ZOUHOUR MECHERGUI

Tunisia- NuJINHA spoke to Sahrawi activist Ayla Shag al-No during the 3rd World Women’s Conference of grassroots women held in Tunisia. Speaking about the difficulties faced by women in the Western Sahara, she called for international solidarity campaigns to be launched for women in the Western Sahara.

“They are excluded from news media”

Stating that women are subjected to all forms of violence in refugee camps, Ayla Shag al-No said that women are also deprived of their right to freedom of thought and excluded from news media. “Women activists are subjected to harassment during their peaceful protests while speaking out their problems and condemning gender-based violence,” she told us.

“Solidarity should be strengthened”

Ayla Shag al-No also stated that women in the Western Sahara suffer from asylum, forced displacement, harsh environment conditions, rights violations and violence. “The feminist movement in the region works hard to strengthen the solidarity with Sahrawi women. The feminist movement is a communication bridge between the international women's organizations and Sahrawi women. I call all women to make the voices of Sahrawi women heard all around the world.” Ayla Shag al-No told us that she participated in the conference to be the voices of Sahrawi women against the imperialist regimes that do not want the Sahrawi people to determine their own destiny.