50th EUCOCO Conference in Madrid: Solidarity with the Sahrawi People

The 50th Conference of the European Coordination of Solidarity with the Sahrawi People (EUCOCO) is taking place in Madrid, Spain, with participants discussing ways to enhance international support for the Sahrawi people. The conference features several workshops on the political, humanitarian, and media dimensions of the Sahrawi issue. These discussions aim to strengthen the Sahrawi state's position on the international stage, defend the natural resources of Western Sahara, and denounce human rights violations in occupied territories.

The conference's second day saw the launch of several thematic workshops, focusing on defining new courses of action and consolidating solidarity mechanisms with the Sahrawi people in their struggle for freedom and independence. One workshop, co-chaired by Sahrawi Prime Minister Bouchraya Hamoudi Bayoun, examined ways to increase the visibility of the Sahrawi Republic and the impact that friends of the Sahrawi people can have in supporting their self-determination struggle.

Participants in the workshop on political and media issues discussed recent developments in the Sahrawi issue, including the inability of the UN Security Council to renew the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). They also addressed the consequences of this situation on peace and stability in the region. The workshop aims to produce a roadmap for influencing political and media processes to strengthen the visibility of the Sahrawi cause.

Another workshop focused on natural resources and human rights, highlighting the plundering of Western Sahara's wealth and serious human rights abuses committed by Moroccan occupiers against Sahrawi citizens in occupied territories. The workshop brought together human rights activists, jurists, and journalists from various countries to condemn repressive practices and shed light on abuses.

The workshop on natural resources and human rights also examined legal and international mechanisms to protect the Sahrawi people's sovereign rights. Participants planned to adopt a declaration condemning Moroccan occupation, accompanied by a document detailing its violations. Testimonies from human rights defenders, victims of repression, and those affected by arbitrary arrests and restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly were also to be shared.

A third workshop focused on strengthening the resilience of the Sahrawi people and consolidating the position of the Sahrawi Republic on regional and international stages. Discussions centered on developing solidarity actions, including the participation of Sahrawi institutions in cooperation and humanitarian programs. Participants emphasized the need to maintain and strengthen support for Sahrawi refugees.

The 50th EUCOCO conference aims to reinforce international mobilization around the Sahrawi issue by combining political advocacy, defense of fundamental rights, and humanitarian support for the Sahrawi people. The conference seeks to promote a just and lasting solution guaranteeing the Sahrawi people's inalienable right to self-determination and independence.

Key points

• The conference focuses on strengthening international support for the Sahrawi people.
• Participants discuss ways to defend Sahrawi natural resources and denounce human rights abuses.
• The conference aims to produce a roadmap for influencing political and media processes to strengthen the visibility of the Sahrawi cause.