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Mauritanian Women Speak up against Rape

Categories: Sub-Saharan Africa, Mauritania, Citizen Media, Digital Activism, Freedom of Speech, Human Rights, Humanitarian Response, Ideas, Law, Media & Journalism, Protest, Women & Gender, Youth

A group of Mauritanian women launched an initiative against rape and all other forms of violence against women in their country. Entitled “Etkelmi or Speak up” [1] [ar and fr], this campaign aims according the blog “Al Tasfera” [2] [ar] to break the wall of silence surrounding rape and encourage victims to demand their rights and to be integrated in society.
Al Tasfera adds:

نسعى إلي توصيل رسالة لكافة أطياف المجتمع تتلخص في ضرورة مؤازرة المغتصبة ومعاقبة الجاني طبقا لقوانين الجريمة.
كما تسعي المبادرة إلي توطيد العلاقات ما بين الأهل والضحية في سبيل التكافل الأسري وتهدف المبادرة إلي تشجيع المغتصبات علي الإندماج في الحياة الاجتماعية والانخراط في السلك المهني كما تأخذ علي كاهلها رفع القضايا الراكدة للمغتصبات وتسليط الضوء علي المعاناة التي تحضنها المراكز والمنظمات

We strive to convey a message to all segments of society about the necessity of supporting the victims of rape and punishing the rapist according to the penal and criminal code. The initiative also aims to strengthen the ties between the victims and their parents in order to ensure the family solidarity. In addition, it aims to encourage those who were subjected to the act of rape to integrate in social life and engage in a career. Moreover, it shall endeavor to voice their issues and highlight their suffering which are now confined to centers and organizations.