Deux ONG expriment leur « profonde préoccupation » face à la « crise persistante » des droits humains au Sahara occidental occupé
Title: Concerns over Human Rights Crisis in Western Sahara: A Call for UN Action
In recent commentary from two international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), there has been a significant outcry regarding the ongoing human rights crisis in the Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara. The organizations—the International Federation for the Protection of Ethnic, Religious, and Linguistic Minorities and the International Youth and Student Movement for the United Nations—have urged the United Nations Security Council to incorporate human rights monitoring into the mission of the United Nations Mission for the Organization of a Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).
During a general debate on human rights at the 58th session of the Human Rights Council, human rights activist Amma Lahbib presented this joint declaration, emphasizing the dire situation faced by the Sahrawi people. They live under an occupation system that systematically denies them their rights. The NGOs expressed grave concerns about the targeting of human rights defenders, journalists, and Sahrawi students who have condemned or documented human rights abuses. Peaceful protesters are reportedly met with violence and intimidation, with many subjected to arbitrary arrest.
These organizations assert that the crackdown on dissent is not random but reflects a broader policy aimed at silencing legitimate calls for self-determination. The NGOs called on the Human Rights Council to fully commit to supporting the Sahrawi people, who remain one of Africa’s last colonized groups, and to protect their human rights vigorously.
The statement urges that the violations occurring in the occupied territory of Western Sahara—a non-self-governing territory awaiting a referendum as per United Nations resolutions—must not be overlooked. They reiterated the importance of ensuring that the security council adds a human rights monitoring mandate to MINURSO, which notably lacks such a component while being the only contemporary UN mission without a human rights framework.
In an October report on the Sahrawi situation, UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his "concern" regarding the persistent lack of access for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Western Sahara. He pointed out that this limited access and the absence of independent, impartial, and comprehensive human rights monitoring hinder the ability to evaluate the full human rights situation in the region. Guterres confirmed that the OHCHR continues to receive reports detailing restrictions, intimidation, and harassment against Sahrawi activists championing their right to self-determination, indicating a worrying trend of deteriorating civic space.
This calling out or demand encapsulates the pressing need for an impartial and international human rights monitoring mechanism in Western Sahara. The situation has ignited collective concern that without adequate oversight, human rights violations in the region will continue to escalate, affecting the community’s stability and self-determination aspirations. As such, both NGOs call for heightened international awareness and a coordinated response to uphold the rights of the Sahrawi amid the ongoing occupation.
Ultimately, addressing the humanitarian and rights crisis in Western Sahara has become increasingly crucial for international discourse, as the socio-political landscape here provides a poignant illustration of post-colonial struggles and the importance of advocacy for oppressed populations yearning for sovereignty. The continued negligence of human rights in the region not only undermines local aspirations but also challenges the credibility of international human rights mechanisms to respond effectively to such crises.
The advocacy highlighted by these NGOs seeks a transformative approach in resolving the prolonged conflict and safeguarding human rights through increased attention from global governance frameworks, ensuring that the Sahrawi voices are amplified and their human dignity preserved as they navigate the complexities of occupation and self-determination. Their call represents not just a plea for intervention but also a critical reminder of the fundamental rights that every individual deserves, regardless of their geographic or political circumstances.
