Geneva (UN Human Rights Council), June 19, 2026 (SPS)– Lucille Maybon, Maghreb Coordinator for NOVACT, and Albert Giralt, Coordinator for ACAPS, reaffirmed their organizations' commitment to supporting Sahrawi human rights defenders, exposing violations committed in occupied Western Sahara, and defending the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination in accordance with international law.
The statement was made during a joint intervention at the Side Event held at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva to present newly released report, "Western Sahara: A Year in Review, 2025 Annual Human Rights Report", prepared by the Working Group on Human Rights in Occupied Western Sahara with the support of international experts, NOVACT and ACAPS.
The two speakers stressed that the continuation of the Moroccan occupation relies on a deliberate policy of concealing the reality of human rights violations and preventing them from reaching the international public, in order to preserve Morocco's image as a reliable economic partner and tourist destination. They argued that the annual report plays a vital role in exposing official propaganda and shedding light on the human rights situation faced by Sahrawi civilians under occupation.
They further emphasized that the role of NOVACT and ACAPS, together with the international solidarity movement, is to support activists documenting violations despite the serious risks they face, defend the principles of international law and human rights, and mobilize international support to press for an end to the occupation and respect for the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination.
The speakers also warned that solidarity organizations are facing growing pressure as Moroccan lobbying efforts intensify, citing intimidation campaigns, the cancellation of events, and pressure exerted on organizations and individuals supporting the Sahrawi cause. They affirmed, however, that such tactics would only strengthen their determination to continue amplifying Sahrawi voices.
The two international activists highlighted that the report is the product of a collective effort involving human rights defenders in the occupied territories, activists in the Sahrawi refugee camps, members of the Sahrawi diaspora, international experts and solidarity organizations, all working together to ensure that violations are documented and cannot be ignored.
They also paid tribute to the resilience of Sahrawi human rights defenders, drawing on their own experience of working alongside them, and described their commitment to defending rights and freedoms as a source of inspiration for the international solidarity movement. They further praised the growing leadership role played by Sahrawi women and youth in the human rights struggle.
Concluding their intervention, NOVACT and ACAPS called on governments and international institutions to take the report's recommendations seriously and adopt concrete measures to protect human rights in Western Sahara. They also urged civil society organizations worldwide to continue expanding international solidarity with the Sahrawi people, stressing that while solidarity cannot replace the Sahrawi struggle itself, it can ensure that the Sahrawi people do not face it alone. (SPS)
090/500/60 (SPS)
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