A meeting held today (22nd January 2024) at the European Parliament called for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to urgently be allowed to investigate the human rights situation in occupied West Papua. The meeting, titled ‘UN High Commissioner visit to West Papua and the EU-Indonesia Trade Agreement’, was addressed by ULMWP President Benny Wenda, Labour MP and International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP) Chair Alex Sobel, International Lawyers for West Papua (ILWP) Chair Tim Hansen, IPWP Vice-Chair and EH Bildu Senator Gorka Elejabarrieta, and hosted by MEP and IPWP Vice-Chair President Carles Puigdemont. Indonesia has now refused the UN access to West Papua for over six years, despite over 85 countries demanding that they facilitate a visit. President Puigdemont demanded that the EU cease its negotiations over a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Indonesia until the UN visit is carried out. Alex Sobel and Senator Elejabarrieta described the progress of the IPWP Campaign for a UN visit. Tim Hansen gave an overview of the illegality under international law of Indonesia’s occupation of West Papua, and outlined how this could also make elements of an EU-Indonesia trade agreement illegal. An excerpt from President Wenda’s speech can be viewed below, while the entire event can be watched here. The speakers unveiled the ‘Brussels Declaration on West Papua’, calling out Indonesia’s continued refusal and demanding a UN visit be facilitated without further delays. Any Parliamentarians or diplomats who wish to sign the declaration should contact
Meeting in European Parliament demands UN visit to West Papua | 22 January 2024
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