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Photo by a Western Sahara human rights defender, used with their permission.
Ending the silence on the protection of human rights defenders in Western Sahara
This event will strengthen civil society engagement and highlight the situation of Sahrawi human rights defenders.
Human rights defenders in Western Sahara operate in an environment marked by systematic repression. This event will facilitate a safe forum for Sahrawi civil society to engage with the African Commission, and advocate for the protection of the rights of the Sahrawi people.
Speakers:
- Human rights defenders from Western Sahara
- Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, Vice-Chairperson of the Working Group on Extractive Industries, Environment and Human Rights Violations in Africa, Member of the Working Group on the Death Penalty, Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Killings and Enforced Disappearances in Africa, Member of the Resolutions Committee, country rapporteur of SADR
Moderator: Salma El Hosseiny, ISHR
Interpretation: English and French
This event is co-hosted by ISHR, the Working Group on Human Rights in Occupied Western Sahara (WGHRWS), Hegoa, and FrontLine Defenders.