Paris, 27 June 2025 (SPS) – The Association of Sahrawi Youth in France is calling on the international community, particularly the United Nations, to intensify efforts to protect Sahrawi human rights defenders. The association praised the "courageous stance" of UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, who demanded that Morocco "end the repression" against these activists.
"We urge the United Nations and international bodies to step up their efforts to protect Sahrawi human rights defenders and pressure Moroccan authorities to comply with their international human rights obligations," the Association stated in a Friday press release.
The Association expressed its "deep satisfaction" and "gratitude" toward the UN expert for her "courageous and clear position" in her recent statement.
"She strongly condemned the violence suffered by Sahrawi human rights defenders Sidi Mohamed Daddach and Mustapha Dah at the hands of Moroccan police following their participation in a peaceful protest on June 19," the Sahrawi organization recalled.
In a social media post, Mary Lawlor voiced concerns over the Moroccan police's violence against Sahrawi human rights defenders Sidi Mohammed Daddach and Mustapha Dah, stressing that Moroccan authorities must "end the repression of human rights defenders in Western Sahara."
"We believe this UN intervention marks a significant step toward breaking the international silence on the systematic violations faced by activists and human rights defenders in Western Sahara," the Sahrawi youth group emphasized.
According to the Association, "such statements help shed light on the daily suffering of our people under Moroccan occupation."
The recent escalation of repression against human rights defenders, journalists, and protest leaders in occupied Western Sahara has already drawn reactions from the UN Special Rapporteur and other UN experts, who expressed "grave concern" in a communication addressed to Moroccan authorities.
In their statement, the UN experts noted that "several journalists, human rights defenders, protest leaders, and prominent political opponents have faced intensified repression in recent months—clearly in retaliation for their human rights work, particularly their support for the self-determination of the Sahrawi people."
They also reported increased surveillance and the use of intimidation tactics, including threats and harassment, "to silence" Sahrawi voices.
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