Slavery in the 21st century

A group of ten slaves, composed of men, women and children, have been rescued by aid workers in the Tahoua region of northern Niger. The group had been born into slavery, had been tortured and starved.

Human rights spokesperson Iglass Weiller stated that the owner of the slaves had raped the women and girls on a regular basis, as reported by the BBC. Most of the slaves had fresh multiple wounds, proof of continued bad treatment. The owner is now being hunted down.

Slavery is outlawed in Niger and Mauritania but it is still common practice. There are estimated to be around 20,000 slaves in Niger, mainly in the areas around Acadez and Zinder. Increased activity by government authorities would be all that was necessary to put a stop to this barbaric and anachronistic practice and to bring this region into the modern world.

Timothy BANCROFT-HINCHEY PRAVDA.Ru

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