Brussels, Sept 7, 2013 (SPS) - The European Parliament Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, known as FEMM Committee, has denounced the gross abuses of human rights perpetrated by Moroccan occupation forces against Saharawi women in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, informed Saharawi diplomatic sources.
In its report on women’s rights in the Sahel region and Western Sahara, ratified Wednesday, FEMM Committee highlighted “the important role played by Saharawi women within the Saharawi society.”
“The FEMM Committee condemns the human rights abuses, including principally harassment and sexual violence carried out against Sahrawi women in the Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara, and used by occupying forces as a mean for deterring the Saharawi people to continue their struggle for their legitimate right to self-determination,” stated the report.
Furthermore, the Committee hailed the crucial role played by women in organizing the Saharawi institutions and their high level participation in decision-making at all levels, in from local committees, to parliament and the government. (SPS)
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