Experts in Geneva denounce ongoing human rights violations in the Tindouf camps in Algeria

A human rights symposium in Geneva places the Sahara and Tindouf files under the experts’ microscope

On the sidelines of the 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, the Press Club hosted a high-level human rights meeting dedicated to highlighting developments in the human rights situation in the southern provinces of the Kingdom of Morocco, in contrast to the deteriorating situation in the Tindouf camps.

International praise for development and human rights achievements in the southern provinces

The meeting witnessed broad praise from the participating experts for the initiatives taken by Morocco to promote comprehensive development in its southern provinces. The speakers confirmed that these regions are experiencing a qualitative leap in protecting civil and political rights, in addition to advancing economic, social, and cultural rights, noting that this dynamic reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to a balanced human rights and development approach aimed at improving the living standards of the local population.

Calls to end violations in the Tindouf camps

In a related context, the participants devoted a significant portion of their interventions to condemning the “worrying” human rights situation inside the Tindouf camps. The experts stressed that field reports indicate the continuation of grave violations that infringe upon the most basic human rights elements in those camps. The speakers called on the international community and human rights organizations to shoulder their responsibilities regarding the suffering of those detained, emphasizing the need to shed light on these violations which contradict international human rights charters.

Human rights analysis: Development versus restriction

Observers believe that holding this meeting in the heart of Geneva, concurrently with the Human Rights Council, is a strategic opportunity to correct international fallacies regarding the reality of the southern provinces by showcasing achievements on the ground. At the same time, through these initiatives, the experts seek to exert pressure to open human rights files in the Tindouf camps, which remain, according to them, outside the scope of international oversight and accountability.