The Sahrawi Association of Human Rights Victims

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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