During the 57th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, held on 16 September, a side event brought together various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) accredited to the United Nations to discuss development challenges in Africa and the Middle East.
The conference, entitled ” The Right to Development in Africa and the Middle East “, highlighted human rights violations in the Tindouf camps and participants called for inclusive development in these regions.
The meeting, moderated by Moulay Lahsen Naji, President of the Independent Commission for Human Rights in Africa, was attended by international experts and human rights activists. They exchanged their analyses and proposals on how to make the right to development effective, emphasizing the integration of this right into national and international policies.
Advocacy for the integration of the right to development
Dr. Ayman Okeil, President of Maat for Peace, Development, and Human Rights, opened the discussion by emphasizing the importance of adopting global best practices in development. He said that states must learn from global success stories to make the right to development a reality. This right must be integrated into national and international policies for sustainable and inclusive development. ” he said.
Civil society, a key player
Biro Diawara, a human rights expert in Geneva, recalled the crucial role of civil society in implementing the right to development. He stressed the need for NGOs, both local and international, to play an active role in raising awareness among communities and pressuring governments to adopt inclusive policies. Civil society is an essential pillar in ensuring that this right is respected. ” he said.
Inclusion of women and youth: an imperative for sustainable development
Laura Gomez Perez, a human rights activist, highlighted the importance of including women and young people in development processes. According to her, these groups must not only be the beneficiaries of the initiatives, but also become the main actors. The involvement of women and youth is essential to ensure an equitable and sustainable approach ” she said.
Human rights violations in the Tindouf camps
The highlight of the conference was the intervention of Dr. Abdelkader Filali, President of the International Center for the Prevention of Child Soldiers. He denounced the alarming situation of children in the Tindouf camps, forced to join armed militias. The children of Tindouf are the silent victims of a conflict that violates fundamental principles of human rights “, he deplored, calling on the international community to take immediate measures to put an end to this exploitation.
In the same vein, Pedro Altamirano, president of the Altamirano Foundation, spoke about human trafficking in these camps, particularly that of children. He denounced the criminal networks that exploit the vulnerability of refugees to fuel a traffic that thrives in impunity. It is urgent that the international community take concrete action to eradicate these inhumane practices. ” he said.
Economic development for Africa
Algerian economic expert Youcef Baadja called for radical reform of economic policies in Africa. He stressed the importance of promoting foreign investment while developing local capacities to create wealth. Inclusive economic development is key to lifting African people out of poverty ” he said.
Development challenges in Africa and the Middle East
The experts present unanimously stressed that sustainable development cannot be achieved without special attention to human rights, particularly those of women, young people and children who are victims of conflict. The violations of rights in the Tindouf camps were particularly highlighted, constituting an urgent call to the international community to act and protect vulnerable populations.
This conference not only provided an opportunity to propose concrete solutions to advance the right to development, but also to highlight the urgency of protecting the fundamental rights of oppressed populations in Africa and the Middle East.
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