New York, NY 16 February 2017 at 6:00 pm

Panel discussion and  Amy Goodman’s presentation > click here

For 40 years the Saharawi people have been caught between two harsh realities: life in desert refugee camps and life under Moroccan occupation. These realities go largely unreported, and the voices of those living in Western Sahara go unheard. Moroccan authorities deny entry to foreign journalists and strictly prohibit press freedoms in the territory. Despite the media blackout, Saharawi media activists document life under occupation. Watching Western Sahara curates and shares videos from Saharawi media activists. These videos provide a rare window into the day-to-day life of Saharawi people who take risks to expose human rights abuses in Western Sahara.

The panel discussion contextualizes the footage, providing insights into the realities of the often silenced Saharawi and the human rights implications in what a UN commission considers the last colony in Africa.

PANELISTS INCLUDE:

Amy Goodman, Host of Democracy Now!

Madeleine Bair, Managing Editor, Watching Western Sahara

Sandra Lynn Babcock, Clinical Professor of Law, Cornell University

Mohammed Ali Arkoukoum, President of the Saharawi Association in New York

Katlyn Thomas, former Chair of the United Nations Committee of the New York City Bar Association

Eric Goldstein, Deputy Director, Middle East and North Africa Division, Human Rights Watch (Moderator)