Awareness raised on rape in Nouakchott

'No Porn' seminar Nouakchott - Mohammad Sharif Abeidy On Saturday, “No Porn”, a Mauritanian initiative, held a scientific seminar on the phenomena of prostitution and rape. Taking place in Nouakchott, the country’s capital, the seminar also spilled out into the streets, as delegates voiced their disgust surrounding the country’s high levels of prostitution and rape, especially those involving underage girls. The initiative stated that, through the seminar, they are looking to usher in a new period, destroying the silence surrounding these issues. The aim is to start a comprehensive awareness campaign, and strike up popular support, in order to tackle these issues. In addition, they called for September 22 to made “Anti-Prostitution Day.” Sidiya Ould Yahya Mann, the vice president of the initiative, emphasised “the importance of the role played by the State in controlling the brothels and dealing with prostitution and pornography.” The initiative has also echoed the words of the Ministries of Social Affairs and Islamic Guidance when stressing the need to carry out campaigns to raise awareness and the importance of education on ethics and values. They urged the Ministry of Health to reveal the truth on HIV in Mauritania, as signs shows that the number of ill people has reached disastrous levels and is growing annually. Mauritanian cleric Abdel Rahman Ould Aldyah warned of the danger of porn and prostitution. He said that Islam calls for chastity, which is also in the interest of the country as a whole. This was followed by the intervention of Mohamed Ahmed Ould Haj Sidi, a professor of law, who explained the legal penalties for rapists, prostitution and talked about the need to strengthen these laws Mohamed Ould Ahmado, a journalist, also spoke about the history of prostitution in Mauritania and how it started. He also claimed that, now, there are over 720 brothels in the country, some of which also cater for bisexuals. His aim is to form a non-governmental organisation to defend the rights of bisexuals and gays in Mauritania. He also touched upon the leniency of the judicial authorities with regards to prostitution, recalling how, last Ramadan, dozens of brothels were investigated but no charges were brought against any of them. He added that, while there is a group of organisations that defends the rights of women, sponsored by foreign sides, he wants a law to be passed so that they are further protected in these matters. Many participants in this seminar, which ended on Sunday morning, talked about the dangers of moral decay spreading in society and discussed networks that exploit Mauritanian women by sending them as prostitutes in the Gulf. There were also calls for facilitating marriage among young people as a way to spread chastity and virtue in the society.