Western+Sahara+Invitation+09h00+November+30th

=INVITATION=


 * Seminar on the “Human Rights Situation in the Occupied Territories of the Western Sahara”**

Human Rights House: 6th Floor 29 Princess of Wales Terrace Cnr York & St Andrews Parktown
 * Date & Time**: Thursday, 30 November 2006, 9h00 – 13h30
 * Venue**: SAHRC Training Centre
 * Johannesburg**

The Western Sahara is currently under the administration of Morocco, which claims sovereignty over the territory. This is despite, among others, the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that concluded that “the materials and information presented to it do not establish any tie of territorial sovereignty between the Territory of the Western Sahara and the Kingdom of Morocco…”. Therefore, the court did not find any legal ties of such a nature as might affect the decolonization of the Western Sahara and, in particular, of the principle of self-determination through the free and genuine expression of the will of the peoples of the Territory.

The human rights situation in the occupied territories of the Western Sahara is of great concern to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) as the Saharawi people are denied their right to self-determination, including other rights such as the right to express their views on the issue through a referendum. In the occupied areas, the Saharawi people continue to endure human rights abuses, including murder, torture, disappearance and intimidation. Saharawi refugees remain in camps facing hostile desert conditions and reliant on UNHCR aid programs.

In this regard, the SAHRC would like to invite you to a Seminar on the //“Human Rights Situation in the Occupied Territories of the Western Sahara”//. The key-note speaker will be Mr. Ali Salem Tamek, a Saharawi political leader and ex-political prisoner, recognised as such by many international human rights organisations, mainly Amnesty International, the International Bureau for the Respect of Human Rights in the Western Sahara, the International Federation of Human Rights, the Moroccan Association of Human Rights, the Moroccan Forum of Truth and Justice, and many other organisations all over the world.

Through this seminar, the SAHR hopes to:
 * 1) Assist in raising awareness about the human rights violations in the occupied territories of the Western Sahara, and thereby raise its profile in the South African media and other human rights lobby groups and civil society structures;
 * 2) Contribute to the calls to the international community to extend the mandate of the UN Mission in the Western Sahara, MINURSO, to include the protection and promotion of human rights.

For further information regarding the Seminar and to confirm your attendance, kindly contact Ms Opolah Vumazonke and Mr Dennis Shalang by __Friday 24th November 2006__ at the following:

Tel: 011 – 4848 300 ext 2118 or Fax: 011 – 643 6472 Email: ovumazonke@sahrc.org.za and dshalang@sahrc.org.za

We look forward to welcoming you to this event,

Yours sincerely

Adv. Tseliso Thipanyane
 * CEO: South African Human Rights Commission**