Racism and slavery are alive in Mauritania. Biram Dah Abeid is the founder and chairperson of the Initiative pour la Résurgence du mouvement Abolitioniste (IRA). A courageous fighter for freedom and human rights, Biram Dah Abeid is consistently threatened and intimidated by the Mauritanian security forces. In 2015, he was awarded the annual 'human rights tulip' by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This year, Time Magazine listed Biram Dah Abeid as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

How does a system of slavery continue to exist while forbidden by law? What should be done to break through the chains of oppression? What can the international community to do in support of Mauritanian activists? These are the issues Biram Dah Abeid will address on 26 October, 2017, at CREA, Nieuwe Achtergracht 170 in Amsterdam. The speech will be translated in English. Yëro Gaynääko, a Mauritanian rapper and former Amsterdam ShelterCity guest, will perform.