Western Sahara: Continuation of the 3rd Edition of International Youth Forum
BILBAO (Spain) – The proceedings of the 3rd edition of the International Youth Forum for Solidarity with Western Sahara continued on Saturday in Bilbao, Spain, with the participation of around 220 representatives from delegations across the globe.
On the second day of the event, which began the previous day, participants will split into four workshops scheduled throughout the forum.
The workshop titled “An Occupation Funded by Our Own Resources” will address Morocco’s exploitation of Western Sahara’s natural resources and the associated greenwashing campaign linked to its renewable energy projects.
It will examine how resource extraction, such as fishing and phosphate mining, impacts the Sahrawi population and how Morocco uses green energy without the consent of the Sahrawi people.
Participants will explore the ethical and legal implications of this issue while seeking solutions that respect Sahrawi rights.
The “Shaping the Narrative” workshop aims to analyse the various narratives and actors that have influenced the Sahrawi conflict for decades.
Through dialogue and critical reflection, participants will examine how these narratives have shaped perceptions of the conflict and work towards creating a collective narrative that aligns with current events.
The goal is to promote a deeper understanding and generate new perspectives to approach the conflict from a modern standpoint.
The “Building Solidarity Routes” workshop will focus on the active participation of youth in the Sahrawi cause.
Participants will work in groups to identify the main obstacles hindering support for the Sahrawi cause and propose practical solutions. Then, they will form a working group to develop viable action strategies.
The objective is to foster collaboration among participants and promote collective, organised action in support of the Western Sahara cause.
The fourth workshop, titled “Sahrawi Youth: Future Perspectives,” will concentrate on discussing the Sahrawi youth situation and developing proposals for the new Youth Plan 2025-2030.
Participants will be divided into subgroups to analyse topics such as employment, training, and gender inequalities.
Each group will then propose concrete actions to address these challenges and come together to devise solutions that meet the needs of Sahrawi youth.
The second day of the International Youth Forum will also feature the presentation of the exhibition “Graphic Memory of the Sahrawi People.”
Parallel events will include discussions on “Geopolitics of Western Sahara: Countries’ Positions on the Conflict and Global Perspectives,” “The Role of Young Women in Conflict Resolution: Empowering Voices on the Path to Freedom,” and “Voices Silenced: Narratives of Western Sahara and the Media Blockade.”
