Banjul (The Gambia), May 4, 2025 (SPS) – The Representative of the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, human rights lawyer Ms. Chanelle Van Der linde, called this afternoon for an investigation into Moroccan human rights violations in the occupied territories of Western Sahara. Her remarks came in response to the report of the African Commission for Human and Peoples’ Rights Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information.
The South African human rights advocate expressed her full support for the Sahrawi Republic's call—made during the same session—for the African Commission to intervene to stop the escalating deterioration of the human rights situation in occupied Western Sahara.
The Center called on the ACHPR to intervene in this escalating situation including by resuming the fact-finding mission which has been obstructed by the Moroccan forces of occupation since 2013.
The Centre for Human Rights enjoys international recognition for its outstanding contributions to human rights law in Africa. Uniquely operating as both an academic department and a non-governmental organisation, the Centre plays a leading role in advancing human rights education across the continent. Its mission includes raising awareness about human rights, broadly distributing scholarly and practical publications focused on human rights in Africa, and promoting the rights and well-being of women, migrants, indigenous communities, sexual minorities, and other marginalised or disadvantaged individuals and groups throughout Africa.
The Sahrawi Republic is participating in the 83rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, represented by Ambassador Malainin Lakhal, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Sahrawi Republic to Ethiopia and the African Union. The session opened on Friday, May 2, and will continue in open session until May 12. (SPS)
090/500/60 (SPS)
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