Tindouf camps: NGO alerts UN Human Rights Council to trafficking risks

During the 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, the NGO Promotion du développement économique et social (PDES) raised concerns regarding the populations living in the Tindouf camps in southwestern Algeria.

Human rights activist Aïcha Duihi highlighted that prolonged displacement increases vulnerability to human trafficking and contemporary forms of slavery. She noted that factors such as poverty, marginalization, discrimination, and limited access to justice exacerbate these risks, particularly for women and children. Duihi emphasized that these issues are prevalent across North Africa and the Sahelo-Saharan region.

The intervention specifically addressed the challenges of independently identifying victims and assessing risks when institutional constraints may limit direct access to populations and legal recourse mechanisms. The PDES has requested engagement from the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery and human trafficking to determine how to encourage better access and protection for these vulnerable groups.