Malta, 29 November 2025 (SPS) – A delegation from the National Union of Sahrawi Women (NUSW), represented by the NUSW’s Secretary-General, Shaba Sainy, and member Yaqouta El-Mukhtar, took part in the proceedings of the Socialist Women’s Forum dedicated to examining the impact of wars and conflicts on women and girls, and shedding light on the forms of violence and violations they face in contexts of occupation, displacement, and instability.
In her intervention during the session, NUSW member Yaqouta stressed that the situation of Sahrawi women requires special attention, given decades of occupation, war, and forced displacement, and the resulting challenges that affect women’s rights, security, and dignity.
She highlighted that impunity in the occupied Sahrawi territories directly affects the lives of women, who suffer from restrictions on movement, intimidation, and continuous surveillance that limit their participation in public life, noting that these violations are structural in nature and not isolated incidents.
She also pointed to the major role assumed by Sahrawi women in the Sahrawi refugee camps in managing daily life amid declining aid and climate change, emphasizing that entire generations of young women have known nothing but life in exile—making the addressing of prolonged displacement an essential component of any international action plan.
The intervention also addressed the dual risks faced by Sahrawi women human-rights defenders, especially in the occupied territories, due to surveillance and administrative and political restrictions. She called for providing effective protection mechanisms, including early warning, discreet support, and sustained political pressure.
The NUSW concluded its statement by affirming that protection must be principled and non-selective, and that Sahrawi women are not asking for privileges, but for respect for international humanitarian law, human rights law, and the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda.
It also expressed its hope that the Socialist International Women’s movement will strengthen monitoring and solidarity, and ensure that the cause of Sahrawi women remains among the priorities of international women’s solidarity work.
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