Banjul (Gambia), May 8, 2025 (SPS) - The representative of the Sahrawi Republic at the 83rd session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, currently underway in the Gambian capital, Banjul, this Thursday morning, presented the grave situation of Sahrawi women, subjected to serious and systematic violations by the Moroccan occupation forces.
In his remarks, Sahrawi Ambassador Malainin Lakhal called on the Special Rapporteur on the rights of women in Africa to "to stand with these courageous women – not just through symbolic gestures, however important and needed, but through concrete, urgent, and gender-responsive actions that will bring an end to their suffering and ensure their long-denied dignity and justice."
Following is the full text of the statement:
Honourable Chairperson of the Commission, Esteemed Commissioners, Your Excellencies Ambassadors, Distinguished Delegates, all protocols observed,
Thank you, Hounorable Chairperson for giving the Sahrawi Republic the floor. We commend the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa for her insightful report.
It is within the context of shared concern for the rights and well-being of African women that we bring to the forefront some of the significant strides made by the Sahrawi Republic in upholding and promoting the rights of Sahrawi women despite all challenges.
The Sahrawi Republic's constitution gives a very high priority to women's rights, incorporating the African Union Charter, Universal Declaration, and international laws. These form the basis for achieving genuine equality and justice for women in Sahrawi society.
Sahrawi women actively participate in politics, guided by Article 20's gender equality. Their representation is significant and growing: 42.17% in Parliament (up from 34%), 24% in diplomacy (from 21%), and 35% in government. They hold 60% of regional and local leadership posts, constitute 42% of the media workforce and over 90% in education and health.
As an African Charter signatory, the Sahrawi State actively combats violence against women through media campaigns and education challenging harmful practices. Fortunately, Sahrawi traditions and culture fundamentally repudiate and reject such violence, enabling the Sahrawi government to prioritize healthcare, legal aid, vocational training, and women's empowerment via education access, training centers, and interest-free micro-loans for their ventures, fostering self-reliance.
Honourable Chairperson, while the Sahrawi Republic protects its citizens, we must address the grave situation of Sahrawi women under Moroccan occupation. Targeted for their activism and demands for dignity, they face systematic gender-based repression: assault, surveillance, humiliation, and medical neglect for resisting colonization, aiming to silence them and stifle their participation.
Sahrawi women human rights defenders in the occupied zones of Western Sahara face extreme vulnerability, enduring sexual assault during violent police home raids, vicious smear campaigns, and constant threats of rape and physical attacks. Moroccan forces often deny them essential medical care for torture injuries, and they face harassment in hospitals to enforce silence.
Many Sahrawi women are assaulted for documenting abuses or attending solidarity events. Their phones are confiscated and homes searched.
Just last month, in April 2025, Moroccan forces raided the homes of families of Sahrawi political prisoners. In an act of clear collective and gender-based punishment, mothers and sisters of the prisoners were subjected to insults, beatings, and the outrageous accusation of “raising terrorists” simply for advocating for the release of their innocent sons.
Moroccan authorities of occupation are also weaponizing digital technology to further intimidate Sahrawi women activists. Sophisticated spyware, such as Pegasus, has been deployed to target these brave defenders, compromising their privacy and their communications, including those with international journalists and United Nations bodies. Furthermore, online harassment campaigns, often utilizing bots and fake accounts, are systematically employed to discredit them through the fabrication and dissemination of scandalous and false information.
The lack of independent human rights monitoring in occupied Western Sahara, including MINURSO's limited mandate, enables unchecked abuses without international protection or justice. Perpetrators enjoy impunity, and Moroccan courts routinely dismiss allegations against their forces, denying victims redress. This impunity, shielded by some Western allies, leaves Sahrawi women vulnerable and their calls for justice ignored.
In conclusion, Distinguished Commissioners, the struggle of Sahrawi women in occupied Western Sahara is not merely a fight for their rights; it is a fundamental struggle for their very existence in a territory where their bodies are systematically weaponized, their homes are militarized, and every attempt is made to enforce their silence. This is why, Madam Special Rapporteur, we implore you to stand with these courageous women – not just through symbolic gestures, however important and needed, but through concrete, urgent, and gender-responsive actions that will bring an end to their suffering and ensure their long-denied dignity and justice.
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