RFK CENTER APPLAUDS RETURN OF AMINATOU HAIDAR TO WESTERN SAHARA

Washington, DC-- The RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights has confirmed that 2008 RFK Human Rights Laureate Aminatou Haidar boarded a flight home from the Canary Islands to Western Sahara, landing at El Auin Airport last night, and is home safely with her children.  Ms. Haidar’s passport was also returned to her.  Her return comes 32 days after she launched a hunger strike in protest of her removal from Western Sahara, which resulted in her hospitalization in the Canary Islands, on Wednesday, just a day before her return.  She traveled home accompanied by her sister and the Spanish doctor who treated her during the hunger strike.  The doctor will continue providing her with medical care as necessary.

RFK Center advocated for Ms. Haidar’s right to return home since her removal on November 14th, reaching out to leaders in Morocco, Spain, the United States and the United Nations to take action to return her to her homeland in Western Sahara.  UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay and several members of the United States Congress issued statements calling for her return.

Monika Kalra Varma, Director of the RFK Center for Human Rights, made the following statement in response to Ms. Haidar's return home: 

“After a month-long struggle, we welcome the decision by Morocco to allow Ms. Haidar to return home and reunite with her children.  The right to return to one’s country is a fundamental human right guaranteed under international law.  RFK Center acknowledges Morocco’s compliance with its obligation under international law and welcomes the opportunity to work with Morocco on human rights issues in Western Sahara.”

The RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the human rights movement through innovative support to human rights defenders around the world. With an over forty-year rack record of attaining concrete results from cutting-edge approaches to social justice issues, the RFK Center carries forward Robert F. Kennedy's vision of a more just and peaceful world.

To learn more about the RFK Center, please visit www.rfkcenter.org