UN Human Rts Council

Non-governmental organisation draws attention to the continued absence of human rights for the Saharawis detained in the Tindouf Camps in Algeria

The non-governmental organisation, the Centrist Democratic International, drew the UN Human Rights' Council's attention to the continual denial of the most basic of human rights to the Saharawi population detained against their will in the Polisario's camps in Tindouf.

These people have no access to any social, economic or cultural rights and endure deplorable living conditions, being deprived of all freedom of movement and circulation, beingtherefore unable to benefit from better living conditions.

The Centrist Democratic International also deplored the fact that these Saharawis are the hostages of the Polisario's leadership and held in an open-air prison.  The Polisario exploits the Saharawis' destitution both to seek and misappropriate humanitarian aid for their own personal advantage.

The Centrist Democratic International presented its report on social, economic and cultural rights to the 11th Session of the UN Human Rights' Council and invited the UN's organisations charged with human rights and humanitarian matters to intervene, to assist the Saharawis in Tindouf in obtaining access to all their rights which are guaranteed under international conventions.   

The Centrist Democratic International also called for the Polisario to adhere to the Security Council's resolutions with a view to participating in meaningful negotiations, both to acheive a political solution on the artificial conflict concerning the Sahara and to bring an end to the suffering of the population detained against their will in the camps, as well as to enable these people to enjoy their economic, social, cultural and political rights within the framework of autonomy under Moroccan Sovereignty.

The Centrist Democratic International also called upon the UN Secretary-General and the Human Rights' Commission to leave no stone unturned, so that families on both sides can be traced and and re-united, through the implemention of the autonomy initiative which has created a dignified means of returning to the Mother Country and which has also been welcomed by the entire international community and described as credible and serious by the UN Security Council.

June 2009