On 5 July 2026, SHOAA for Human Rights marks the sixth anniversary of its establishment. This occasion offers an opportunity to reflect on six years of independent human rights work, launched in the context of Algeria’s peaceful popular movement and the subsequent shrinking of civic space and increasing human rights violations targeting human rights defenders, journalists, activists, and individuals exercising their right to freedom of expression.
The announcement of SHOAA’s launch on 5 July 2020 reflected a deliberate commitment to the symbolic significance of Algeria’s Independence Day, a date that embodies the values of freedom, dignity, and sovereignty. SHOAA believes that these values can only be fully realized through respect for human rights, the protection of fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law.
SHOAA was established in London in response to the need for an independent human rights organization dedicated to documenting and monitoring violations, defending rights and freedoms, and bringing human rights issues in Algeria to regional and international human rights mechanisms and forums, driven by the conviction that human dignity and justice know no borders.
Over the past six years, SHOAA has worked to document human rights violations, produce reports and statements, engage in advocacy and awareness-raising, and build partnerships with human rights actors. It has also devoted particular attention to issues of environmental justice and historical redress, notably the legacy of the French nuclear tests in the Algerian Sahara.
On this occasion, SHOAA expresses its sincere appreciation to its members, volunteers, partners, and all those who have supported its mission and contributed to strengthening its role as an independent human rights organization.
As SHOAA looks to the future, it reaffirms its commitment to defending human rights and fundamental freedoms, promoting a culture of human rights and the rule of law, and strengthening advocacy, documentation, and cooperation, believing that protecting human dignity is an enduring responsibility and that building a society founded on freedom, justice, and respect for rights requires perseverance and collective action.
Six years have passed, but the mission endures, the commitment remains steadfast, and the determination never wavers. SHOAA will continue to serve as an independent voice in defense of human rights and freedoms, faithful to its principles and convinced that human dignity will always remain at the heart of its mission.
SHOAA for Human Rights
