20 years: too long, but not too late 17.10 - 2011 00:32 To mark the 20th anniversary of the ceasefire, WSC along with a group of MPs and campaigners delivered a letter to Downing St, calling for action for Western Sahara. You can see the letter which was also printed in the Guardian here (3rd one down). This was followed by a panel discussion on Western Sahara and the Arab Spring in parliament, hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Western Sahara. A report of the event is below.
Friend of WSC sentenced to life imprisonment in Bahrain15.08 - 2011 Former President of the Bahrain Centre for Human rights and Front Line Protection Coordinator for the Middle East, Abdulhadi Al Khawaja has been sentenced to life imprisonment after an unfair trial which completely failed to meet international fair trial standards. Abdulhadi’s human rights work at Frontline covered Western Sahara and he advocated for human rights in the Territory.
The Western Sahara Campaign stands in solidarity with Front Line in calling for the IMMEDIATE and unconditional release of Abdulhadi Al Khawaja and all other human rights defenders currently in detention in Bahrain. TAKE ACTION NOW!
Update and Latest Resources02.08 - 2011 The Arab Spring has turned into summer. Protestors are on the streets of Morocco and the Western Sahara. But until the people of Western Sahara are able to express their inalienable right to self-determination in a referendum there will be no flowering of democracy in the Maghreb.
Human rights abuse in the occupied Western Sahara continues to go unmonitored and unchallenged. The extraction of fish and phosphates from Western Sahara props up the Moroccan regime with the active co-operation of the EU whilst local people see no benefit.
It is in all of our interests to resolve this conflict and uphold international law. That is the lesson we must learn from the Arab Spring before it turns to a winter of discontent.
That is why we warmly welcome increased UK commitment to resolving the issue over the last year and hope for even greater UK involvement over the coming months.
Follow the link to read our latest policy statement and newsletter. Read more
Morocco criticised for growing levels of violence05.06 - 2011 Update 13.05.11: Mustapha Abdaiem has been located in Sale prison. He is thought to be deprived of his medication (he is diabetic and has blood pressure problems) and the majority of his clothes. The exact conditions he is being held in are unknown as he is being held in solitary confinement and was allowed only a 10 minute visit by his sisters.
Concerns have been raised for Saharawi journalist Mustapha Abdaiem after he and fellow prisoner Mahmoud Abou Alqasem were reportedly removed from Tiznit prison on Saturday June 4th and taken to an unknown location. Abdaiem’s family fear for his safety.
Moroccan Violence Continues26.05 - 2011 On Thursday 19th June Moroccan Security Forces attacked the house of Said Dambar’s family. Said was shot and killed by Moroccan police on the 21st December 2010. A number of Saharawis were protesting outside his family house on Thursday to express their support for the family. Approximately 30 Saharawis, mostly women and including Said's mother are reported to have been injured.
Said’s family have been calling on the Moroccan authorities to investigate his death. They have so far failed to do so. Below is a recent letter they sent to Security Council members
The Western Sahara Campaign calls on the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to investigate this violence and for the Moroccan authorities to immediately conduct an impartial investigation into Said Dambar’s death. Read more
Tell France to stop blocking human rights! 11.04 - 2011 We have just 3 weeks to ensure the Security Council monitors human rights in Western Sahara! Last year France was the only member of the Security Council to block it.
Last year, thanks to our campaigning France was put in a very difficult position; they sat alone in opposition to human rights. But it was not enough. Over the next few weeks, if we can expose France’s actions we can build enough pressure to force them to back down!
AGIR: Surveillance des Droits de l'homme au Sahara Occidental 10.02 - 2011 Des événements tragiques récents au Sahara Occidental démontrent le besoin urgent de surveiller les droits de l'homme. La MINURSO, la mission de l'ONU au Sahara Occidental, est la seule mission contemporaine de maintien de la paix sans un mandat de surveillance des droits de l'homme.
En avril, l'ONU se penchera le renouvellement du mandat de la MINURSO - nous devons AGIR MAINTENANT pour s'assurer que cette fois-ci la surveillance des droits de l'homme soit y-compris! Read more
ACTÚA: Observación de los Derechos humanos en el Sahara Occidental 08.02 - 2011 Los recientes y trágicos acontecimientos ocurridos en el Sáhara Occidental demuestran la necesidad urgente de vigilar los derechos humanos. La MINURSO, la misión de la ONU en el Sáhara Occidental, es la única misión de paz de la ONU en el mundo que no tiene un mandato para observar los derechos humanos.
En abril, la ONU discutirá la renovación del mandato de MINURSO. ¡DEBEMOS ACTUAR AHORA! para asegurarnos de que esta vez se incluye el mandato de vigilar los derechos humanos! Read more
Western Sahara activists launch ‘Don’t Go To Morocco’ campaign 03.12 - 2010 In the week that Morocco has announced a new tourism plan that includes developing tourist sites in occupied Western Sahara, campaigners in London have launched a new campaign under the banner: "Morocco: sun, sea, sand and torture”
STOP Violence in Western Sahara - 3 Simple Actions20.11 - 2010 Thanks to international pressure, on Tuesday the Security Council, chaired by the UK released a statement saying they “deplore” the violence in Western Sahara. This is progress. However, due to obstructions from France, the Security Council failed to agree to undertake an urgent investigation into the incidents or implement human rights monitoring - leaving the violence in Western Sahara to continue. NOW IS THE TIME TO INCREASE THE PRESSURE!
With the UK Presidency of the Security Council it is a crucial time to press our government to investigate human rights abuses now, and to ensure that human rights will form a central part of negotiations in April when the UN mission is renewed. TAKE ACTION HERE Read more
Campaigners call for UN action on protest camps 07.11 - 2010 As a new round of talks on Western Sahara, aimed at breaking the stalemate, begin on Monday, campaigners have called on the United Nations Security Council to take action to protect the thousands of inhabitants of a protest camp on the outskirts of El Aauin.
Call to release human rights defenders06.11 - 2010 The anti-poverty charity War on Want is calling for the immediate release of human rights defenders who have gone on trial in the Moroccan city Casablanca for alleged treason over their support for people demanding self-determination for Western Sahara. Read more
MPs condemn Teenager’s death as Moroccan forces open fire on Saharawi 26.10 - 2010 MPs have today condemned last night’s shooting in which a 14 year old Saharawi boy was killed and several others injured by the Moroccan Security Forces surrounding the Gdeim Izik protest camp in Moroccan occupied Western Sahara. Read more
1 Year Without Trial - Free the Human Rights Defenders08.10 - 2010 The 8th October will mark the one year anniversary of the detention of 3 prominent Saharawi human rights defenders. They have been held in prison without trial and no evidence to support the charges against them has been produced. If they are ever brought to trial it will be in a military court where they could face the death penalty. Read more
Make sure the Conservatives keep their promise!19.07 - 2010 Earlier this year, Foreign Secretary William Hague told the Western Sahara Campaign that he supports human rights monitoring in Western Sahara. Now the Conservatives are in Government let’s ensure they keep this promise!
France block move to include human rights in MINURSO mandate15.05 - 2010 Although other members of the UN Security Council were open to including human rights in the renewal of the mandate of the UN mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO), France held firm on behalf of its ally Morocco. Read more
Action to save the lives of Saharawi hunger strikers21.04 - 2010 6 high profile prisoners of conscience are currently in their 4th week of hunger strike. The 6 are part of a group of 7 prominent human rights defenders held without trial since October and awaiting a military tribunal on the charge of “attacking the territorial integrity of Morocco” (i.e peacefully resisting the occupation). If found guilty they could face the death penalty. Their health is now critical; many have existing health conditions caused by former periods of detention and torture. They cannot walk and several have been taken to hospital.Read more
Worldwide appeal for human rights monitoring in Western Sahara06.04 - 2010 Over 100 organisations and high profile individuals, including Frank Ruddy, former Deputy Chairman of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), have signed an open letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon calling for human rights monitoring to be included in MINURSO's mandate.
Other signatories include trade unions, TUC and Unite amongst others, Film Director Ken Loach and Gare Smith, Former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, US Department of State.
Read on to see the letter and the list of signatories in full, as well as copies in French and Spanish. Read more
WESTERN SAHARA CAMPAIGN UK
The Western Sahara Campaign works in solidarity with the Saharawi people to generate political support in order to advance their right to self-determination and to promote their human rights.
Our role is to lobby the UK Government and the EU. You can help us to ensure the UK does not ignore the voice of the Saharawi people.
Follow the news about EU's illegal fisheries in Western Sahara
