CHAPTER THREE: DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL GOVERNANCE 371. However, the opinion surveys reveal that only 3 per cent of those questioned consider the measures taken to promote and protect vulnerable social groups to be perfect, and 9 per cent consider them sufficient. The results are dominated by negative opinions, with 43 per cent regarding them as insufficient and 22 per cent as highly insufficient. ii. Findings of the CRM 372. Algeria has shown significant progress in the protection and promotion of the rights of vulnerable persons, including refugees and displaced persons. This progress is the result of the state‟s commitment to the principles of equity and equality for all its citizens. It is also the fruit of the humanitarian values of welcome and solidarity of the Algerian people. 373. Several legislative and institutional measures have been taken to ensure the protection of vulnerable persons. Algeria has adopted international agreements on the protection of refugees, namely the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951, its Protocol of 1967 and the 1993 African Convention. Pending discussions with relevant stakeholders, the CRM was informed that most refugees in Algeria are people from the Western Sahara who fled their country since occupation by Morocco in 1975. Although the CRM was not able to visit the refugee camps, it gathered information on their situation at the time of meetings held with United Nations agencies – the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNICEF and the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). These agencies have indicated that the Sahraoui refugees are located in refugee camps in the south-east of the country. Until now, there has been no official census, but they are estimated to number between 90 000 and 200 000. Living conditions there are very difficult and the temporary nature of the refugees‟ presence in the camps does not enable them to gain sufficient access to basic services such as drinking water (68 per cent), and decontamination and health services. 374. The representative from UNICEF drew attention to the situation of Sahraoui women and children. According to the document “Draft Description of the Programme Stand Alone”, which UNICEF produced in March 2006, the children are suffering from severe and chronic malnutrition. The food parcel offered to refugees for the past 30 years does not contain any fresh vegetables or fruit. This has resulted in anaemia among the women and affected the growth of the children. Despite a relatively high schooling rate (90 per cent), without large disparities between girls and boys, the quality of primary education is still weak and translates into a significant school failure rate (55 per cent). Idle youths without definite prospects form a vulnerable group at risk of being influenced by emerging social ills. The majority of women are illiterate. The case of the Sahraoui refugees has had notable consequences for Algeria and the sub-region, notably the material and financial burden on humanitarian aid during the 1970s; Maghrebian cooperation that has been secured; and bilateral Algeria-Morocco relations that have suffered as a result. 123