ProMosaik interviews Sarah Mathewson of Anti-Slavery International
Hi all,
As you already know
in our “Manifesto” it says:
in our “Manifesto” it says:
ProMosaik fights against
injustice, slavery, exploitation, human
injustice, slavery, exploitation, human
trafficking, poverty, and
ignorance.
ignorance.
Concerning slavery up
to now our book projects focussed on Mauritania where slavery still exists in
society. About slavery in post-modern times in general and about slavery in
Mauritania in particular we have interviewed Sarah Mathewson, the Africa
Programme Co-ordinator of Anti-Slavery International in London.
to now our book projects focussed on Mauritania where slavery still exists in
society. About slavery in post-modern times in general and about slavery in
Mauritania in particular we have interviewed Sarah Mathewson, the Africa
Programme Co-ordinator of Anti-Slavery International in London.
At this point I would
like to thank Sarah again for her so useful information.
like to thank Sarah again for her so useful information.
Slavery is a reality
which has to be taken very seriously because sometimes it is a very hidden
oppression, for example if I think about house-slaves in Mauritania.
which has to be taken very seriously because sometimes it is a very hidden
oppression, for example if I think about house-slaves in Mauritania.
In her interview
Sarah shows us important strategies to fight slavery in Mauritania. For
ProMosaik e.V. an important aspect is also the religion which is used by
slave-holders to maintain their power over the slaves by manipulating Islam,
while Islam is a completely egalitarian religion and wants the final
abolishment of slavery by reformism.
Sarah shows us important strategies to fight slavery in Mauritania. For
ProMosaik e.V. an important aspect is also the religion which is used by
slave-holders to maintain their power over the slaves by manipulating Islam,
while Islam is a completely egalitarian religion and wants the final
abolishment of slavery by reformism.
I would like to thank
you all for your attention. Our first objective is to raise awareness about
slavery in all its forms and historical manifestations since we think that
awareness and knowledge are the first steps to effectively fight slavery.
you all for your attention. Our first objective is to raise awareness about
slavery in all its forms and historical manifestations since we think that
awareness and knowledge are the first steps to effectively fight slavery.
If you have comments
and suggestions about the interview, please send us an email to info@promosaik.com
and suggestions about the interview, please send us an email to info@promosaik.com
Thank you so much
Dr. phil. Milena
Rampoldi
Rampoldi
ProMosaik e.V.
ProMosaik e.V.:
How would you
explain modern slavery to our readers?
explain modern slavery to our readers?
Sarah Mathewson:
Anti-Slavery
International, founded in 1839 to fight against the Transatlantic Slave Trade,
is the oldest international human rights organization in the world. Since 1839,
Anti-Slavery has continued to work at community, national and international
levels to end the many forms of modern slavery that exist today. Indeed,
slavery still continues today in one form or another in every country in the
world. From women forced into prostitution, children and adults forced to work
in agriculture, domestic work, or factories and sweatshops producing goods for
global supply chains, entire families forced to work for nothing to pay off
generational debts; or girls forced to marry older men, the illegal practice
still blights contemporary world.
International, founded in 1839 to fight against the Transatlantic Slave Trade,
is the oldest international human rights organization in the world. Since 1839,
Anti-Slavery has continued to work at community, national and international
levels to end the many forms of modern slavery that exist today. Indeed,
slavery still continues today in one form or another in every country in the
world. From women forced into prostitution, children and adults forced to work
in agriculture, domestic work, or factories and sweatshops producing goods for
global supply chains, entire families forced to work for nothing to pay off
generational debts; or girls forced to marry older men, the illegal practice
still blights contemporary world.
According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) around 21 million men,
women and children around the world are in a form of slavery.
There are many different characteristics that distinguish slavery from other
human rights violations, however only one needs to be present for slavery to
exist. Someone is in slavery if property rights are exercised over them. For
example, they might be:
·
forced to work – through mental
or physical threat;
forced to work – through mental
or physical threat;
·
owned or controlled by an
’employer’, usually through mental or physical abuse or the threat of abuse;
owned or controlled by an
’employer’, usually through mental or physical abuse or the threat of abuse;
·
dehumanised, treated as a
commodity or bought and sold as ‘property’;
dehumanised, treated as a
commodity or bought and sold as ‘property’;
·
physically constrained or
restricted in terms of freedom of movement.
physically constrained or
restricted in terms of freedom of movement.
ProMosaik e.V.:
In its books
against slavery in Islamic countries ProMosaik e.V. wants to fight the mentality
of slavery. Which strategies does your organization implement to fight against
slavery in Mauritania?
against slavery in Islamic countries ProMosaik e.V. wants to fight the mentality
of slavery. Which strategies does your organization implement to fight against
slavery in Mauritania?
Sarah Mathewson:
If we are to end
and prevent slavery in Mauritania, we need the following to happen:
and prevent slavery in Mauritania, we need the following to happen:
•
The development and enforcement
of a strong legal framework, to send a clear message to slave owners that the
practice is unacceptable and perpetrators will be punished;
The development and enforcement
of a strong legal framework, to send a clear message to slave owners that the
practice is unacceptable and perpetrators will be punished;
•
Emergency funds and support
(shelter, protection, training programmes, etc) available to people escaping
slavery.
Emergency funds and support
(shelter, protection, training programmes, etc) available to people escaping
slavery.
•
The development and
implementation of policies and programmes that support the rights of groups
vulnerable to slavery (facilitating access to education, land, resources, employment,
and healthcare, for example). This will help overcome the discrimination
against them; offer them alternatives to slavery, exploitation and poverty, and
enable people to become truly emancipated, equal citizens.
The development and
implementation of policies and programmes that support the rights of groups
vulnerable to slavery (facilitating access to education, land, resources, employment,
and healthcare, for example). This will help overcome the discrimination
against them; offer them alternatives to slavery, exploitation and poverty, and
enable people to become truly emancipated, equal citizens.
•
The education and empowerment
of people vulnerable to slavery (e.g. organize to claim their rights). A focus
on women’s rights, to overcome the multitude of additional factors keeping
women in slavery, is essential.
The education and empowerment
of people vulnerable to slavery (e.g. organize to claim their rights). A focus
on women’s rights, to overcome the multitude of additional factors keeping
women in slavery, is essential.
We aim to make
these things happen by:
these things happen by:
•
Ensuring government
accountability to people affected by slavery, through mass movements, national
and international scrutiny and pressure from advocacy at all levels;
Ensuring government
accountability to people affected by slavery, through mass movements, national
and international scrutiny and pressure from advocacy at all levels;
•
Providing legal and
socioeconomic assistance to victims and lobbying for laws against slavery to be
strengthened and enforced;
Providing legal and
socioeconomic assistance to victims and lobbying for laws against slavery to be
strengthened and enforced;
•
Developing policy and model programme
interventions (schools, training centres and micro-credit projects, for example)
that government and larger agencies can replicate;
Developing policy and model programme
interventions (schools, training centres and micro-credit projects, for example)
that government and larger agencies can replicate;
•
Capacity-building among
anti-slavery movements, through funds for organizational costs (so that they
are well-staffed, with good resources to do their work effectively), as well as
education and training for members.
Capacity-building among
anti-slavery movements, through funds for organizational costs (so that they
are well-staffed, with good resources to do their work effectively), as well as
education and training for members.
ProMosaik e.V.:
The journalist
and anti-slavery activist Louis Hunkanrin 1930 wrote that there is no religion
who justifies slavery. How can we explain to people that many elites manipulate
religion to justify slavery?
and anti-slavery activist Louis Hunkanrin 1930 wrote that there is no religion
who justifies slavery. How can we explain to people that many elites manipulate
religion to justify slavery?
Sarah Mathewson:
It is correct that
many slavery apologists refer to religion to justify slavery, and religion is
certainly an integral part of how slave-owners wield influence over slaves; the
latter are told they will not go to paradise if they disobey their masters.
Invoking religion and the threat of hell is evidently a powerful way of keeping
people afraid and accepting their lot as slaves.
many slavery apologists refer to religion to justify slavery, and religion is
certainly an integral part of how slave-owners wield influence over slaves; the
latter are told they will not go to paradise if they disobey their masters.
Invoking religion and the threat of hell is evidently a powerful way of keeping
people afraid and accepting their lot as slaves.
However, there are
a multitude of interpretations of any religious texts, so we do not tend to
enter into theological debates about slavery. We prefer to refer to
international human rights standards and national laws, all of which
categorically prohibit and penalize slavery.
a multitude of interpretations of any religious texts, so we do not tend to
enter into theological debates about slavery. We prefer to refer to
international human rights standards and national laws, all of which
categorically prohibit and penalize slavery.
Our partner
organizations, as Muslims themselves, do teach people that Islam does not
condone slavery and that it has a strong pro-emancipation, egalitarian message.
They draw on a great deal of Islamic scholarship to support this.
organizations, as Muslims themselves, do teach people that Islam does not
condone slavery and that it has a strong pro-emancipation, egalitarian message.
They draw on a great deal of Islamic scholarship to support this.
ProMosaik e.V.:
Which main
problems are there in Mauritania? Why is slavery so present in society today?
problems are there in Mauritania? Why is slavery so present in society today?
Sarah Mathewson:
Like many
societies, Mauritania has divisions along ethnic and social class lines. There
is a strong tradition of racism among the White Moor population against black
Mauritanians, as well as a tradition of slave-owning within various ethnic
groups. The legacy of slavery and racist government policies has meant that
power is concentrated among an elite minority, while the majority population is
politically underrepresented and economically marginalized. Those who have
power generally do not want their privileges threatened and undermined; they
have strong incentives in ensuring that the current hierarchy remains, with a
servile ‘class’ within the population providing a ready supply of cheap or free
labour and political support. With the governing elites (including the security
forces and judiciary) retaining strong slave-owning connections, it is
unsurprising that there is unwillingness to enforce the law and introduce
policies that would bring about equality.
societies, Mauritania has divisions along ethnic and social class lines. There
is a strong tradition of racism among the White Moor population against black
Mauritanians, as well as a tradition of slave-owning within various ethnic
groups. The legacy of slavery and racist government policies has meant that
power is concentrated among an elite minority, while the majority population is
politically underrepresented and economically marginalized. Those who have
power generally do not want their privileges threatened and undermined; they
have strong incentives in ensuring that the current hierarchy remains, with a
servile ‘class’ within the population providing a ready supply of cheap or free
labour and political support. With the governing elites (including the security
forces and judiciary) retaining strong slave-owning connections, it is
unsurprising that there is unwillingness to enforce the law and introduce
policies that would bring about equality.
ProMosaik e.V.:
Saidou Kane spoke
about the importance of fighting slavery by engaged people in society? How is
this possible in Mauritania today?
about the importance of fighting slavery by engaged people in society? How is
this possible in Mauritania today?
Sarah Mathewson:
It is essential to
ensure the Mauritanian government and slave-owning elites can be held to account.
One way of doing so is ensuring that the majority population is educated about
equality, rights and the illegality of slavery, so that we have a significant
political pressure group demanding change. There is power among the wealthy
slave-owning elites, but there is also power in numbers. An educated, engaged
population is crucial in changing the dominant ideologies and policies that
allow slavery to continue. It will also mean more political representation for
individuals who take a stand against slavery, a more supportive climate for
people seeking to leave slavery, and stronger social and legal penalties for
those who practise slavery.
ensure the Mauritanian government and slave-owning elites can be held to account.
One way of doing so is ensuring that the majority population is educated about
equality, rights and the illegality of slavery, so that we have a significant
political pressure group demanding change. There is power among the wealthy
slave-owning elites, but there is also power in numbers. An educated, engaged
population is crucial in changing the dominant ideologies and policies that
allow slavery to continue. It will also mean more political representation for
individuals who take a stand against slavery, a more supportive climate for
people seeking to leave slavery, and stronger social and legal penalties for
those who practise slavery.
Anti-Slavery
International works with its partner organization SOS-Esclaves to help raise
awareness and engage people in the anti-slavery movement. We work at
grassroots, national and international levels, leading neighbourhood outreach
and meetings, speaking out in televised debates and radio broadcasts, and
promoting policy recommendations among the international community and through
UN human rights mechanisms.
International works with its partner organization SOS-Esclaves to help raise
awareness and engage people in the anti-slavery movement. We work at
grassroots, national and international levels, leading neighbourhood outreach
and meetings, speaking out in televised debates and radio broadcasts, and
promoting policy recommendations among the international community and through
UN human rights mechanisms.
ProMosaik e.V.:
Women and
children are the most week victims of slavery. How can we help them today in
Mauritania?
children are the most week victims of slavery. How can we help them today in
Mauritania?
Sarah Mathewson: This is certainly
true. Indeed, men hold the majority of political and economic power in every
country in the world; Amnesty International estimates that only 1 percent of
the world’s wealth is owned by women and that they make up 70 percent of the
world’s poor. There is implicit or explicit discrimination in favour of men in
many legal and cultural institutions, which limits the power of women. Strict
control of gender roles can also reinforce the dynamics of slavery, with submission
and docility strongly associated with femininity, and authority and aggression seen
as inherently masculine. Domestic work and child care have long been considered
a natural ‘function’ of women (rather than ‘work’ as such). These inequalities
create a culture conducive to the exercise of ownership rights over women.
true. Indeed, men hold the majority of political and economic power in every
country in the world; Amnesty International estimates that only 1 percent of
the world’s wealth is owned by women and that they make up 70 percent of the
world’s poor. There is implicit or explicit discrimination in favour of men in
many legal and cultural institutions, which limits the power of women. Strict
control of gender roles can also reinforce the dynamics of slavery, with submission
and docility strongly associated with femininity, and authority and aggression seen
as inherently masculine. Domestic work and child care have long been considered
a natural ‘function’ of women (rather than ‘work’ as such). These inequalities
create a culture conducive to the exercise of ownership rights over women.
Furthermore, while
both women and men are used as slaves (typically for herding, agriculture and
domestic work), their experiences are usually very different. Girls and women
are routinely subjected to sexual abuse and rape by masters. Any children they
bear are also considered slaves; as such, women are an important resource for
new slaves. Consequently, slave women are usually given duties in the domestic
sphere, restricting their movements and social interactions to prevent escape
or other threats to the sexual and reproductive control of masters. The fact that
women may have young children may make it impossible, or very difficult, to
manage an effective escape. For those who manage to flee, women face a greater
risk of destitution; widespread inequality and discrimination means that women on
their own have very limited economic opportunities and little social support.
Additionally they may need to support children.
both women and men are used as slaves (typically for herding, agriculture and
domestic work), their experiences are usually very different. Girls and women
are routinely subjected to sexual abuse and rape by masters. Any children they
bear are also considered slaves; as such, women are an important resource for
new slaves. Consequently, slave women are usually given duties in the domestic
sphere, restricting their movements and social interactions to prevent escape
or other threats to the sexual and reproductive control of masters. The fact that
women may have young children may make it impossible, or very difficult, to
manage an effective escape. For those who manage to flee, women face a greater
risk of destitution; widespread inequality and discrimination means that women on
their own have very limited economic opportunities and little social support.
Additionally they may need to support children.
Through our work
we engage with women emerging from slavery in order to help them gain access to
justice for the crimes committed against them, with a view to securing
prosecutions (sending a deterrent message to other slave-owners) and promoting
the women’s empowerment (decreasing their likelihood of returning to situations
of slavery or exploitation).
we engage with women emerging from slavery in order to help them gain access to
justice for the crimes committed against them, with a view to securing
prosecutions (sending a deterrent message to other slave-owners) and promoting
the women’s empowerment (decreasing their likelihood of returning to situations
of slavery or exploitation).
We work with
SOS-Esclaves’ staff and members in two regions
with a high prevalence of slavery, with a particular focus on mobilising
female members, in order to improve our capacity for outreach, identification,
pastoral support, and monitoring of women and children who have survived
slavery in the area. This is intended to help us assist more women and children
in slavery and to support them beyond the legal work in a way that is sensitive
to their experiences and needs in relation to slavery and male violence against
women.
SOS-Esclaves’ staff and members in two regions
with a high prevalence of slavery, with a particular focus on mobilising
female members, in order to improve our capacity for outreach, identification,
pastoral support, and monitoring of women and children who have survived
slavery in the area. This is intended to help us assist more women and children
in slavery and to support them beyond the legal work in a way that is sensitive
to their experiences and needs in relation to slavery and male violence against
women.
We hope to
increase pressure on the government to make concerted efforts to end slavery,
and we hope to do this both directly (engaging with a range of government
actors and relevant agencies) and through international actors with the
capacity to exert influence. The government is concerned about Mauritania’s
international reputation, as are stakeholders engaging with the government: we
want to make the plight of women in slavery well-known internationally, to
oblige the government to introduce a variety of social and legal reforms that
would help end the slavery system and the entrenched inequalities between men
and women.
increase pressure on the government to make concerted efforts to end slavery,
and we hope to do this both directly (engaging with a range of government
actors and relevant agencies) and through international actors with the
capacity to exert influence. The government is concerned about Mauritania’s
international reputation, as are stakeholders engaging with the government: we
want to make the plight of women in slavery well-known internationally, to
oblige the government to introduce a variety of social and legal reforms that
would help end the slavery system and the entrenched inequalities between men
and women.
