PERIODIC REPORT OF THE SAHRAWI ARAB DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC TO THE AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES RIGHTS CONTAINING ALL THE OUTSTANDING REPORTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 62 OF THE CHARTER October 2011 i Table of Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 4 Part I: Data on the General Framework for the Promotion of Human Rights in the Sahrawi Republic in Accordance with the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights ........................... 7 Chapter One: General Information About the Sahrawi Republic ....................................................... 7 i) The Region ...................................................................................................................................... 7 ii) Population ........................................................................................................................................ 7 iii) Language ..................................................................................................................................... 7 iv) Economy ...................................................................................................................................... 7 Chapter Two: The Process of Democratization in Western Sahara ................................................. 8 Chapter Three: The Legal and Institutional Framework for the Promotion of Human Rights in the Sahrawi Republic ............................................................................................................................... 14 I. The Constitution ........................................................................................................................... 14 II. The Judiciary ................................................................................................................................. 20 III. The Bar ...................................................................................................................................... 23 IV. The Constitutional Council ...................................................................................................... 23 V. The Body in charge of the Promotion of Human Rights of Women ..................................... 23 VI. Procedure for Appeal Against Violations of Rights and Freedoms .................................. 25 Part II: The Rights, Obligations and Liberties Guaranteed by the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights .......................................................................................................................................... 26 Chapter One: Civil and Political Rights (Articles 2 – 13 of the Charter) ......................................... 26 1. Enjoyment of the Rights and Freedoms Guaranteed by the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Article 2) ............................................................................................................ 26 2. Equality Before the Law (Article 3) ............................................................................................ 27 3. Individual Freedom (Article 4 of the Charter) ........................................................................... 28 4. The Right to Life and Physical and Psychological Safety (Articles 5 and 6 of the Charter) 29 5. The Right to Fair Trial (Article 7 of the Charter) ...................................................................... 30 6. Freedom of Faith (Article 8 of the Charter) .............................................................................. 31 7. The Right to Information and Freedom of Expression (Article 9 of the Charter) ................ 32 8. Participation in the Public Life of the Country (Article 13 of the Charter) ............................ 34 Chapter Two: Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Articles 14 – 18 of the Charter) ................ 37 1. The Right to Ownership (Article 14) .......................................................................................... 37 ii 2. The Right to Work (Article 15 of the Charter)........................................................................... 38 3. The Right to Health (Article 16 of the Charter) ........................................................................ 38 4. The Right to Education (Article 17 of the Charter) .................................................................. 42 Chapter Three: Peoples Rights ............................................................................................................. 45 1. Equality of People (Article 19 of the Charter) .......................................................................... 45 2. Equality in Self-Determination (Article 20) ................................................................................ 46 3. The Right of the People to their National Resources (Article 21 and 22 of the Charter) .. 46 4. The Right to Peace and Security (Article 23) ........................................................................... 47 5. The Right to A Peaceful Environment Conducive to Development ...................................... 48 6. The Right to Participate in the Cultural Life (Article 27.2) ...................................................... 49 CHAPTER FOUR: OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE CHARTER (Articles 25 and 26) ...................... 50 1. Sensitization on the Charter (Article 25) ................................................................................... 50 2. Independence of the Judiciary (Article 26 of the Charter) ..................................................... 52 3. Obligations of All Towards Family and Individuals (Articles 27, 28 and 29 of the Charter) 53 Part III: Gross Violation of Human Rights by Morocco in the Occupied Western Sahara Territories .................................................................................................................................................. 54 Chapter One: Political and Civil Rights ................................................................................................ 54 1. Morocco‟s Violations of Political and Civil Rights .................................................................... 54 2. Violation of the Right to Life and Physical and Personal Safety ........................................... 57 a) Killings and Severe Torture .................................................................................................... 57 b) Abductions ................................................................................................................................. 58 c) Impunity and Unaccountability ............................................................................................... 60 d) Political Arrests ......................................................................................................................... 61 Political Trials and the Status of Sahrawi Political Prisoners in Moroccan Prisons ................... 62 Political Trials ........................................................................................................................................ 62 Conditions of Sahrawi Political Detainees in the Various Moroccan Prisons ............................. 64 1. Violation of the General Freedoms ............................................................................................ 65 Violation of the Right to Freedom of Association ............................................................................ 65 2. Freedom of Expression and the Right to Peaceful Demonstration and Protest ................. 66 a) Freedom of Movement ............................................................................................................ 67 Chapter Two: Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ......................................................................... 68 iii a) The Right to Work ........................................................................................................................ 69 b) The Right to Health ...................................................................................................................... 70 Deterioration of the Health Delivery Service ................................................................................ 70 c) The Right to Education ................................................................................................................ 71 d) Anti-personnel Mines ................................................................................................................... 72 Page 4 PERIODIC REPORT OF THE SAHRAWI ARAB DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC TO THE AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES RIGHTS CONTAINING ALL THE OUTSTANDING REPORTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 62 OF THE CHARTER Introduction 1. The Sahrawi Arab Republic occupies an important space in North West Africa. It is an African, Arab, Islamic state that forms an indivisible part of the Great Arab Maghreb. It is proud of its diverse cultural and civilization affiliations. 2. The Sahrawi people have made great sacrifices throughout their resistance and struggle for the exercise of their inalienable right to self-determination and independence just like all the other African peoples that gained their independence. 3. The Sahrawi Arab Republic believes in African unity as a primary objective as has been affirmed in the Preamble of the Sahrawi Constitution which stresses the importance of ensuring African Unity, establishment of a world where