About Noor Talas
Noor TALAS holds a PhD in Psychology from Atatürk University. She specialises in psychosocial support and responses to gender-based violence. Her work seeks to integrate research, field interventions, and political engagement to improve the mental health of vulnerable communities.
Discussant
Lila DROUSSENT is a PhD candidate in political philosophy at ENS de Lyon (Triangle research unit) and a temporary lecturer (ATER) at Jean Monnet University, Saint-Étienne. Her research focuses on the concept of empowerment in feminist philosophy and development studies.
This presentation aims to shed light on the complexity of interactions between colonial legacies, sociopolitical structures, and gender-based violence (GBV) in Mauritania. It offers a critical analysis of resistance to change and mechanisms of impunity while outlining potential avenues for action.
- Colonial Legacies and Structural Inequalities
A multi-ethnic country, Mauritania has long been shaped by historical divisions, reinforced by French colonisation and its lasting consequences. Gender-based violence in the country is rooted in systemic inequalities and takes multiple forms, including domestic violence, early marriage, and female genital mutilation. As early as the 1960s and 1970s, feminist movements emerged—often driven by anti-colonial sentiment—to demand gender equality and an end to discrimination against women.
Post-colonial legacies extend beyond the inequalities imposed by French rule. They also encompass the violent struggles against colonisation, the post-independence Arabisation policies, and Mauritania’s shifting regional alliances. These dynamics have had a direct impact on gender relations and the prospects for advancing women’s rights.
- The Fight Against Slavery and Resistance to Change
Another major factor is slavery, which was officially abolished in 1981 and criminalised in 2007 but remains widely practised. It is estimated that around 10% of the population still lives in conditions of modern slavery. In a context where religion plays a central role, abolitionist activists and those denouncing discrimination are often accused of apostasy and face severe repression.
Impunity remains a pervasive issue. As with slavery, the criminalisation of GBV remains largely ineffective. Weaknesses in the judicial system, social pressures, and fear of retaliation prevent victims from obtaining justice, allowing abuses to persist.
- Towards a “Sutured” Society
This presentation explores methodologies for navigating a society deeply fractured by historical and structural inequalities while raising awareness of GBV. The proposed approach is based on a renewed analysis of colonial legacies and regional threats, particularly the rise of cross-border violence and recent reactions against French influence in the region. Drawing on field experience in crisis zones, including under the Islamic State’s rule in Tel Abyad, this research seeks to map out the barriers to awareness-raising and propose solutions adapted to the Mauritanian context.