PERIODIC REPORT OF THE SAHRAWI ARAB DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC TO THE AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES RIGHTS CONTAINING ALL THE OUTSTANDING REPORTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 62 OF THE CHARTER
Introduction
1. The Sahrawi Arab Republic occupies an important space in North West Africa. It is an African, Arab, Islamic state that forms an indivisible part of the Great Arab Maghreb. It is proud of its diverse cultural and civilization affiliations.
2. The Sahrawi people have made great sacrifices throughout their resistance and struggle for the exercise of their inalienable right to self-determination and independence just like all the other African peoples that gained their independence. 3. The Sahrawi Arab Republic believes in African unity as a primary objective as has been affirmed in the Preamble of the Sahrawi Constitution which stresses the importance of ensuring African Unity, establishment of a world where peace and security prevail based on strong international relations informed by cooperation, solidarity and mutual respect.
4. As a founding member of our Continental Organization, the African Union, the Sahrawi Republic upholds the noble values and principles enshrined in the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights to which it adhered on 2 May 1986 and which represents a charter of shared ideals and values of the peoples of our continent.
5. This report reflects the Sahrawi State‟s commitment to the promotion of human and peoples rights and their harmonization with the provisions and contents of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. When preparing this report, the Sahrawi Government has taken into account the directives and recommendations of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights as adopted by its 33rd Session held in Niamey, Niger by making fundamental amendments and several reforms affecting all walks of life in the Sahrawi Republic. Despite the challenges and compelling circumstances (lack of experience and scarcity of financial resources) that impact negatively on the efforts deployed by the relevant institutions of the State concerned with the promotion of the provisions of the African Charter and despite Morocco‟s occupation of a large chunk of Western Sahara territory and its illegal exploitation of its natural resources, the Sahrawi State has responded to these contents for the development and prosperity of its people as well as promotion of human rights.
6. For the purpose of preparing this report, a media gathering was held on 24 March2011 during which all participants were reminded of the obligation of the Sahrawi Republic to be submitting such reports.
7. On 16 October 2011, the Sahrawi Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a session to validate this report. All the Departments of the Ministries and Non-Governmental Organizations concerned participated in that session and made their inputs to the report
