NGOs Raise Alarming Concerns Over Rights Violations in Tindouf Camps at UN Council

During the 58th UN Human Rights Council session, NGOs highlighted severe human rights violations in the Tindouf camps, including increasing violence and criminality. Reports revealed issues such as child exploitation and impunity for perpetrators linked to the Polisario Front. The session concluded with calls for urgent actions from the international community to protect human rights and monitor the situation in the camps while Morocco reaffirmed its commitment to human rights reforms.

Numerous non-governmental organizations and witnesses have raised alarming concerns regarding human rights violations in the Tindouf camps in southwestern Algeria during the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council held in Geneva. The Sahrawi NGO Promotion of Economic and Social Development (PDES) emphasized the humanitarian crisis faced by thousands of individuals who have endured dire living conditions for nearly fifty years, often stripped of their essential rights.

Fatima Ezzahrae Zouhairi, an activist with PDES, noted a notable deterioration in the security situation, with a rising incidence of criminal acts and violence compounding the suffering of camp residents. She underscored that the absence of security and effective judicial mechanisms in the camps, alongside the lack of support from Algeria, places the populations at heightened risk and leaves them vulnerable to violations without avenues for protection or redress.

Testimony from Lemaadla Mohamed Salem Zrug, representing the African Network for Development, Governance, and Human Rights (RADHEG), highlighted severe issues such as kidnappings, torture, and extrajudicial killings, attributing these to the impunity enjoyed by Polisario officials, who are shielded by Algerian authorities. Zeal for justice is apparent in her accounts of forced military recruitment of children.

El Fadel Braika of Il Cenacollo, also a former detainee of Polisario’s secret prisons, condemned the inhumane conditions prevalent in the camps, citing examples of forced disappearances and exploitation of child soldiers. He further reported on Algeria’s repressive actions against youth attempting to escape the camps.

Judit Segara Casasepare from CIRAC raised concerns about child recruitment in the Tindouf camps, critiquing the “Vacations in Peace” program for allegedly serving as a façade for child trafficking, whereby children are sent abroad without guaranteed safe return. The NGO has called upon the UN for a thorough investigation into these allegations.

Abdelwahab Gain from Africa Culture International echoed concerns about the indoctrination and exploitation of children in the camps through the same controversial program, pointing out that many of these children become victims of trafficking separated from their families.

PDES urgently called upon the international community to enhance efforts for the protection of human rights in Tindouf. Zouhairi asserted that humanitarian assistance must be delivered without interference from both the Algerian government and the Polisario Front, while freedom of movement for camp inhabitants must be guaranteed.

Moreover, the organization urged for immediate action to be taken to address the ongoing violations, establish humanitarian corridors, and secure sustainable solutions for the camp residents. It proposed a fact-finding mission by the High Commissioner for Human Rights to scrutinize the situation and provide transparent reports to safeguard the rights of those affected, in line with the Geneva Convention on Refugees.

On a related note, Morocco reaffirmed its human rights dedication during the same UN session. Ambassador Omar Zniber articulated that Morocco is committed to advancing its legal framework for upholding human rights, having initiated two significant national measures aimed at combating forced disappearances through criminal legislation.

Furthermore, approximately forty countries supported Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, with Yemen’s Ambassador Ali Mohamed Saeed Majawar highlighting Morocco’s constructive engagement with the UN human rights system. He noted the establishment of consulates in Dakhla and Laayoune as a means to bolster economic cooperation and development for local and regional benefits.

The 58th UN Human Rights Council session spotlighted significant human rights violations in the Tindouf camps, bringing attention to alarming claims of violence, exploitation, and impunity overseen by Algerian authorities. Various NGOs called for urgent international intervention and oversight, while Morocco maintained its dedication to human rights improvement within its own territories, emphasizing legal reforms and international collaboration. A concerted effort to ensure protection and justice for those in the Tindouf camps is urgently required.

Original Source: www.moroccoworldnews.com