Malak Amidan Australia Speaking Tour May 2012: A Saharawi human rights activist

Malak Amidan is a Saharawi human rights activist and trade unionist and will share her experiences of life in her homeland where the Saharawi people have lived under Moroccan occupation for 37 years. This will be the first time a Saharawi living in the occupied zones of Western Sahara visits Australia.

Malak Amidan, Saharawi human rights activist and trade unionist

Melbourne 30 April - 6 May
Canberra 7 - 10 May
Sydney 11 - 18 May

Malak will call for Australia to support:

• The right of the Saharawi people to determine their own future through a free and fair UN referendum.

• The inclusion of human rights monitoring in the mandate of the UN mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO).

To interview Malak during her speaking tour (30 April - 18 May 2012) or for more information, please contact:
Ron Guy 0428 173 970 (Melbourne) or Lesley Osborne 0439 363 010 (Sydney) or visit www.awsa.org.au

About Western Sahara
Western Sahara is in Northwest Africa and was a Spanish colony until 1975 when it was invaded and illegally occupied by Morocco. The invasion caused a long war that lasted until 1991 when the UN promised to organise a referendum on self-determination in the Territory. Western Sahara is known as the last colony in Africa and the East Timor of Africa.

About Malak Amidan
As a young Saharawi student Malak participated in the peaceful demonstrations that took place in the capital of Western Sahara El Ayoun in 2005. Since then she has been active as an advocate for the respect of the Saharawi people rights to live in freedom and dignity and exercise the unalienable right to self-determination.

Malak has been arrested many times and subjected to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. Malak's family members have also been imprisoned by the Moroccan authorities, including her brother, El Uali Amidan, who was arrested by the Moroccan police after a peaceful demonstration, and served 5 years in prison.

Malak's uncle, Mouloud Amidan, has been on hunger strike and is undertaking a sit-in since 29 February 2012 inside the offices of OCP (Office Cherifienne PhosBucraa), the company that exploits Western Sahara phosphates, to protest discrimination against Saharawi workers and demand basic rights for Saharawi employees.

Download File:
Download tour info sheet [ pdf ]
Contact Details
Australia Western Sahara Association (AWSA)
info@awsa.org.au
www.awsa.org.au

© Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA 2003.

Last Modified: Monday, 16-Apr-2012 11:09:51 EST
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