National Union of Saharawi Women

NUSW

Concerns of the Union

On the national level

The Union is concerned with the situation of Saharawi women and their development.
It endeavours to assist women in the occupied areas of the Western Sahara by making every effort to alleviate the suffering of women in the occupied areas in the face of abductions, torture and imprisonment they are subjected to by the Moroccan authorities of occupation.
The Union's main interest is improving the situation for children, the elderly and the handicapped.

On the international level

The NUSW remains concerned with the suffering of women throughout the world due to inequality and violations of their rights.
The Union continues to denounce the wars and conflicts whose primary victims are always children and women.
The Union vehemently condemns the violations of human rights which occur in spite of international conventions and agreements.

Organisation of the NUSW

The Union is directed by a National Committee comprising 57 membres elected by the Congress which takes place every 5 years.
The National Committee includes an Executive Committee chaired by the Secretary General who is also elected by the Congress. At the same time she is member of the National Committee of the POLISARIO Front.
The national Committee is subdivided

• Into departments:
  • Department of External Relations
  • Department of Information, Culture and Orientation
  • Department of Occupied Towns and Emigration
  • Department of Social Affairs
• Into four regional offices in the four main regions of the country (Aioun, Dakhla, Smara and Aousserd).

The Union has representatives in different socio-professional fields. The Union's Committee meets every six month in order to evaluate the reports of the Executive Committee, to define courses of action, to vote on half-yearly programmes and to take a political standpoint, if necessary.

Objectives On the national level - To mobilise Saharawi women to reinforce their role in the struggle for the liberation and independence of the Western Sahara. - To 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). To sensitise women to their social role by means of meetings of those who are in charge in order to define the grass-roots activities seminars and conferences on the local regional and national level meetings, gatherings and cultural evenings distribution of the organisation's documents dealing with women's political, educational, professional and cultural situation occasions for motivation: national holidays, International women's, children's, health days, etc. the showing of films, exhibitions of photographs and arts and crafts so that they are held in esteem and will be allowed to play their role after independence.

On the international level
The National Union of Saharawi Women works for the implementation of decisions and strategies concerning women, particularly the "Strategy of Nairobi". It works for the establishment of security and peace in the world, equality between the sexes as the basis for all progres and developpment and the reinforcement of human rights and democracy.
The NUSW, whose struggle forms an integral part of the fight for liberation led by women around the world, has been active within the framework of several regional and international organisations:

• The General Union of Arab Women since 1977
• The World Federation of Democratic Women since 1977
• The Pan-African Women's Organisation since 1980

The NUSW has also participated in

• The Conference of Mediterranean Women
• The World Summit for Children (Moscow 1979)
• The World Conference on the United Nation's Decade for Women (Copenhagen 1980, Nairobi 1985)
• The World Seminar on the Woman Cormonaut (Luxembourg 1986)
• The Arab Conference on Women and the Petroleum Period (Cairo 1987)
• The Conference on Women and Society (Tripoli 1989)
• The World Conference on Human Rights (Vienna 1993)
• and meetings and seminars on women and religion, refugee women, women and power, women and illiteracy, women and work, women and the future, etc
• The Congresses of Arab, African and European Women.
• The World Conference of Woman - BEIJING 1995

The NUSW maintains good relations with many non-governmental and humanitarian organisations, with trade unions and political organisations of different sensibilities throughout the world, as well as with political parties and women's organisations.
In this context we cherish great hopes of the endeavours of the United Nation's with regard to women in providing the material and human means to reinforce their role in development and peace based on equalitiy.
It is, however, our deep conviction that the greatest part of the work must be carried out through the foundation of society, the family, and by increasing its educational role, for it is this which is the driving force behind countries' policies and a model of relations.

Contacts In the refugee camps tel: (213 7) 93 14 80 or 93 16 46 or 93 23 32 fax: (213 7) 93 18 22 or 93 13 76   Saharawi Mission in Algiers tel: (213 2) 74 79 07 or 74 78 20 fax:(213 2) 74 79 84 Address Union Nationale des Femmes Sahraouies c/o Mission de la RASD B.P. 10, El Mouradia 1, Rue F. Rooswelt DZ-16 000 Alger - Algérie

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