At the Zurich Film Festival, human rights activist Najla Mohamed-Lamin, climate and human rights activist Greta Thunberg, and director Patrick Wally spoke about resistance and activism for Western Sahara. Although the talk was sold out, a large number of seats remained empty. The recording of the discussion, moderated by Sylvia Valentin of terre des hommes schweiz, is now available online.
The ZFF Talk on Western Sahara featuring Najla Mohamed-Lamin, Patrick Wally, and Greta Thunberg took place in front of a nearly empty auditorium—even though the event was sold out. The festival later confirmed to the Tagesanzeiger “that several individuals had reserved a large number of tickets for the free event without intending to use those seats.”
terre des hommes schweiz condemns any attempts to silence activists who advocate for human rights. Their voices must be heard—including that of Najla Mohamed-Lamin, who has worked tirelessly for years to defend the rights of her people.
For ten years, Austrian director Patrick Wally has been following the Sahrawi human rights activist. She has lived in a Sahrawi refugee camp in the Algerian Sahara since birth and advocates for the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination. What forms can peaceful resistance take when a conflict remains unresolved for generations?
These long-standing personal encounters have resulted in a powerful documentary that explores this question. It tells a story of identity, home, and resistance, and sheds light on the plight of the Sahrawi people, which receives too little international attention. “My Home of Wind and Sand” had its world premiere at the Zurich Film Festival.
For more information about the film: www.wyfilm.at/myhomeofwindandsand
Our Commitment to Western Sahara
terre des hommes schweiz has been supporting youth projects in the refugee camps of Western Sahara for many years. These initiatives promote education, mental health, and the social integration of young Saharawis. In addition, through advocacy and lobbying efforts, we work to ensure that the plight of the Saharawi people is not forgotten on the international stage.
Featured image: Elisabeth Luu, Zurich Film Festival
