Geneva (UN Human Rights Council) 19 June 2026 (SPS)– South African human rights defender Catherine Constantinides Yesterday called on the international community to move beyond documenting violations in occupied Western Sahara and take concrete action to ensure accountability, as she opened and closed the convened on the sidelines of the ongoing 62nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council, to present the findings of the newly released report, “Western Sahara: A Year in Review, 2025 Annual Human Rights Report”.
Moderating the event sponsored by the South African and Namibian Diplomatic Mission to Geneva, Constantinides described the annual report as more than a record of abuses, calling it “an act of bearing witness” and a reaffirmation that justice, truth and human dignity remain universal principles that cannot be subordinated to political interests.
She stressed that the testimonies and evidence contained in the report highlight the continued restrictions imposed on Sahrawi fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and political participation, while human rights defenders, journalists and activists continue to face intimidation, surveillance, arbitrary detention and reprisals for peacefully carrying out their work.
Constantinides warned that the persistent lack of accountability for documented violations undermines the credibility of the international human rights system, arguing that reports alone cannot change realities unless they are followed by meaningful action, independent monitoring and respect for international humanitarian and human rights law.
Paying tribute to Sahrawi human rights defenders, she praised their courage in documenting violations despite the personal risks they face, emphasizing that defending human rights and exposing abuses can never be treated as criminal acts.
Closing the event, Constantinides said the report should serve as a call to conscience for governments and international institutions, reminding participants that behind every documented violation are men, women and children whose fundamental rights continue to be denied.
Ahead of World Refugee Day, she drew attention to the plight of Sahrawi refugees, describing their decades-long displacement as a lived reality that reflects both the resilience of the Sahrawi people and the international community’s continuing responsibility to uphold their rights.
She concluded by urging states and international organizations to translate solidarity into concrete measures, stressing that the Sahrawi question is fundamentally one of human rights, dignity and the equal application of the principles of the United Nations Charter. “History,” she said, “will judge us not by the reports we publish, but by the actions we take in response to them.”
It should be recalled that the released report: “Western Sahara: A Year in Review, 2025 Annual Human Rights Report”, was prepared collaboratively by the Working Group on Human Rights in Occupied Western Sahara (WGHROWS), with the specialized, technical backing of international experts alongside the non-governmental organizations ACAPS and the International Institute for Nonviolent Action (NOVACT). (SPS)
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