations High Commission er
               for Refugees to review and, where possible, expand confidence -building measures;
                    13. Urges Member States to provide voluntary contributions to fund
               confidence-building measures agreed upon between the parties, including those that
               allow for visits between separated family members, as well as food programmes to
               ensure that the humanitarian needs of refugees are adequately addressed;
                     14. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take the necessary
               measures to ensure full compliance in MINURSO with the United Nations zerotolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and to keep the Council informed,
               and urges troop-contributing countries to take appropriate preventive action
               including predeployment awareness training, and other action to ensure full
               accountability in cases of such conduct involving their personnel;
                    15.   Decides to remain seized of the matter.




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