Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Nouakchott (Agenzia Fides) - Up to June 2013, more than 2500 girls under 14 years of age were assisted by the Foundation Terres des Hommes, one of the largest movements in the world for the defense of children's rights. 33% of these were reintegrated into society. This is what was shown in the video documentary Petites Bonnes, Domestic Labor Exploitation of Girls in Mauritania, in which the harsh conditions of these children emerge, between 5 and 13 years of age, from the poorest rural areas. The young girls belong to families who are illiterate, very poor and without any source of income, they bear intolerable schedules and working conditions in order to economically help their families. According to a spokesperson of the NGO in Mauritania, many of these young victims, who spend long periods away from their families of origin without the possibility of playing or resting, do not go to school, are abused, assaulted and raped, even by "employers" . The NGO Terres des Hommes, together with the Asociación de Mujeres de Cabeza de Familia (ACFC) and UNICEF, have been engaged in the program since 2011 known as Petites Bonnes - Victims of Violence and Maltreatment in Mauritania, with the aim of identifying the exploited children and give them hospitality, protection and basic rights such as education, health and nutrition services. The Foundation is also committed to helping women find jobs in order to enable them to meet basic family needs without having to allow their daughters to work. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 02/08/2013)
