Aminatou Haidar, 2008 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Laureate

Aminatou Haidar, 2008 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Laureate, is a Sahrawi human rights defender struggling for the right to self-determination of Western Sahara, the last colony in Africa. Ms. Haidar’s commitment to non-violence and peaceful demonstrations has led many to call her the “Sahrawi Gandhi.”
Ms. Haidar plays a leading role in several human rights campaigns focusing on the release of Sahrawi prisoners of conscience and the right to self-determination of the Sahrawi people. Ms. Haidar supports local organizations that monitor the human rights situation in Western Sahara and the illegal exploitation of its natural resources. She is a member of the Collective of Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders (CODESA), which draws attention to abuses committed by Moroccan authorities.
The conflict in Western Sahara is one of the most long standing and forgotten crises in Africa. Formerly a Spanish colony, it has been under strict military control by Morocco since 1975. For decades, the United Nations has intervened in the conflict in order to reach a political solution. Currently, the UN is facilitating ongoing negotiations between Morocco and the Sahrawi independence movement, the Polisario Front.
The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award was established in 1984 to honor courageous leaders or activists from around the world who dedicate their lives to overcoming serious human rights violations. The RFK Center for Human Rights engages in long-term partnerships with its laureates and their organizations to help them achieve their social change goals.
For more information, please see the RFK Center Press Release: http://www.rfkmemorial.org/legacyinaction/2008_announce