National Union of Sahrawi Women
Encyclopedia
UNMS, Spanish
abbreviation for Union Nacional de Mujeres Saharauis ("National Organization of Sahrawi Women", in English
) is the women's wing
of the Polisario Front
. It was created in 1974, and claims to have 10,000 members, divided between the Sahrawi refugee camps
, the Liberated territories
, the Moroccan-occupied part of Western Sahara
and the Sahrawi diaspora (including for instance Spain, Mauritania, France).
, Algeria
, where it is a powerful force within the Polisario and the Sahrawi republic
. It is internationally active in organizing support for Sahrawi women and the Sahrawi cause, but also campaigns for women's' rights within the exile community and in political decision-making. As a consequence of this, and of the special circumstances of the Western Sahara
war years, the situation of Sahrawi women has improved noticeably. There are presently two women in the Sahrawi republic's government, the Minister of Culture Khadijah Hamdi, and the Minister of Education Mariem Salek Hamada.
The UNMS is directed by a "National Committee" of 66 members, elected in the UNMS congress every 5 years. It is subdivided into several departments:
There are also departments for each Wilaya.
The national committee is chaired by a Secretary General, elected also in the congresses, who is at the same time member of the Polisario Front national committee.
Keltoum Khayati, a former general secretary of the UNMS had returned to Morocco, and is defending the Moroccan position in the conflict. The present general secretary is Fatma Mehdi Hassan.
The UNMS is member of the Women International Democratic Federation (WIDF) and the General Federation of Arab Woman since 1977, and of the Pan-African Women's Organization (PAWO) since 1980.
On the international level, the UNMS objectives are:
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
abbreviation for Union Nacional de Mujeres Saharauis ("National Organization of Sahrawi Women", in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
) is the women's wing
Women's wing
A women's wing is an organisation affiliated with a political party that consists of that party's female membership or acts to promote women within that party. The organisations take different roles and types, with some giving women the option of joining and others automatically enrolling all...
of the Polisario Front
Polisario Front
The POLISARIO, Polisario Front, or Frente Polisario, from the Spanish abbreviation of Frente Popular de Liberación de Saguía el Hamra y Río de Oro is a Sahrawi rebel national liberation movement working for the independence of Western Sahara from Morocco...
. It was created in 1974, and claims to have 10,000 members, divided between the Sahrawi refugee camps
Refugee camps in Tindouf Province, Algeria
The Sahrawi refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria, are a collection of refugee camps, set up in the Tindouf Province, Algeria in 1975-76 for Sahrawi refugees fleeing from Moroccan forces, who advanced through Western Sahara during the Western Sahara War...
, the Liberated territories
Free Zone (region)
The Free Zone or Liberated Territories is a term used by the Polisario Front to describe the part of Western Sahara that lies to the east of the Moroccan Berm and west and north of the borders with Algeria and Mauritania, respectively...
, the Moroccan-occupied part of Western Sahara
Western Sahara
Western Sahara is a disputed territory in North Africa, bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria to the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its surface area amounts to . It is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world, mainly...
and the Sahrawi diaspora (including for instance Spain, Mauritania, France).
Organization
The organization is mostly active in the Sahrawi refugee camps in TindoufTindouf
Tindouf is the main town in Tindouf Province, Algeria, close to the Mauritanian and Moroccan borders. The region is considered of strategic significance, and it houses Algerian military bases. Since 1975, it also contains several Sahrawi refugee camps operated by the Polisario Front a guerrilla...
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, where it is a powerful force within the Polisario and the Sahrawi republic
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is a partially recognised state that claims sovereignty over the entire territory of Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony. SADR was proclaimed by the Polisario Front on February 27, 1976, in Bir Lehlu, Western Sahara. The SADR government controls about...
. It is internationally active in organizing support for Sahrawi women and the Sahrawi cause, but also campaigns for women's' rights within the exile community and in political decision-making. As a consequence of this, and of the special circumstances of the Western Sahara
Western Sahara
Western Sahara is a disputed territory in North Africa, bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria to the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its surface area amounts to . It is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world, mainly...
war years, the situation of Sahrawi women has improved noticeably. There are presently two women in the Sahrawi republic's government, the Minister of Culture Khadijah Hamdi, and the Minister of Education Mariem Salek Hamada.
The UNMS is directed by a "National Committee" of 66 members, elected in the UNMS congress every 5 years. It is subdivided into several departments:
- Department of External Relations and Cooperation
- Department of Information and Culture
- Department of Administration and Organization
- Department of Occupied Towns and Emigration
- Department of Social Affairs
- Department of Health and Family Affairs
- Department of Formation
- Department of Education
- Department of Production
There are also departments for each Wilaya.
The national committee is chaired by a Secretary General, elected also in the congresses, who is at the same time member of the Polisario Front national committee.
Keltoum Khayati, a former general secretary of the UNMS had returned to Morocco, and is defending the Moroccan position in the conflict. The present general secretary is Fatma Mehdi Hassan.
The UNMS is member of the Women International Democratic Federation (WIDF) and the General Federation of Arab Woman since 1977, and of the Pan-African Women's Organization (PAWO) since 1980.
Objectives
On the national level, the UNMS objectives are:- Sensitize Saharawi women about their role in the struggle for the liberation and independence of the Western Sahara.
- Orientate women in the social and political fields to improve their level of education and training (literacy campaigns, scholastic and professional training, political seminars, etc.).
- Aware women about their social and political rights, to guarantee an effective participation in the present and in the future.
- Deepen in the role of the family, specially on educative level, guaranteeing an equal education between boys and girls, with the basis of respect and equality in society.
- Concern women about the importance of the prevention on the health field.
- Solidarity with our compatriots in the occupied zones, constantly facing the Moroccan aggression, being victims of discrimination and suffering.
On the international level, the UNMS objectives are:
- Implementation of decisions and strategies concerning women, particularly the "Strategy of Nairobi".
- Establishment of security and peace in the world, equality between the sexes as the basis for all progress and development and the reinforcement of human rights and democracy.
- Monitoring of the situation of the women worldwide, knowing that all work for the same objectives, despite the religious, political or social situation.
- Enhance the relations with as many women's organizations worldwide, with the aim of:
- Broaden the base of coalition and solidarity with our people's struggle generally and our women particularly.
- Achieve material and financial support for the UNMS projects for woman's formation in the refugee camps.
- Denounce War and Racism, in which women and children used to be the first victims.
- Denounce the violation of women rights.
Congresses
- 1st Congress: "Martyr Jueta Hadda Laulad" (March 23–25, 1985).
- 2nd Congress: "Martyr Jnaza Ayad" (February 24–26, 1990).
- 3rd Congress: "Martyr Batul Sidi Sidali" (February 24–26, 1996).
- 4th Congress: "Martyr Fatimatu Ahmed-Salem Baad" (March 29–31, 2002)
- 5th Congress: "Martyr Maimuna Abdallahi Mohamed Lamin" (April 5–7, 2007)
- 6th Congress: "Sahrawi women perpetuating the Gdeim Izik spirit" (April 20–24, 2011)
External links
- NUSW page Association pour un Référendum libre et régulier au Sahara Occidental
- UNMS page Asociación de Mujeres Saharauis en España
- New generation of Saharawi woman ready to go Appeal of the "Western Sahara Campaign UK" on the 4th Congress of the NUSW