The human rights situation in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, in particular since the collapse of the ceasefire and the resumption of war on 13 November 2020, is critical.
The repression of demonstrations, peaceful actions or gatherings among the Sahrawi population is constant. Enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, torture and inhuman and degrading treatment inflicted on Sahrawi political prisoners are part of the common tactics deployed by the Moroccan occupying forces against Sahrawi civilians in the territories under the illegal Moroccan occupation.
Human rights defenders are persecuted and have suffered all sorts of violations of human rights, without the intervention of the international community no MINURSO to put an end to this persecution.
Faced with this situation, EUCOCO should be the space for reflection and debate on which actions relating to human rights can be taken in 2023 in relation to human rights.
To this end, there is need to strengthen coordination and administrative work given its impact on the outcomes of these actions.
The collective work of solidarity organizations, Sahrawi organizations, Sahrawi institutions and human rights defenders is essential for the development of strategies to promote and defend the rights of the Sahrawi people.
Training in this area should be central given that this is usually a little known aspect by both the Sahrawi people and other nationalities who are part of organizations worldwide.
The search for communication tools, in general, and support measures for victims of human rights violations and their families, are of great urgency, taking into account the increase in repression by the Moroccan occupier.
The situation of Sahrawi prisoners continues to be extremely difficult, which is why EUCOCO must join efforts for their release, as well as to support the prisoners and their families.
Organizing international conferences, activities and actions on human rights should be done at the same time as prioritizing it at the level of different mechanisms of the United Nations.
Based on the above and on the fact that the situation in the occupied territories of the Western Sahara has worsened in a very alarming way in terms of human rights; there is a pressing need to develop a coordinated and effective strategy to address this subject of the Sahrawi people’s struggle for their freedom and independence.