During the 57th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, held on 16 September, a side event gathered various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) accredited to the United Nations to address development challenges in Africa and the Middle East with a focus on the alarming human rights violations occurring in the Tindouf camps.
Titled “The Right to Development in Africa and the Middle East,” the conference brought into sharp focus the human rights violations occurring in the Tindouf camps, with participants including international experts, human rights advocates, and economic officials.
Moderated by Moulay Lahsen Naji, President of the Independent Commission for Human Rights in Africa, the event provided analyses and proposals on how to effectively realize the right to development, emphasizing the need for this right to be integrated into both national and international policies.
Dr. Ayman Okeil, President of Maat for Peace, Development, and Human Rights, opened the discussion by underscoring the importance of adopting global best practices in development. He stated that states should draw lessons from successful international models to make the right to development a tangible reality.
“This right must be integrated into national and international policies to ensure sustainable and inclusive development,” he asserted.
Biro Diawara, a human rights expert based in Geneva, highlighted the vital role of civil society in advancing the right to development and stressed the need for NGOs, both local and international, to actively raise awareness and pressure governments to adopt inclusive policies.
Human rights activist Laura Gomez Perez emphasized the necessity of including women and youth in development processes.
She argued that these groups should not merely benefit from initiatives but also take on central roles as key actors. “The involvement of women and youth is crucial to ensuring an equitable and sustainable approach,” she noted.
Dr. Abdelkader Filali’s intervention, President of the International Center for the Prevention of Child Soldiers condemned the dire situation facing children in the Tindouf camps, who are coerced into joining armed militias.
“The children of Tindouf are the silent victims of a conflict that undermines fundamental human rights,” Filali lamented, calling for immediate international action to end this exploitation.
In a related vein, Pedro Altamirano, President of the Altamirano Foundation, addressed the issue of human trafficking in these camps, particularly involving children.
He denounced the criminal networks exploiting refugees’ vulnerabilities to fuel a trafficking trade that operates with impunity. “It is urgent that the international community take concrete action to eradicate these inhumane practices,” Altamirano urged.
Algerian economic expert Youcef Baadja called for a radical overhaul of economic policies in Africa. He emphasized the need to promote foreign investment while also developing local capacities to generate wealth. “Inclusive economic development is the key to lifting African populations out of poverty,” Baadja asserted.
The experts at the conference unanimously agreed that sustainable development cannot be achieved without a dedicated focus on human rights, especially those of women, youth, and children affected by conflict. The human rights violations in the Tindouf camps were particularly highlighted as an urgent call for the international community to act and protect the most vulnerable populations.
