10 March 2009
The U.S.-Western Sahara Foundation has written to Barack Obama urging his administration to immediately call upon Morocco to end their brutal repression and escalating violence against the Saharawi population in occupied Western Sahara.
Author Archives: appleton
March 2009 – New Amnesty report highlights Moroccan repression
15/03/2009
In the report, Amnesty International has highlighted Moroccan repression against Western Saharan human rights defenders.
The report covers the problems faced by human rights defenders across the Middle East .
European MPs: UN must monitor human rights in Western Sahara
A European Parliament delegation hopes that the UN mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO) is given the responsibility to monitor the situation of human rights, according to a MEPs online report published by the Spanish newspaper El Pais.
New book: International Law and the Question of Western Sahara
International Law and the Question of Western Sahara
Edited by Karin Arts and Pedro Pinto Leite
Preface by Frank Ruddy
Order book: AWSA (email: [email protected]) and in Melbourne the book is available from the Melbourne University bookshop in Carlton.
Rape Victim Reported the Police to the Police
Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara (NSCWS)
11 March 2009The Saharawi woman who was raped at the end of February (see previous post dated 25 Feb 2009) has now reported the incident to the police. The Moroccan Ministry of Domestic Affairs denies that policemen have raped the woman.
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UN Human Rights Council Tenth session Agenda item 3
4 March 2009. PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF ALL HUMAN RIGHTS, CIVIL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT
Written statement* submitted by International Society for Human Rights (ISHR), a non-governmental organization on the Roster
Enforced Disappearance In Western Sahara
Enforced disappearance can be defined as a kidnapping carried out by State agents or by groups of people acting with the support or the tolerance of the State authorities, leading to the disappearance of the victim.
UN Human Rights Council Tenth session Agenda item 4
HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATIONS THAT REQUIRE THE COUNCIL’S ATTENTION
Written statement submitted by International Educational Development (IED), Inc., a non-governmental organization on the Roster
The Secretary-General has received the following written statement which is circulated in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31.
Read full statement >>>
UN General Assembly; Human Rights Council, Tenth session, Agenda Item 3
4 March 2009
PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF ALL HUMAN RIGHTS, CIVIL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT
Written statement submitted by France Libertés: Fondation Danielle Mitterrand, a non-governmental organization in special consultative status.
Natural resource pillage in Western Sahara
The Secretary-General has received the following written statement which is circulated in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31.
[12 February 2009]….Read full statement >>>
AWSA celebrates the Saharawi national day 2009 in Melbourne
Australia Western Sahara Association (AWSA) celebrates the Saharawi national day 2009 in Melbourne
AWSA organised on Sunday 1 March in Alphington park in Melbourne a public event to mark the 33rd anniversary of the proclamation of the Saharawi Republic.
Georgia Vlassopoulos, chair of AWSA (Victoria) welcomed all those who attended the event to celebrate the Saharawi National Day (….continued)
Watch Youtube footage of Saharawi national day events >>
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Flags raised in Australia to commemorate the Saharawi National Day
On 27 February 2009 the flag of the Saharawi Republic (SADR) has been raised on the Town Halls of Leichhardt (Sydney), Newcastle and in various cities and towns of Australia such as Melbourne, Perth, Hobart, Geelong and Darwin. The flags are raised to mark the 33rd anniversary of the proclamation of the Saharawi republic.
The Saharawi flag is officially raised in Australia for the first time as a gesture of solidarity and friendship with the Saharawi people.
During the Ceremony held at Leichhardt Town Hall, Councillor Jamie Parker, the Mayor said
“Leichhardt Council passed a unanimous motion to raise the flag of Saharawi Republic on their special day as a gesture of solidarity and friendship with the people of Western Sahara. He added “This commemorates 33 years since the people of Western Sahara declared a republic in Western Sahara to fill the vacuum left by the withdrawal of Spain the then colonial power.” And further added that “This is also significant because it will be the first time the flag of the Saharawi Republic has been flown officially in Australia”
The Saharawi representative to Australia, Kamal Fadel, expressed the gratitude and sincere thanks of the Saharawi people and emphasised that raising the Saharawi flag is a significant way of expressing solidarity and support to the Saharawis’ just cause. He added that through the gesture of raising the Saharawi flag, Australians are so raising their voices against the dreadful injustice caused to the innocent Saharawi people.
Members of the Australia Western Sahara Association and friends of Western Sahara attended the flag raising ceremonies held all over Australia.
Youtube: Flag raising ceremony at Leichhardt
Leichhardt Town Hall
Newcastle Town Hall
Melbourne ceremony
Australia Western Sahara Association (Victoria) For immediate release – 26 February 2009
Press Release on the occasion of raising the flag of Western Sahara on 27 February 2009, which marks the 33rd anniversary of the Saharawi Republic.
Today we raise the flag of Western Sahara for the first time in Australia as a gesture of solidarity and friendship with the people of Western Sahara.
Press release: vicraisingtheflag27feb09-1.pdf