Mauritanian women march against violence in Nouakchott

Nouakchott, Mauritania (PANA) - Several thousand Mauritanian women marched on Thursday in the capital, Nouakchott, to denounce violence and marginalisation as the country marked International Women's Day.

The demonstrators marched from the city centre in Nouakchott to the Presidential Palace where the organisers handed a set of grievances to President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.

The president of the Association of Adolecent Women for Development  (AFAD), Mrs. Aminatat Niang, protested against the different forms of violence against Mauritanian women and the disturbing high rate of maternal mortality.

"Female Genital Mutilations, of which 72% of victims are small girls, is a practice that has serious health, social and psychological consequences and the happiness of girls and women," she said.

She also cited "early marriages, domestic violence, frequency of dropouts and divorce, which have negative consequences on the upbringing and balance of children, and marginalisation in the sphere of professional life".

Aichetou Saloum Camara, an active member of the National Association Movement, called on the Mauritanian government to implement all international conventions regarding the promotion of gender rights and women's self-reliance.
-0- PANA SAS/TBM/PAP/MA 8March2012