Organizations
L’Initiative de Resurgence du Mouvement Abolitionniste – Mauritanie works everyday on the ground in Mauritania to release those currently enslaved and prosecute the enslavers. The Mauritanian government has consistently persecuted IRA-Mauritanie. The primary IRA-Mauritanie leadership is currently imprisoned, but the members of the organization in Mauritania continue to fight for freedom. IRA – USA is the U.S. based counterpart to IRA – Mauritania. IRA – USA is a separate organization, but in daily working contact with IRA – Mauritanie.
SOS-Esclaves is the other primary anti-slavery NGO in Mauritania. Founded in 1995, the organization was given official NGO status in 2005. The organization also partners with international organizations such as Anti-Slavery International and currently has 6 main projects in place.
International Campaign Against Slavery
The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organizations (UNPO) launched this campaign on January 29, 2014. The goal of the campaign is to push the United Nations General Assembly to make strong, committed steps towards ending slavery worldwide.
The Abolition Institute is an organization based out of Chicago, Illinois. It is dedicated to ending slavery in Mauritania, and specifically to pressuring the U.S. government to provide support to Mauritanian activists and to pressure the Mauritanian government to begin fighting slavery in its country.
Walk Free works directly with IRA-Mauritanie and IRA-USA. Currently, the organization is advocating for the release of Biram and the other anti-slavery activists currently in prison. The organization has established a campaign to set these activists free, collecting hundreds of thousands of signatures from around the world.
Anti-Slavery International works globally in the fight against slavery. In Mauritania, the organization has partnered with SOS-Esclaves to implement multiple projects on the ground. Anti-Slavery International continues to pressure the Mauritanian government and international organizations to fight slavery in the country.
Further Resources
CNN Freedom Project: Slavery’s Last Stronghold
The New Yorker: Freedom Fighter