Morocco and Western Sahara
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Human Rights in Western Sahara and in the Tindouf Refugee Camps
Morocco/Western Sahara/Algeria HUMAN Human Rights in Western Sahara RIGHTS and in the Tindouf Refugee Camps WATCH Human Rights in Western Sahara and in the Tindouf Refugee Camps Morocco/Western Sahara/Algeria Copyright © 2008 Human Rights Watch All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America ISBN: 1-56432-420-6 Cover design by Rafael Jimenez Human Rights Watch 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th floor New York, NY 10118-3299 USA Tel: +1 212 290 4700, Fax: +1 212 736 1300 [email protected] Poststraße 4-5 10178 Berlin, Germany Tel: +49 30 2593 06-10, Fax: +49 30 2593 0629 [email protected] Avenue des Gaulois, 7 1040 Brussels, Belgium Tel: + 32 (2) 732 2009, Fax: + 32 (2) 732 0471 [email protected] 64-66 Rue de Lausanne 1202 Geneva, Switzerland Tel: +41 22 738 0481, Fax: +41 22 738 1791 [email protected] 2-12 Pentonville Road, 2nd Floor London N1 9HF, UK Tel: +44 20 7713 1995, Fax: +44 20 7713 1800 [email protected] 27 Rue de Lisbonne 75008 Paris, France Tel: +33 (1)43 59 55 35, Fax: +33 (1) 43 59 55 22 [email protected] 1630 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 500 Washington, DC 20009 USA Tel: +1 202 612 4321, Fax: +1 202 612 4333 [email protected] Web Site Address: http://www.hrw.org December 2008 1-56432-420-6 Human Rights in Western Sahara and in the Tindouf Refugee Camps Map Of North Africa ....................................................................................................... 1 Summary...................................................................................................................... 2 Western Sahara ....................................................................................................... 3 Refugee Camps near Tindouf, Algeria ...................................................................... 8 Recommendations ...................................................................................................... 12 To the UN Security Council .................................................................................... -
The Wire USA Executes Mentally
The Wire March 2006 Vol. 36. No. 02 AI Index: NWS 21/002/2006 [Page 1] USA executes mentally ill “Today, at 6pm, the State of Florida is scheduled to kill my brother, Thomas Provenzano, despite clear evidence that he is mentally ill... I have to wonder: Where is the justice in killing a sick human being?” Sister of death row inmate, June 2000 By the end of 2005, more than 1,000 men and women had been put to death in the USA since executions resumed in 1977. At least one in 10 of them were suffering from mental illness. In a report released in January, AI listed the stories of a hundred people who had been executed in the USA since 1977 despite clear evidence that they were mentally ill. People like Johnny Garrett, executed in 1992 for a murder committed when he was 17. Like many on the list, Johnny Garrett was severely physically and sexually abused as a child, leaving him brain damaged and chronically psychotic. He was described by a psychiatrist as “one of the most psychiatrically impaired inmates” she had ever examined, and by a psychologist as having “one of the most virulent histories of abuse and neglect... encountered in over 28 years of practice.” Many of the 100 suffered hallucinations or delusions as a result of their mental illness, some had serious brain damage. Yet all were judged mentally competent and able to understand the charges against them – a necessary prerequisite for a death sentence. The judge who found Thomas Provenzano competent for execution found “clear and convincing evidence that Provenzano has a delusional -
Western Sahara 24/07/17 22:23
Western Sahara 24/07/17 22:23 U.S. Department of State Diplomacy in Action Western Sahara Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor 2004 February 28, 2005 Morocco claims the Western Sahara territory and administers Moroccan law and regulation in approximately 85 percent of the territory that it controls; however, sovereignty remains disputed between the Government of Morocco and the Polisario Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), an organization seeking a U.N.- supervised referendum on self-determination for the territory. The Moroccan Government sent troops and settlers into the northern two-thirds of the territory after Spain withdrew in 1975, and extended its administration over the southern province of Oued Ed-Dahab after Mauritania renounced its claim in 1979. Since 1973, the Polisario has challenged the claims of Spain, Mauritania, and Morocco to the territory. Moroccan and Polisario forces fought intermittently from 1975 until the 1991 ceasefire and deployment to the area of a U.N. peacekeeping contingent, known by its French initials, MINURSO. In 1975, the International Court of Justice advised that while some of the territory's tribes had historical ties to Morocco, the ties were insufficient to establish "any tie of territorial sovereignty" between the territory and Morocco. The Court added that it had not found "legal ties" that might affect the applicable U.N. General Assembly resolution regarding the de-colonization of the territory, and, in particular, the principle of self-determination for its persons. Sahrawis (as the persons native to the territory are called) lived in the area controlled by Morocco, lived as refugees in Algeria near the border with Morocco, and to a lesser extent, in Mauritania. -
Insideafrica's Lastcolony
REPORTER AT LARGE Betrayed by Spain and oppressed by Morocco, the Saharawi people of Western Sahara compare themselves to the Palestinians or the black majority in apartheid South Africa. And they want the world to know their story Inside Afric a’ s last colony ByXanRice Figures in a landscape: King Mohammed VI of Morocco was visiting provinces.OnmapstheareaappearsasWestern Saharawi landmine a hammam when a genie appeared. Sahara. The UN calls it a “non-self-governing victims in the desert “I can offer you one wish,” the genie said. territory”.ItisAfrica’slastcolony,whereanear- near Smara camp, “I’d really like to see my late father, Hassan forgotten liberation war lies dormant. Algeria II,” Mohammed replied. The wall is sometimes referred to as Hassan’s “That’s a difficult request, bringing a Wall, after King Hassan II of Morocco, who an - person back from the dead,” the genie said. nexed most of what was then called Spanish “Have you got another wish?” Sahara when Spain pulled out in 1976. About “Well, I’d like Western Sahara to become half of the indigenous population, the Saha- part of Morocco,” said Mohammed. rawis, who had been promised a vote on self- “Hang on while I’ll look for your father,” determination by Spain, fled across the desert said the genie. to refugee camps in an inhospitable corner of Saharawi joke Algeria in order to escape Moroccan rule. They were assisted by the Polisario Front, a In the far western expanse of the Sahara is the poorly armed but fiercely determined national - world’s longest continuous wall. -
Sahara Occidental : Le Coût Du Conflit
SAHARA OCCIDENTAL : LE COÛT DU CONFLIT Rapport Moyen-Orient/Afrique du Nord N°65 – 11 juin 2007 TABLE DES MATIÈRES SYNTHÈSE .............................................................................................................................. i I. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 1 A. QUESTIONS DE VOCABULAIRE ET DE DISCOURS .....................................................................1 B. LE DISCOURS MAROCAIN.......................................................................................................1 C. LE DISCOURS DU POLISARIO..................................................................................................3 D. LE DISCOURS ALGÉRIEN ........................................................................................................4 II. LE COÛT HUMAIN ...................................................................................................... 5 A. ESTIMATIONS........................................................................................................................5 B. LES SAHRAOUIS DES TERRITOIRES SOUS CONTRÔLE DU POLISARIO .......................................6 C. LES SAHRAOUIS DES TERRITOIRES SOUS CONTRÔLE MAROCAIN.............................................8 D. LE COÛT HUMAIN POUR LES MAROCAINS ............................................................................10 III. LE COÛT ÉCONOMIQUE........................................................................................ -
Cuaderno De Documentacion
SECRETARIA DE ESTADO DE ECONOMÍA, MINISTERIO SECRETARÍA GENERAL DE POLÍTICA ECONÓMICA DE ECONOMÍA Y ECONOMÍA INTERNACIONAL Y HACIENDA SUBDIRECCIÓN GENERAL DE ECONOMÍA INTERNACIONAL CUADERNO DE DOCUMENTACION Número 94 ANEXO IV Alvaro Espina Vocal Asesor 12 Julio de 2011 ENTRE EL 1 Y EL 30 DE ABRIL DE 2011 (En sentido inverso) 1 Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood selects hawkish leaders Noha El-Hennawy Sat, 30/04/2011 - 18:47 Photographed by Mohamed Abdel Ghany Prev Next Pause Play In its first meeting since 1995, the Muslim Brotherhood’s Shura Council on Saturday announced the leaders of its would-be political party and pledged not to run for more than half the parliamentary seats in Egypt’s upcoming parliamentary elections. The Muslim Brotherhood’s legislative body appointed Mohamed Morsy as president of the Freedom and Justice Party, Essam al-Erian as vice president and Saad al-Katatny as secretary general. Speaking to reporters in the backyard of the group’s new six-story headquarters on the hill of Moqattam, the appointees affirmed the independence of their political party from the mother organization - a plea constantly reiterated by observers and the group’s reformist voices. To prove the party’s autonomy, the Shura Council required the three leaders to relinquish their positions in the Guidance Bureau, the Muslim Brotherhood’s executive structure, according to a statement given out to journalists. The same document uses a vague language to envisage possible “coordination” between the party and the Muslim Brotherhood in a way that achieves “national interests.” 2 “Any party that ignores the coordination with the Muslim Brotherhood, given its historical role and geographical expansion, threatens its own chances,” Erian told reporters at a news conference after the Shura Council had adjourned its two-day meeting. -
UPR Morocco 2017
Submission by: Front Line Defenders – The International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders Related to: Morocco UPR Session: 27th session (Apr-May 2017) Submitted: 6 October 2016 Front Line Defenders (www.frontlinedefenders.org) is an international NGO based in Ireland with special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC). Founded in 2001, Front Line Defenders has particular expertise on the issue of security and protection of human rights defenders and works to promote the implementation of the UN Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognised Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders) adopted by General Assembly resolution 53/144 of 9 December 1998 The following submission has been prepared by Front Line Defenders based on research carried out by this organisation and information received from independent human rights defenders in Morocco. Contact person: Andrea Rocca, Head of Protection [email protected], +353 (0)1 212 3750 1 Positive developments and summary of main concerns 1. This submission focuses on the situation for human rights defenders (HRDs) in Morocco and covers developments in the years 2013-2016. 2. Since the previous UPR of Morocco in 2011, some positive steps have been taken by the government to improve the human rights situation, especially in the areas of women's rights, the rights of asylum seekers and domestic workers and the rights of persons with disabilities. The government adopted a new law in March 2014 to end military trials for civilians and approved the registration of two outspoken Sahrawi human rights NGOs. -
Western Sahara Page 1 of 4
Western Sahara Page 1 of 4 Facing the Threat Posed by Iranian Regime | Daily Press Briefing | Other News... Western Sahara Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005 Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor March 8, 2006 Morocco claims the Western Sahara territory, with a population of approximately 267 thousand, and administers Moroccan law and regulation in the approximately 85 percent of the territory it controls; however, Morocco and the Polisario Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), an organization seeking independence for the region, dispute its sovereignty. Since 1973 the Polisario has challenged the claims of Spain, Mauritania, and Morocco to the territory. The Moroccan government sent troops and settlers into the northern two-thirds of the territory after Spain withdrew in 1975, and extended its administration over the southern province of Oued Ed-Dahab after Mauritania renounced its claim in 1979. Moroccan and Polisario forces fought intermittently from 1975 until the 1991 ceasefire and deployment to the area of a UN peacekeeping contingent, known by its French initials, MINURSO. In 1975 the International Court of Justice advised that during the period of Spanish colonization legal ties of allegiance existed between Morocco and some of the Western Sahara tribes, but the court also found that there were no ties indicating "territorial sovereignty" by Morocco. The court added that it had not found "legal ties" that might affect UN General Assembly Resolution 1514 regarding the de- colonization of the territory and in particular the principle of self-determination for its persons. -
Nowhere to Turn Report
NOWHERE TO TURN: THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE FAILURE TO MONITOR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN WESTERN SAHARA AND TINDOUF REFUGEE CAMPS NOWHERE TO TURN: THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE FAILURE TO MONITOR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN WESTERN SAHARA AND TINDOUF REFUGEE CAMPS ROBERT F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS 2 NOWHERE TO TURN: THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE FAILURE TO MONITOR HUMAN RIGHT VIOLATIONS IN WESTERN SAHARA AND TINDOUF REFUGEE CAMPS I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS The Sahrawi are the indigenous people of Western Sahara, who descended from Berber and Arab tribes.1 The following is a report on the human rights situation facing the Sahrawi people who reside in the disputed territory of Western Sahara under Moroccan control and in the Sahrawi refugee camps near Tindouf, Algeria. Much of the information contained in this report is based on information gained from interviews and meetings during a visit to the region of an international delegation led by the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights (RFK Center). For nearly 40 years, both the Kingdom of Morocco and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguía el Hamra and Río de Oro (POLISARIO Front) have claimed sovereignty over Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony. After years of armed conflict, in 1991 the United Nations (UN) established the Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), a peacekeeping mission to oversee the cease-fire between the Kingdom of Morocco and the POLISARIO Front and to organize and ensure a referendum on self-determination. Today, 22 years after the establishment of MINURSO, the referendum has yet to take place. -
En En Motion for a Resolution
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 2009 - 2014 Session document 15.12.2009 B7-0255/2009 MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure on Western Sahara: the case of Aminatou Haidar Willy Meyer, Helmut Scholz, Sabine Lösing, Miguel Portas, Patrick Le Hyaric, Marie-Christine Vergiat, Ilda Figueiredo, Elisa Ferreira on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group RE\P7_B(2009)0255_EN.doc PE432.839v01-00 EN United in diversityEN B7-0255/2009 European Parliament resolution on Western Sahara: the case of Aminatou Haidar The European Parliament, - having regard to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and the Member States on the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco on the other part, and especially its Article 2, - having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of the United Nations, signed both by Spain and the Kingdom of Morocco, of which Article 12.4 establishes that "no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of the right to enter his/her own country”, - having regard to the Swedish Presidency Declaration of 11 December 2009, which "calls upon the Moroccan authorities to fulfil their international human rights obligations and to cooperate with the Spanish authorities so that a positive solution may be reached", - having regard to United Nations resolutions 1754, 1783, 1813 as well as all previous UN resolutions with reference to the conflict of Western -
Morocco Faces New Challenges
Morocco Faces New Challenges Report submitted to the Committee against Torture as part of the fourth periodic review of Morocco. 14 October 2011 Alkarama – 2bis Chemin des Vignes – 1209 Geneva – Switzerland +41 22 734 10 06 – F +41 22 734 10 34 - Email: [email protected] – Url: www.alkarama.org Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................................ 2 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................ 3 2 GENERAL CONTEXT ................................................................................................................................... 3 2.1 THE 20 FEBRUARY MOVEMENT ...................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 THE INSTITUTIONAL “N EW DEAL ” ................................................................................................................... 5 3 THE WEIGHT OF THE PAST ........................................................................................................................ 7 3.1 AN EXPERIMENT IN TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE IN THE INTEREST OF POLITICAL CONTINUITY ............................................. 7 3.2 A REVIEW OF THE TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE PROCESS ............................................................................................. 9 4 IS REFORM OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM IMPOSSIBLE? ............................................................................... -
Torquemada Bulletin D’ Information Sur L’ « Antiterrorisme »
Torquemada Bulletin d’ information sur l’ « antiterrorisme » n° 0 - 31 janvier 2009 - parution : selon nécessité contact : [email protected] Éditorial Sabotons l’antiterrorisme (page 2) La loi et l’ ordre Extraits d’ un procès antiterroriste de présumés membres de la « cellule française » du « GICM » (page 3) Qui sont les vrais terroristes ? Sur l’attentat de Karachi (mai 2002) (page 10) Provocateurs infiltrés Abdelkader Belliraj Kamel Bouchentouf (page 12) ÉDITORIAL Sabotons l’ antiterrorisme L’indignation générale provoquée par l’emploi spectaculairement abusif des procédures « antiterroristes » dans ce que tout le monde appelle aujourd’hui « l’affaire de Tarnac », et l’auto-organisation spontanée, en de nombreux et divers « groupes de soutien », d’individus ayant entendu siffler pour la première fois le vent du boulet de l’État, parce que s’étant senti concernés, d’une manière ou d’une autre, pour eux-mêmes ou pour leurs proches, par cette trouble étiquette forgée par quelque sociologue-policier : « ultra- gauche, mouvance anarcho-autonome », sont déjà une sorte de première victoire remportée sur le délire ultra-répressif de l’État moderne. On a pu voir ainsi, pour la première fois en France et à cette échelle, une campagne d’intoxication médiatique – nécessaire par définition à toute opération « antiterroriste » – se dégonfler comme une vulgaire baudruche, sous les yeux ébahis du « grand public ». Bien sûr, une telle victoire reste très incomplète, éphémère, plus apparente que réelle * ; et on n’oubliera pas non plus qu’elle n’a été acquise que par la sotte impatience d’une ministre de l’intérieur, qui peut-être a cru sincèrement, l’espace d’un instant, avoir attrapé Ben Laden qui se serait déguisé en Harry Potter ; mais c’est une victoire qui aussi a déjà commencé de se concrétiser, par le biais de cette campagne « d’agitation contre les lois antiterroristes » (dont le point culminant est la manifestation de Paris d’aujourd’hui) qui, sans nul doute, fera date dans l’histoire des luttes de notre époque.