Moroccan Associations in Italy Condemn the Political Exploitation of Children from Tindouf Camps
Several Moroccan associations based in Italy have expressed their strong indignation over what they describe as the political exploitation of unaccompanied children from the Tindouf camps, as part of the summer initiative known as “Vacances pour la paix” (“Holidays for Peace”). These organizations are urging Italian authorities to protect these vulnerable minors and to terminate a program they consider contrary to children’s fundamental rights.
The Network of Moroccan Associations in Italy (RACMI) and the Moroccan-Italian Solidarity Space (SMIS), along with more than thirty other signatories, condemned in a joint statement the arrival in Italy of about sixty children touted as “Sahrawis.” According to them, these children are actually of Algerian nationality. The minors, who arrived with Algerian travel documents, are alleged to have been used for political propaganda orchestrated by the Polisario Front, with the support of various political figures in regions such as Tuscany, Lazio, and Emilia-Romagna.
The associations assert that Algeria is exploiting these children under the guise of humanitarian action, aiming to manipulate public opinion and obtain financial or political support. They also highlight the dire situation in the Tindouf camps, described as insecure and in violation of international law, where fundamental rights of refugees—including freedom of movement, access to healthcare, the right to work, and education—are widely disregarded.
The signatories also denounce the recruitment of child soldiers, extremist religious indoctrination, and the exploitation of humanitarian aid. They remind that such practices have been repeatedly reported to the UN Human Rights Council and the European Parliament.
Furthermore, the statement criticizes the stance of certain Italian politicians who support these actions, deeming it inconsistent with UN Security Council resolutions, particularly regarding support for a sustainable political solution to the Sahara conflict, as proposed by the Moroccan autonomy initiative.
The associations have reached out to several Italian ministries (Interior, Foreign Affairs, Labor, Justice), asking if they intend to take action to protect the rights of unaccompanied foreign children and to prevent any political exploitation on Italian soil. They are calling for sanctions against observed violations, in order to safeguard the image and values of the Italian Republic.
Finally, these accusations align with those made by several Moroccan and international NGOs, which have been raising alarms for years about the excesses of the “Vacances pour la paix” program, including reports of sexual abuse involving children from the camps, some of which have been brought to justice in Spain.
These organizations are calling for urgent intervention from UN mechanisms to halt what they describe as political maneuvering at the expense of childhood and human rights.
