Slavery in Mauritania

US non-governmental humanitarian organizations and the Mauritanian representative of S.O.S. Slaves have asserted that the practice of slavery is still existent in Mauritania.

AFP quoted Jerry Herman, who works for the American Friends Service Committee, as saying in a press conference held in the National Press Club in Washington that the US administration refuses to admit the existence of slavery in Mauritania and is considered a partner involved in this process.

Herman denounced the policy of expulsions and evacuations carried out in the said country.

For her part Amy Holms of the Independent Women's Forum in defense of women's rights said that the slavery of African women and children constitutes one of the ugliest crimes committed against women in the world.

She added that despite available information from human rights groups and journalists concerned and stories of the fleeing slaves, the US State Department still denies the existence of slavery in Mauritania.

Chairman of S.O.S. Slaves of Mauritania, Boubacar Ould Messaou, said the whole Mauritanian society goes back to slavery. He added that he was born a slave from a slave mother.

Messaou, who is on his first visit to Washington, noted that he met with several US officials at the US State Department.