The Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Human Rights Violations Committed by the Moroccan State (ASVDH) was created on 7 May 2005 by a coalition of Sahrawi human rights defenders. The Founding Congress was held in the honor of Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim Bassiri [left], who « disappeared » in 1970 at the hands of the Spanish colonial administration.
The motto of the conference was « No truth without justice, no reconciliation without a complete resolution » to the Western Sahara conflict.
The establishment of ASVDH is the culmination of experiences in the Sahrawi human rights movement, drawing lessons from the previous work of several Sahrawi associations, past and present.
To acheive the following objectives, ASVDH maintains a unified strategy for human rights work in the Western Sahara under Moroccan occupation:
A: To respect and defend human rights;
B: To work to uncover the truth about the circumstances of grave human rights violations;
C: To find the unaccounted for victims of forced « disappearance » by Morocco;
D: To return the remains of the Sahrawi martyrs who died in secret Moroccan prisons to their families;
E: To press for the release of Sahrawi political prisoners and …
F: …to press for the right to reparations through material and moral compensation and physical rehabilitation for the victims and relatives in accordance with International Human Rights Law and International Jurisprudence;
G: To end impunity and push for the prosecution of violations of crimes against humanity related to the Moroccan occupation in Western Sahara;
H: To protect the community against arbitrary abduction, forced « disappearance », torture, murder and other forms of degradation and attacks on human diginity;
I: To establish a culture of peaceful respect for human rights in Western Sahara based on the principles of the International Human Rights Covenants;
ASVDH has been obstructed by the Moroccan authorites. The Moroccan administration refused, on 9 January 2005, refused to recognize the date set for the convening the Founding Congress.
On 19 April 2005 ASVDH prepatory committee completed all the procedures under the Moroccan Law of Public Associations, Article 3.
In spite of these attempted obstructions, the Founding Congress was held in May 2005. After this meeting, and in accordance with Article 5 of the Moroccan law on Public Associations, all necessary steps had been taken. Yet the Moroccan authorities still refused to recognize the Association, taking steps to slow the review process.
ASVDH members include members of other past and present Sahrawi human rights groups.
ASVDH has an Executive Bureau of 15 members elected by a majority of the 51-member Coordinating Council, which reports to the organization’s general Congress.
Though ASVDH has never engaged in illegal activities, Moroccan authorities have targeted the Association’s Executive Committee and Coordinating Council, arresting, beating and generally subjecting them to harrasment and maltratement. They have been singled out only because of their membership in ASVDH.
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Friday, April 13, 2012
The Sahara Press Service
The Sahara Press Service (SPS) is a public service of Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic whose headquarters are located in Shaheed El Hafed. It was established March 29, 1999 to publicize the facts and developments on the question of Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony which in October 1975, was militarily invaded and occupied by the Kingdom of Morocco.
SPS dispatches in French were posted on the internet in April, 1999 thanks to the combined efforts of Friends of Sahrawi people in Switzerland and Spain.
With the opening of its service in Spanish in 2001, English in 2003 and Arabic in 2005, SPS is now available online in four languages: French, Spanish, English and Arabic.
SPS has just launched a new website with a modern look offering to the internet users the main national and international current events treated with all fundamental multimedia including photography and video. This new site is trying to meet the needs of SPS clients and the growing need to adapt to rapid changes in information technology.
Webpage
SPS dispatches in French were posted on the internet in April, 1999 thanks to the combined efforts of Friends of Sahrawi people in Switzerland and Spain.
With the opening of its service in Spanish in 2001, English in 2003 and Arabic in 2005, SPS is now available online in four languages: French, Spanish, English and Arabic.
SPS has just launched a new website with a modern look offering to the internet users the main national and international current events treated with all fundamental multimedia including photography and video. This new site is trying to meet the needs of SPS clients and the growing need to adapt to rapid changes in information technology.
Webpage
About The Fish Elsewhere! campaign
The Fish Elsewhere! campaign is a coalition of NGOs and politicians from 22 EU countries which call on the EU to respect international law, and immediately halt all fishing in the waters of occupied Western Sahara.
The Fish Elsewhere! campaign demands that the EU-Moroccan Fisheries Partnership Agreement clearly specifies that fishing should only be taking place in the territory that is internationally recognised as Morocco, i.e. north of 27º 40’ N.
The current EU fishing offshore occupied Western Sahara - which Morocco occupied in 1975 - is ethically, politically and legally highly problematic, clearly undermining the UN peace efforts.
The campaign was opened in 2006, when the EU was in the process of signing its current agreement with Morocco.
Webpage
The Fish Elsewhere! campaign demands that the EU-Moroccan Fisheries Partnership Agreement clearly specifies that fishing should only be taking place in the territory that is internationally recognised as Morocco, i.e. north of 27º 40’ N.
The current EU fishing offshore occupied Western Sahara - which Morocco occupied in 1975 - is ethically, politically and legally highly problematic, clearly undermining the UN peace efforts.
The campaign was opened in 2006, when the EU was in the process of signing its current agreement with Morocco.
Webpage
About Sandblast
Sandblast is an arts and human rights charity based in London. It works with the Saharawis of Western Sahara, a dispossessed and marginalized community that largely live as refugees in harsh desert camps in SW Algeria. Under the Moroccan occupation, in their homeland, the Saharawis suffer from all kinds of human rights abuses and have no freedom of expression. In either context, the Saharawis lack a voice and visibility but continue, nevertheless, to approach their long struggle for the right to self-determination through peaceful resistance.
Educational, cultural and artistic events are the main tools that Sandblast uses to raise awareness of the situation in Western Sahara and put the Saharawis on the map culturally. Through its Saharawi Artist Fund, Sandblast finances projects in the camps to promote artistic and cultural development and stimulate creative ties between the Saharawis and artists worldwide.
Our mission is to empower the Saharawis to tell their own story, promote their own culture and earn a living through the arts.
Webpage
Educational, cultural and artistic events are the main tools that Sandblast uses to raise awareness of the situation in Western Sahara and put the Saharawis on the map culturally. Through its Saharawi Artist Fund, Sandblast finances projects in the camps to promote artistic and cultural development and stimulate creative ties between the Saharawis and artists worldwide.
Our mission is to empower the Saharawis to tell their own story, promote their own culture and earn a living through the arts.
Webpage
About Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW)
The WSRW is an international network of organisations and activists researching and campaigning the companies working for Moroccan interests in occupied Western Sahara.
Western Sahara is occupied by Morocco. Entering into deals with Moroccan companies or authorities in the occupied area lends a sign of political legitimacy to the occupation. It also gives job opportunities for Moroccan settlers and income for the Moroccan government.
Western Sahara Resource Watch works in solidarity with the people of Western Sahara. The majority of the country's indigenous population, the Sahrawis, has lived in refugee camps in the Algerian desert since Morocco occupied their homeland in 1975. A part of the Sahrawis remained in the occupied territories, where they are subjected to serious human rights violations, and where they are excluded from the major businesses of phosphate mining and fishing. More than 100 UN resolutions support the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination over their home country, a right that Morocco is denying them.
WSRW today consists of organisations and individuals from more than 30 countries, who together research and campaign the foreign companies involved in the resource rich country. We believe that the occupation of Western Sahara will not stop as long as Morocco profits from it.
Webpage
Western Sahara is occupied by Morocco. Entering into deals with Moroccan companies or authorities in the occupied area lends a sign of political legitimacy to the occupation. It also gives job opportunities for Moroccan settlers and income for the Moroccan government.
Western Sahara Resource Watch works in solidarity with the people of Western Sahara. The majority of the country's indigenous population, the Sahrawis, has lived in refugee camps in the Algerian desert since Morocco occupied their homeland in 1975. A part of the Sahrawis remained in the occupied territories, where they are subjected to serious human rights violations, and where they are excluded from the major businesses of phosphate mining and fishing. More than 100 UN resolutions support the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination over their home country, a right that Morocco is denying them.
WSRW today consists of organisations and individuals from more than 30 countries, who together research and campaign the foreign companies involved in the resource rich country. We believe that the occupation of Western Sahara will not stop as long as Morocco profits from it.
Webpage
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