Italian NGO vows to unveil human rights violations by Polisario

An Italian Non Governmental organization has vowed to unveil human rights violations against Sahrawi women abducted in the Tindouf Camps (Southern Algeria) at the hands of the separatist movement Polisario.

Daniela Colombo, head of the Italian Association of Women for development (AIDOS) made this pledge while receiving, in Rome Wednesday, Fatimatou Mansour, a Sahrawi woman who used to live in these camps before being deported by the Polisario to Cuba while she was only 10 years old.

Fatima who returned to her home country, Morocco, briefed this NGO on the sufferings of Sahrawi women in those camps, ruled by the Algeria-backed movement that claims the independence of this former Spanish colony retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under a tripartite agreement signed by Spain, Morocco and Mauritania.

Fatimatou who is part of a Sahrawi delegation representing the people of the southern Moroccan provinces, related her own experience in those camps where, she said, women are harassed, arrested and separated from their children.

Her story was echoed by other members of the Sahrawi delegation who met several Italian human rights advocacy NGOs. These latter said they were "Shocked" and "astonished" by the truth about the inhumane conditions in which the Sahrawi people live in these camps, in total violation of the most basic human rights.

The delegation is led by Ali Salem Chaqaf, an MP from Dakhla (Southern Morocco) and 2nd deputy chairman of the foreign affairs committee at the Chamber of Advisers (Upper House).

Talks also provided the opportunity for Italian NGOs to pledge their financial support to some projects being carried out in this part of Morocco.