Toronto Reference Library Blog

The Toronto Reference Library invites you to attend a French language Thought Exchange Program with Ibrahim Ag Idbaltanat, President of Temedt. For the program description in French, please click here.

Temedt and its president, Ibrahim Ag Idbaltanat, were the winners
of the 2012 Anti-Slavery International Anti-Slavery Award for their outstanding
dedication and groundbreaking work towards ending slavery in Mali.  Anti-Slavery International
instituted the Anti-Slavery Award in 1991 to draw attention to the continuing
problem of slavery in the world today and to recognise courageous campaigning
by organisations or individuals in the countries most affected.

Even though it was formally
abolished, slavery in Mali still exists, especially in the northern regions of
the country. People descended from slaves remain as ‘property’ of their
‘masters’, either living with them and serving them directly or living
separately but remaining under their control.  
The organisation Temedt was created in 2006 to redress this injustice.

In the past six years, Temedt has held awareness-raising campaigns reaching
hundreds of thousands of people; directly helped liberate and support dozens of enslaved individuals; provided legal support to victims of slavery; trained magistrates on
anti-slavery legislation; and lobbied for legal reform to criminalize slavery
practices.

However, as northern Mali falls under the
control of Islamist and separatist rebels, traditional forms of discrimination
and slavery are making a disturbing return, leaving thousands of people under the
renewed domination of former slave masters.  Join Ibrahim to discuss these issues, and how
the gains made by Temedt to eradicate slavery in Mali are being eroded in the
current situation.

This Thought Exchange Program in French is at:

The Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street
Beeton Auditorium,  Yonge & Bloor
On Wednesday, December 12, 2012: 7:00-8:20 pm

For recent articles see: Globe and Mail and Guardian.
You can also check CBCnews / World

Biography: Ibrahim Ag Idbaltanat is a passionate,
determined human rights defender who has dedicated his life to ending slavery
in Mali. His ceaseless efforts to expose and denounce slavery practices have
broken the silence that surrounded slavery practices. Under his leadership,
thousands of people of slave descent have joined the anti-slavery movement.

Himself a descendent of slaves, Ibrahim’s engagement in the anti-slavery
movement began in 1979 after he became aware of injustices against Tamacheq
families of slave descent (in particular the confiscation of their land, cattle
and inheritance by their traditional masters). In 1987 he helped establish the
organization GARI (of which he is currently serving as President) to empower
vulnerable and marginalized groups, principally through micro-credit projects
and other socio-economic support.

In 2006, the organization Temedt was created specifically to address
descent-based slavery following the murder of a man of slave descent by a
traditional master. Ibrahim served as the Vice-President of Temedt for five
years and was elected its President in 2011.

In the past six years, Temedt has held awareness-raising campaigns reaching
hundreds of thousands of people (it currently has over 30,000 members); directly helped
liberate and support dozens of enslaved people; provided legal support to
victims of slavery; trained magistrates on anti-slavery legislation; and lobbied
for legal reform to criminalize slavery practices.

Due to the nature of his work, which challenges traditional power structures
that perpetuate the dominance of slave-owning groups, Ibrahim is considered a
threat by many elites. His work has made him many opponents and over the years
he has been subject to countless false accusations aimed at undermining his
credibility. Yet despite these pressures, Ibrahim has remained a committed,
high-profile advocate of justice, equality and human rights for all.

The Toronto Reference Library invites you to attend a French language Thought Exchange Program with Ibrahim Ag Idbaltanat, President of Temedt. For the program description in French, please click here.

Temedt and its president, Ibrahim Ag Idbaltanat, were the winners
of the 2012 Anti-Slavery International Anti-Slavery Award for their outstanding
dedication and groundbreaking work towards ending slavery in Mali.  Anti-Slavery International
instituted the Anti-Slavery Award in 1991 to draw attention to the continuing
problem of slavery in the world today and to recognise courageous campaigning
by organisations or individuals in the countries most affected.

Even though it was formally
abolished, slavery in Mali still exists, especially in the northern regions of
the country. People descended from slaves remain as ‘property’ of their
‘masters’, either living with them and serving them directly or living
separately but remaining under their control.  
The organisation Temedt was created in 2006 to redress this injustice.

In the past six years, Temedt has held awareness-raising campaigns reaching
hundreds of thousands of people; directly helped liberate and support dozens of enslaved individuals; provided legal support to victims of slavery; trained magistrates on
anti-slavery legislation; and lobbied for legal reform to criminalize slavery
practices.

However, as northern Mali falls under the
control of Islamist and separatist rebels, traditional forms of discrimination
and slavery are making a disturbing return, leaving thousands of people under the
renewed domination of former slave masters.  Join Ibrahim to discuss these issues, and how
the gains made by Temedt to eradicate slavery in Mali are being eroded in the
current situation.

This Thought Exchange Program in French is at:

The Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street
Beeton Auditorium,  Yonge & Bloor
On Wednesday, December 12, 2012: 7:00-8:20 pm

For recent articles see: Globe and Mail and Guardian.
You can also check CBCnews / World

Biography: Ibrahim Ag Idbaltanat is a passionate,
determined human rights defender who has dedicated his life to ending slavery
in Mali. His ceaseless efforts to expose and denounce slavery practices have
broken the silence that surrounded slavery practices. Under his leadership,
thousands of people of slave descent have joined the anti-slavery movement.

Himself a descendent of slaves, Ibrahim’s engagement in the anti-slavery
movement began in 1979 after he became aware of injustices against Tamacheq
families of slave descent (in particular the confiscation of their land, cattle
and inheritance by their traditional masters). In 1987 he helped establish the
organization GARI (of which he is currently serving as President) to empower
vulnerable and marginalized groups, principally through micro-credit projects
and other socio-economic support.

In 2006, the organization Temedt was created specifically to address
descent-based slavery following the murder of a man of slave descent by a
traditional master. Ibrahim served as the Vice-President of Temedt for five
years and was elected its President in 2011.

In the past six years, Temedt has held awareness-raising campaigns reaching
hundreds of thousands of people (it currently has over 30,000 members); directly helped
liberate and support dozens of enslaved people; provided legal support to
victims of slavery; trained magistrates on anti-slavery legislation; and lobbied
for legal reform to criminalize slavery practices.

Due to the nature of his work, which challenges traditional power structures
that perpetuate the dominance of slave-owning groups, Ibrahim is considered a
threat by many elites. His work has made him many opponents and over the years
he has been subject to countless false accusations aimed at undermining his
credibility. Yet despite these pressures, Ibrahim has remained a committed,
high-profile advocate of justice, equality and human rights for all.