the mission affirms the voluntary nature of participation in the programme of the children, the direct role of the parents in determining whether their child would participate, and the opportunity for the children who do not wish to continue the programme, to abandon it and return home. Child recruitment According to a 1998 report by War Resisters' International, "during the guerrilla war" – i.e. between 1975 and 1991 – "Polisario recruitment formed an integral part of the education programme. At the age of 12, children were either integrated into the "National School of 12 October" which prepares the political and military cadres, or they have been sent abroad to Algeria, Cuba and Libya to receive military training as well as regular schooling. At conscription age (17) they returned from abroad to be incorporated into Polisario's armed forces. They received more specialised training in engineering, radio, artillery, mechanics and desert warfare. At nineteen they became combatants." See also AFAPREDESA Ali Salem Tamek Aminatou Haidar ASVDH BIRDHSO Brahim Dahane History of Western Sahara Human rights in Morocco Internet censorship and surveillance in Western Sahara Mohamed Daddach Mohamed Elmoutaoikil Tazmamart References External links H.R.W. world report 2010: Morocco & Western Sahara Amnesty International: Morocco/Western Sahara 2006 Report Freedom House: Western Sahara 2010 Report Human Rights Watch: Morocco – Summary page for Morocco/Western Sahara IFEX: Morocco Puts Squeeze on Western Sahara News – IFEX UNHCR Western Sahara page Human Rights Watch: Keeping It Secret – 1995 investigative mission to Western Sahara and Tindouf. R.S.F. – Morocco – Annual report 2006 R.S.F. – Morocco – 2005 annual report R.S.F. – Morocco – Annual Report 2002 N.R.C. Report on Western Sahara: Occupied Country, Displaced People El Observador nº 52: Derechos humanos en el Sáhara Occidental (2008) 2008 International Trade Union visit to the occupied territories in Western Sahara. ARSO human rights page ARSO's collection of human rights material ARSO political prisoners' page CLAIHR visiting mission 1997 – conditions in the Tindouf refugee camps CLAIHR visiting mission 1999 – conditions in Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara (pdf) Asociación de Familiares de Presos y Desaparecidos Saharauis (AFAPREDESA) – Exile-based Sahrawi human rights organization Asociación Saharaui de las Víctimas de las Violaciones de Derechos Humanos por Marruecos (ASVDH) – Illegalized El Aaiun-based Sahrawi human rights organization Colectivo Saharaui de Defensores de los Derechos Humanos (CODESA) – El Aaiun-based Sahrawi human rights collective Comité por la Defensa del Derecho a la Autodeterminación