They conclude the elections in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea

They conclude the elections in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, with a population of approximately 1 million.

Equatorial Guinea is the 11th State in the African continent which organized elections in the first half of this year. In this context, the President of the Commission of the AU Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma sent a team to observe the elections in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, chaired by the former President of Benin, Boni Yaya Thomas.

The delegation also includes Vice President of the Pan-African Parliament, Suelma, Beiruk, Lamni Abaali of the Permanent Commission of the AU, also includes members of the Pan-African Parliament, civil society organizations, human rights, specialists on elections, democracy and governance committees.

The President of the Commission of the AU's elections conform to the Constitution of the African Union concerning elections, democracy and governance, which came into force from 2012

Be noted that the Group of observers from the African Union monitors elections throughout the national territory of Equatorial Guinea, which had a broad participation of young people and women. 

The President of ECOSOC, Josef Chilengui expressed its solidarity with the fight of the Sahrawi people

Fatma Mehdi, General Secretary of the National Union of Sahrawi women (UNMS) and member of the secretariat national of the F. Polisario PARTICIPATES in the meeting of the Standing Committee of the economic and Social Council and Cultural Africa (ECOSOC) held in Lusaka (Zambia). The many lectures cover the future development of the continent through the presentation and discussion of the development strategy of multiple charts in the areas of climate change, agriculture, infrastructure, transportation, taking into account the agenda of the African Union, marked by the Summit of the heads to the year 2063.

The President of ECOSOC, Josef Chilengui expressed its solidarity with the fight of the Sahrawi people during the hearing conceded to Fatma Mehdi, General Secretary of the National Union of Sahrawi women (UNMS). The General Secretariat assists in capacity as Chairman of the Committee on women and gender in Cultural of the African Union and the economic and Social Council.

The democratic women's movement (MDM) of Portugal presented a motion in support of the struggle of the Sahrawi people in the Portuguese Parliament..

The democratic women's movement (MDM) of Portugal presented a motion in support of the struggle for independence and national sovereignty of the Sahrawi people. in the Portuguese Parliament.

We want to reaffirm our solidarity with the people of saharaui and our condemnation of the violations of human rights in the occupied territories, as well as we ask to the The UN Security Council, a referendum is free and fair so that the Saharan people to exercise the right to self-determination, as they determine the UN resolutions and the release of all Saharan political prisoners. MDM advocates that it is created an international mechanism for the protection of human rights in Western Sahara and the cessation of the plundering of the natural riches of illegally by Morocco pate in the occupied part of the Western Sahara.

The Frente Polisario calls on Russia mediating in the conflict of Western Sahara

The Polisario Front calls on Russia mediating in the conflict of Western Sahara

We have come to Moscow to urge Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, I will join the international efforts to solve the problem of Western Sahara, said Emhammed Khaddad, representative of the movement and Coordinator for the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (Minurso).

The Saharawi delegation that is part of the UNMS GS was received by the Deputy Foreign Minister, Mijaíl Bogdánov, representative of the Russian President for Middle East and Africa.

Summary of the International Conference on Women and Resistance held on days 2 and April 3, 2016 in the Saharawi refugee camps, near the town of Tindouf Algeria.

Summary of the International Conference on Women and Resistance held on days 2 and April 3, 2016 in the Saharawi refugee camps, near the town of Tindouf Algeria.

This conference is the fourth edition. The first such conference was held in Abuja, Nigeria 2010, the second was in Algiers, Algeria 2013, and the third was in Windhoek, Namibia.

The conference comes within the framework of a strategy of African women in order to support the struggle of the Saharawi women with 40 years, and their peaceful resistance despite the serious human rights violations being committed by security forces against the Saharawi people especially women.

The fourth Conference has been a forum for exchange of experiences between groups of women who participated in the struggle against colonialism in Africa, struggles were led by liberation movements in Africa as the first item.

In this regard they were shared experiences of resistance during the struggle against colonialism, from Namibia, Nigeria, Algeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the experience of Saharawi women. The experience of the Saharawi women was very striking and hard by the presence of a delegation of Saharawi women from the areas occupied by Morocco especially women who were imprisoned and tortured, mothers of political prisoners and missing.

 The conference has received messages of solidarity from the Federation of Cuban women, women of Angola and other organizations continental and international.

The second issue was the economic empowerment of women, in this regard were treated experiences from Waele an organization of African women in Nigeria who works for the political and economic empowerment of women in Africa were also discussed experiences from Algeria and camps Sahrawi refugees.

At the end of the Conference, Waele has supported  60 cooperatives Saharawi women in the refugee camps. 

message of military units (on request) composed by veteran women who have been put at the disposal of the army to train women or to be in the first rows in the case of an eventual war.

Programme debate TV on the occasion of the recent conclusion of the Fourth International Conference on women resistance, held from 2 to 3 April in the camps.

The initiative comes within the framework of the Sahrawi Television programming and, in which participated Sahrawi women who discussed the current situation of the conflict and the challenges facing the refugee population, especially womenThe initiative comes within the framework of the Sahrawi Television programming and, in which participated Sahrawi women who discussed the current situation of the conflict and the challenges facing the refugee population, especially women, to the new military escalation by Morocco and his confrontation with the United Nations. During the program, which featured a broad representation of all sectors of military, police and other professions, women reaffirmed willingness to defend their cause with all the means of resistance available.

 Note the message of military units (on request) composed by veteran women who have been put at the disposal of the army to train women or to be in the first rows in the case of an eventual war. 

Campaigns about safe and sustainable building techniques

 Members of the Executive of the National Union of Sahrawi women carry out awareness and information campaigns about safe and sustainable building techniques. The campaigns come in the framework of carrying out population refugee for the reconstruction of homes and centers in refugee camps and activity which consists in reporting techniques of safe buildings, especially after the destruction of their homes as a result of the torrential rains that swept the refugee camps at the end of last year to women and young people (majority in the camps) )on techniques of safe buildings, especially after the destruction of their homes as a result of the torrential rains that swept the refugee camps at the end of last year. 













It should be noted that the Sahrawi women have long experience in construction with adobe, since they are that built base camps and the institutions of the RASD from the beginning.

Models and training materials were used to explain the new techniques.

Final Declaration 4th International Conference" Women's right to resist: the situation forgotten of Sahrawi women”,

The 4th International Conference" Women's right to resist: the situation forgotten of Sahrawi women”, held in Boujdour, from 2 to 3 June 2016 under the title "The forgotten situation of Sahrawi women", with the participation of delegations from Algeria, Nigeria, Namibia and Zimbabwe, as well as delegates from different countries and national institutions and continental and international organizations.

The 4th International Conference started its work organizing a forum of solidarity with the political prisoners of the Gdim Izik on hunger strike open, with interventions through messages of solidarity and the interventions of the participants from Algeria, Nigeria, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Spain, Sweden among other organizations participating in the Conference, which expressed support for the political prisoners and demanded urgent intervention by the international community to release all political prisoners Sahrawi in Moroccan prisons, also reaffirmed their determination to 

continue their claim in international 

forums.

At the 4th International Conference has been discussing the first substantive experiences basic women in the resistance during the African liberation movements and their role in building after independence, with presentations on the experiences of countries such as Namibia, Algeria, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and the experience of the Sahrawi women in the occupied territories and in refugee camps , camps of dignity for forty years. The second theme was the role of cooperatives in promoting give it strength and experience of the organization that promotes political and economic in African women, Algerian, capabilities as well as the experience of cooperatives of Saharawi women.

The IV Conference praised the firmness and resistance of Sahrawi women and prominent role in the fight of the Sahrawi people to self-determination and independence and active participation in the construction of the institutions of the State and called the rest of the world, especially Africa, to expand the space of solidarity with women in a situation of resistance against the occupation and allow them to contribute as an active partner in the 

development Justice and peace.

The IV Conference has appealed to the United Nations and especially the Security Council to accelerate the implementation of the decisions and recommendations related to the conflict in Western Sahara for the Organization of a free and democratic referendum allowing the Saharan people to decide their destiny freely, thus completing the process of decolonization of the last colony in Africa

. The IV Conference also called the need to protect the human rights of Saharans in the occupied territories of Western Sahara monitoring and reporting against the brutality of the Moroccan regime, as well as stop the plundering of the natural resources of the territory, plundered by the illegal occupation and the dismantling of the wall of shame, which constitutes a crime against humanity. 

Closing ceremony of the IV International Conference of "Resistance and of support to the women Sahrawi"

Closing ceremony of the IV International Conference of "Resistance and of support to the women Sahrawi" which will be held from 2 to 3 April 2016 at the headquarters of the UNMS in the Wilaya of Bujdur, under the title: "The forgotten and difficult situation of Sahrawi women".

On the second day "Experience of cooperative production of las women to promote mechanisms of resistance" was another of the debates. 

Discussions on the experiences of the Organization Web and its promotion of political and economic initiatives in Africa have been developed. Also the valuable experience of the National Union of Sahrawi women women.

The delegations that attended this event are: Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Algeria, Ecuador and the Basque network, participated with their experiences of "Women in resistance"

In the afternoon be spoken initiative of the African organization WAELE AECELFA (UNMS) Sahrawi women.

Likewise, today took place the Micro credit distribution whose beneficiaries are the first group of 68 Sahrawi women elected at the national level and that can develop their initiatives for empowerment personal and collective independence.

This Classic Fabric Symbolizes Beauty And Resistance For Saharawi Women

As a child of the Saharawi diaspora, I never fully understood the symbolism and meaning behind El-melhfa. As a teenager in Spain, I remember clearly the moment my mum handed me a colorful melhfa to wear. Walking outside was more than just difficult, it was embarrassing. I tripped and fell—making a complete mockery of myself in front of the neighbors. I handed the El-melhfa back to my mother fully intending never to wear it again.

My resentment changed when I had the experience of a lifetime and spoke at the United Nations. I wore El-melhfa to deliver a speech to hundreds of diplomats from all over the world, about the struggle that Saharawi people are enduring. The experience not only changed my outlook on wearing El-melhfa, but it also gave me a sense of pride.

El-melhfa is one of the strongest cultural weapons my people used against Spanish colonialism in the 19th century and continue to use against the Moroccan occupation today. It is what sets us apart, and is an important symbol of my Saharawi heritage and struggle. To understand the symbolism of El-melhfa, it is worth noting some facts surrounding its history.

A four-meter by one-meter piece of cloth, El-melhfa is a fabric that decorates Saharawi women and serves as a symbol of national identity and struggle against colonial oppression. It is considered by many as a mirror for strong, determined and revolutionary women who on daily bases combat the oppressive Moroccan regime to gain freedom and independence.

Many Saharawis still live under the repressive Moroccan regime in the occupied territories of our homeland. Women are picked up by security forces during peaceful demonstrations since they are visibly distinguished as Saharawis. They experience daily systematic discrimination for being proud and outspoken defenders of freedom for their homeland.

But, it is not only Saharawi women living in the occupied territories who use El-melhfa as a method of resistance. Saharawis living abroad are always proud to share that symbol. An example of this is human rights activist, Aminatou Haidar. She always wears her melhfa in her efforts to share the peaceful voice of her people around the globe.

Although one may view El-melhfa as a religious, Muslim symbol, it is specifically cultural and unique to the Saharawi people; used by every ethnic and religious groups within the population. It comes in variety of colors, patterns and materials. It may be designed simply, with artistic shapes and patterns, or even with the flag of Western Sahara. El-melhfa has different names depending on the colors and the material it is made of and sometimes, it gets its name from the age group of women wearing it.

El-melhfa holds a very practical role in the life of the Saharawi people. Western Sahara is mostly desert with dry and hot weather, characterized with sandstorms. El-melhfa can protect from the harsh environmental conditions of the desert.

Lemlahef, the plural word for El-melhfa in our language Hassaniya, usually comes in light colors such as white, light green and blue for young women, while dark colors such as black, brown and dark navy are for older women. The thickness of the material vary as well. Etalab, literally meaning youth, is a thin and more transparent fabric. Etalab is mostly worn by young girls when they first start wearing El-melhfa. El-galith, meaning thick, is for the elder women.

The most important and traditional type of Lemlahef, nilla, existed since the emergence of the Saharawi identity and culture. Nilla is made of a very thick material, and it releases a navy blue residue also called enilla. This residue is believed to be very good for the skin and helps against the sun radiation and sandstorms. The most traditional way of wearing El-melhfa is called etaglidee, where part of the nilla and part of a white melhfa are worn together. Women would wear the nilla on the upper body and the white piece, le-zaar, around the waist. Women usually wear etaglidee for special occasions and celebrations, but nowadays it is mostly worn for weddings. The bride would wear etaglidee on the first day of the festivities.

Despite the difficulty of wearing El-melhfas for those who are not used to it, this beautiful fabric and cultural creation is a great symbol of the Saharawi identity, and most importantly a testament to our people’s struggle for independence.

Agaila Abba is a writer specializing in African, Middle Eastern and North African affairs. She tweets @agailita.

Fuente: http://www.okayafrica.com/news/

Saharawi singer Aziza Brahim donned in El-melhfa. Photo by Guillem Moreno.

IV International Conference of "Resistance and of support to the women Sahrawi" which will be held from 2 to 3 April 2016 at the headquarters of the UNMS in the Wilaya of Bujdur, under the title: "The forgotten and difficult situation of Sahrawi women"

 The National Union of Sahrawi women

IV International Conference of "Resistance and of support to the women Sahrawi" which will be held from 2 to 3 April 2016 at the headquarters of the UNMS in the Wilaya of Bujdur, under the title: "The forgotten and difficult situation of Sahrawi women"

The Conference opens its work with an act of solidarity with the political prisoners of Gdeim Izik hunger since March 1 strike, and the screening of a documentary about their situation in the prisons in Morocco. It will be reading a message of solidarity with the prisoners, accompanied by a poem dedicated to them.

Welcome message of the UNMS attending delegations: Algeria, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Ecuador. Interventions of the participating delegations, who will step to the first report under the title: "The experiences of women in resistance"

Interventions of the participating delegations, who will step to the first report under the title: "The experiences of women in resistance"

General plenary about experiences of resistance and the role of women. Conclusions about how to activate the role of women in the resistance. On the second day of the Conference paper is about "The experience of productive cooperatives of women to promote mechanisms of resistance ". Development in the plenary on The experience of the Organization and WAELE/ AECELFA to promote political and economic initiatives in Africa.

The experience of the National Union of Sahrawi women. Experience of the Saharawi State and the Wilaya of Bujdur as a model, which will be followed by a debate in the plenary.

Provide conclusions and summaries on cooperatives. In the afternoon will be discussed in The African organization WAELE with the Sahrawi women (UNMS) initiative.

Distribution of Micro credits whose beneficiaries will be the first group of 68 Sahrawi women elected at a national level. Family photo of the Group of beneficiaries. Continuation of the interventions of delegations and closing remarks.