ALGER – APS.dz – The Saharawi Minister for Social Affairs and the Promotion of Women, Suelma Beiruk, said that Saharawi women offer the most beautiful lessons in resilience against the Moroccan occupation.
In an interview given to APS on the occasion of International Women’s Day, which is celebrated on March 8 of each year, Suelma Beiruk stated that “Saharawi women (…) celebrate this event in a context marked by the conquest of the Saharawi State thanks to their contribution to the construction of national institutions and the exercise of all their legitimate rights”.
“At a time when the world celebrates this date and opposes violence against women, the lack of equal opportunities and the inability of some women to exercise their rights in everyday life (political, economic, social…), the Saharawi women are proud of the existence of a Constitution and laws that protect them”, she continued.
In this sense, the minister underlined that the Saharawi woman “belongs to a society that understands and supports her role, at a time when women around the world do not have the same opportunities”.
As proof, she said, the fact that most of the articles contained in the Maputo Protocol revolves around the fight against violence against women, and the need to give them opportunities and pave the way for their participation, “which leaves no doubt that Saharawi women are lucky to enjoy all these rights”.
“Saharawi women are proud that there is no violence against them, because the Saharawi State has reinforced their status, opened the way for them and enacted laws to protect them”, she argued, stressing that Saharawi women are “much more educated” than before .
The “correct” female presence in the different institutions
Suelma Beiruk, who is also a member of the National Secretariat of the Polisario Front, explained that the participation of Saharawi women has been reinforced in various institutions of the Republic, since most men joined the fighting fronts in the first years of the armed struggle. “Thus (women) taking responsibility for creating institutions and management in various fields and at all levels.”
The minister referred to the latest statistics published by her department, noting that 21% of Saharawi women are present in the national secretariat of the Polisario Front, 25% in the government, 34% in the national assembly and 23% in the different diplomatic representations.
According to her, this representation is “correct”, but “does not reflect the considerable efforts made by Saharawi women”, expressing their desire to produce more efforts in all aspects of public life.
The minister also underlined that Saharawi women “represent the cornerstone of the struggle of their people, and that they offer the most beautiful lessons in resilience, despite the systematic methods of violence and abuse and the practice of various types of verbal, physical and even sexual violence by the Moroccan occupier.”
Moroccan violence, she added, “has not stopped the struggle of Saharawi women who are participating in the organization of demonstrations against the Moroccan occupation, because they are convinced that their cause is just and that they must continue the struggle until the entire national territory is liberated”.
Suelma Beiruk explained that the Saharawi woman has this will and determination in the fight against the Moroccan occupation of “a society that does not know the impossible”.
Finally, the minister urged the international community to support the Saharawi woman and accompany her in her quest for independence.
